The end of an era Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022 Over the years I had the unexpected opportunity to have a connection to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on a few occasions. In 2013 Hillberg & Berk was commissioned by Saskatchewan’s Lieutenant Governor to design a brooch for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. That opportunity led to a relationship between myself and the LG’s office that has remained important to this day. The unexpected commission turned into a spotlight moment for H&B when Queen Elizabeth went on to wear the brooch only a few short months later. The exposure Hillberg & Berk received as a result of this high profile sighting of our design put us on a new trajectory. Several years later H&B won a competitive bid to design a second piece to be gifted on behalf of the Government of Canada for Her Majesty's Sapphire Jubilee. Both pieces she wore over and over in the years that followed. As a small business owner from Saskatchewan this was career altering. When I started H&B 15 years ago, only in my wildest dreams did I imagine Hillberg & Berk jewelry being embraced throughout the world, in such monumental places. I will be forever grateful for these special moments in Hillberg & Berk’s history and to Her Majesty, a woman with access to the most precious jewelry collection on earth, who chose to profile our designs repeatedly. For me, it was a fairy tale that really happened. The death of Queen Elizabeth feels in many ways like the end of an era. One that is fraught with many justifiable emotions. And, as we step into a new era, I hold a sense of optimism for the continued elevation of all women globally.