Spectacular jewelry belonged to Margherita Lady Howard de Walden. The important diamond laurel wreath tiara had a large yellow cushion-shaped sapphire as center. The jewel was sold by the Howard de Walden family in 1971 for $19200 (USD).
Lady Margherita Howard de Walden was Patron of Queen Charlotte's Birthday Ball, an important event for debutantes. On this occasion she was pictured above with her diamond laurel wreath tiara in 1958.
"Lord Howard de Walden, one of the wealthiest members of the peerage, and Miss Margheritta (sic) van Raalte, daughter of Mrs van Raalte, of Grosvenor-square, were married very quietly on Monday at the parish church of St. Marylebone.
The news came as a great surprise, for it had been publicly stated that the marriage was to take place on the following day, and it was generally believed the ceremony was to be performed at Brownsea Island, the Dorset home of the bride's mother. The secret was divulged to a few relatives and intimate friends only, and the vicinity of the church was practically deserted when the doors were opened to admit the small wedding party.
The comparatively recent death of Lady Ludlow, the bridegroom' mother, is the reason why Lord Howard de Walden desired a quiet marriage. Although the only outward sign was an awning over the entrance to the church, the interior had been transformed into a bower of flowers.
There were fifty guests present, and neither bridesmaids nor pages.
Miss van Raalte wore an afternoon dress of soft white velvet, fastened from neck to hem with while chenille buttons on a scalloped border. A square collar of Richelieu point lace was worn, and from beneath it fell a narrow frill of black chiffon. Her hat was an immense creation of sapphire blue straw plumed with long blue ostrich feathers, fastened with a rosette made sloe berries. Her only ornament was a long single rope pearls which was one of Lord Howard de Walden's gifts to his bride.
To everyone of the fifty guests present Lord Howard de Walden gave a costly present, each lady receiving a diamond bracelet, and each gentleman a diamond scarf pin.
After the ceremony Mrs. Van Raalte gave a family luncheon at 27, Grosvenor-square.
The luncheon was followed a reception. Arriving guests were surprised to hear that it had already been celebrated.
The wedding presents made a magnificent display. The centre of the room held a large table, on which reposed great quantities gold and silver plate, much which been presented by tenants on the estates of the bridegroom and of Mrs. van Raalte and close by was a vast collection of jewels."
Source: Christie's,1971;Longford Journal 24 Feb 1912;
