
The Halo Tiara worn by Queen Elizabeth in 1936, Princess
Margaret in 1954, Princess Anne in 1972, and The Duchess of Cambridge, now the Princess of Wales on her wedding day,
29 April 2011.
England Great Britain U.K. United Kingdom of England Scotland Wales and Ireland English history Royal Jewellery & Aristocratic Jewels antique jewellery historian, Mountbatten, the Queen, crown jewels, Princess, windsor, house of windsor,
royal royalty royalfamily royaljewels diamond tiara queenvictoria duchess of york history england uk britain monarchy britishmonarchy britishroyals britishroyalfamily
In 1923, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyons, the future Duchess of York, received an array of splendid gifts for her wedding. Among these was a remarkable sapphire and diamond brooch.
This exquisite piece was bestowed upon her by her husband’s aunt, Princess Louise, the Princess Royal (daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra), and Princess Louise’s daughter, Maud.
A mystery is solved.
Long time, nothing was known about the history of Elizabeth the Queen Mothers, carved rock crystal art deco brooch.
The eagle-eyed Frank had sent me a note from the August 1923 about Queen mother’s style.
And an earlier press story was found, from the May, one month after the royal wedding.
In the splendid year of 1923, a momentous occasion unfolded as Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyons, the destined Duchess of York, was graced with an array of resplendent treasures to embellish her wedding. Among these treasures, a remarkable Art Deco Pendant Brooch shone with unparalleled brilliance.
During the enchanting month of May in that very year, the spotlight of the press was cast upon a distinctive trend inaugurated by the Duchess of York – a trend that would captivate the realm of fashion.
A pendant of exquisite square-shaped crystal emerged as the centrepiece, its delicate contours accentuated by an almost imperceptible rim of onyx adorned with diamonds. This captivating pendant, suspended by an ornate loop that echoed its elegance, hung gracefully from a black moiré ribbon interlaced with crystal beads, all united by a platinum chain of utmost sophistication.
Among the trove of gifts bestowed upon the royal bride, a novelty of striking originality emerged – a purse of singular design. Its circular form, enveloped in ebony moiré, boasted a circumference bejeweled [with probably useable with that brooch ),that sparkled like stars.
That pendant brooch could be used also as: onyx and carved crystal clasp, a masterpiece of artistry, secured this objet d’art, which was further graced by its attachment to an onyx slave bangle.
In a realm where precious gems symbolize significant occasions, the Duchess of York ingeniously transformed her pendant into a resplendent headpiece, a magnificent homage to the grandeur of her visit to Australia during the illustrious Royal Tour of 1927.
As time waltzed on and the pages of history turned, the radiant reign of Elizabeth the Queen Mother drew to a close, but her legacy endured.
The carved rock crystal brooch, once worn with regal grace, found a new wearer upon the graceful form of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. With remarkable frequency, this treasure adorned her on diverse royal occasions, etching its presence into the annals of history. It gleamed proudly on the grand stage of Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th reign jubilee, as well as during the dignified ceremonies of parliamentary openings, a silent testament to the enduring elegance that transcends generations.
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Thank you to Franck!
The wedding gift from Queen Mary to her daughter in law – Princess Marina of Greece, Duchess of Kent in 1934 and one of the principal presents was:
Rectangular diamond brooch with a ruby and diamond bow ornament diagonally across it>>
The brooch was not seen later in public, but Queen Mary was a collector of interesting jewels. Sometimes from her family or other heirlooms.
I believe the Duchess of Kent sold the brooch later without the double ruby bow, after the early death of the Duke of Kent, when she needs money, back to the royal family.
It is very similar to the brooch which was worn by Camilla, the Queen Consort at Royal Ascot 2023 and before at Christmas 2022 Sandringham.
When she was bridesmaid in 1934 on the wedding of Princess Marina of Greece and Prince Georg of Great Britain, the Duke and Duchess of Kent.
The bridesmaids, in white crêpe marocain, were all wearing the dainty brooches, with the initial of the bride M+G
and bridegroom entwined, that had been the bridegroom’s gift, to them, and white bandeau.
Lady Mary Cambridge;
Princess Elisabeth of York, later Queen Elizabeth II;
Princess Iris of Mountbatten
Princess Juliana of the Netherlands;
Grand Duchess Kira of Russia;
Princess Eugenie of Greece
Princess Catherine of Greece
Princess Irene of Greece
Archival records give an idea of the gift. In addition, the inventory in 1838 showed that on January 2, 1842, the following was delivered to the jeweler Bolin from the Diamond Room of the Winter Palace: „Diamonds in the pieces (unset) of paper available from the converted units. Four diamonds weighing 3 Karat (a tiara with pearls to use January 2, 1842), the same polished 64 ‚/ short. From this lot polished faces of the same weight 22 ‚/ 32 fold on a tiara with pearls January 2, 1842, from the bodice with Pearls. A diamond weighing 1 3/32 times from the range. Purchased for a tiara with pearls January 2, 1842″ * notes 423
Nevertheless, the legendary diamond tiara, made in 1842, including diamonds , was worth 87,478 rubles. 424 *notes Corresp.Bolin;Zimin
siehe A.Zimin Buch Geschenke des Zaren AlexanderII 2013
The exquisite „Grand Duchess Vladimir tiara,“ a cherished adornment frequently graced upon the late Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, holds a captivating historical narrative. Delving into the annals of time, we discover that this regal treasure’s lineage traces back to an era imbued with imperial splendor.
Originally procured by Queen Elizabeth’s illustrious grandmother, Queen Mary, the tiara was acquired in 1921 from none other than the daughter of Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia. This acquisition came to pass subsequent to the clandestine removal of the tiara from the tumultuous grips of revolutionary Russia. Long-held assumptions suggested that it had been bestowed upon Maria as a wedding gift during her union with Grand Duke Vladimir in 1874.
However, the Grand Duchess Vladimir tiara, it turns out, is steeped in an even more venerable history. Imbued with an air of aristocracy, this magnificent artifact was, in fact, crafted three decades prior, in a bygone era.
Its inception took place during a momentous occasion when the illustrious Princess of Hessen by Rhine, the future Empress Maria Alexandrovna, bestowed upon the world their firstborn son, Grand Duke Nicholas Alexandrovich Romanov, in the year 1843. It was made by the court jeweller Bolin.
Though Nikolay’s earthly sojourn was brief, the tiara continued its journey through time. Following the passing of Empress Maria in 1880, this resplendent crown of diamonds and pearls gracefully transitioned into the possession of her third son, the esteemed Grand Duke Vladimir. A testament to its enduring allure, the tiara underwent a subtle transformation in 1924, facilitated by the deft hands of Queen Mary. Adorned with the renowned Cambridge emerald pear shaped pedants, the tiara now stands as a resplendent amalgamation of precious gemstones, an irrefutable symbol of regal refinement.
Thus, the captivating tale of the „Grand Duchess Vladimir tiara“ weaves a tapestry of nobility and historical intrigue. Through its many custodians and transformations, this timeless artifact has transcended eras, gracefully adorning the heads of queens and captivating the hearts of all who gaze upon its majestic splendor.
Maria Alexandrovna (Russian: Мария Александровна), born Princess Wilhelmine Marie of Hesse and by Rhine (8 August 1824 – 3 June 1880), was Empress of Russia as the first wife of Emperor Alexander II.
Marie was the legal daughter of Ludwig II, Grand Duke of Hesse, and Princess Wilhelmine of Baden. Marie was only 14 years old when Tsesarevich Alexander Nikolaevich fell in love with her while he was traveling to Western Europe. She arrived in Russia in September 1840 and converted to the Eastern Orthodox Church under the name Maria Alexandrovna, when she married Alexander the following April.
Maria was known for her intellect. However, she suffered from tuberculosis from 1863 and spent long stays in southern Europe to avoid harsh winters, which worsened after the death of her eldest son Nicholas Alexandrovich. She was also the mother of Marie Alexandrovna, the Duchess of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg, her only surviving daughter.
Above Princess Ingrid of Sweden when she had her first court
Princess Margaret of Connaught | Crown Princess of Sweden Wedding Present – Turquoise cluster and Diamond brooch, Turquoise pendant – Royal Jewel history
An oval turquoise and diamond cluster brooch and drop shape pendant, and turquoise and diamond cluster earrings once belonged to Empress Catherine II of Russia, also known as Catherine the Great, and inherited through Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia, the Duchess of Connaught, Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden and Queen Ingrid left to Queen Margarete of Denmark. She presented it to her daughter-in-law, crown princess Mary, on their 50th birthday.