The Windsors don’t mind a little bling!
Queen Máxima and Crown Princess Amalia are rarely spotted with a tiara on their heads. In that respect, the British royals surpass everyone with their beautiful tiaras. That’s why we collected the top five most iconic British tiaras for you.
Tiaras
As iconic tiara moments become increasingly rare, it’s become clear that the jewel isn’t just there to exude wealth and luxury. Tiaras have become true storytellers. Almost every royal tiara holds the key to centuries of history. In addition, each tiara is packed with exquisite detail, something that indicates hours of craftsmanship. And that’s exactly why we’ve rounded up five of our favorite British tiaras for you.
Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara
The very first tiara in this list is of course the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara that was made in 1914 for the late Queen Mary. The tiara contains beautiful pearls and diamonds that the Queen’s family has owned all along. In addition, this tiara is inspired by the tiara of Queen Mary’s grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse. After Queen Mary, the tiara was passed on to Queen Elizabeth II. But we only really started seeing the tiara in public on a regular basis from 1981 onwards when Princess Diana received the gem as a wedding gift, and it became one of the people’s princess’s favorite pieces from day one. But after Diana divorced then-Prince Charles, she returned the tiara to Queen Elizabeth II. From then on, the tiara was not seen in public again until Princess Kate wore it at a reception at Buckingham Palace.
Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara
The beautiful Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara should of course not be missing from the list. This tiara consists of a band with no less than 739 brilliants and 149 bar diamonds. Talk about a statement piece. The tiara was made by a French jeweler and bought in 1936 by the then Duke of York. In 1936, however, the tiara was given by King George VI to the Queen Mother, and later to Queen Elizabeth II on her eighteenth birthday. What makes this tiara even more special is that Princess Kate wore this beautiful tiara on her wedding day. Together with her elegant wedding dress, this was the perfect combination.
Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara
After Kate’s tiara, we cannot forget the beautiful tiara that her sister-in-law Meghan Markle wore at her wedding. And just like the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara, this tiara was also made for Queen Mary. And, it should now be clear that this late queen loved bling. This sparkling tiara contains large and small diamonds and a detachable brooch in the middle. Oh yes, and that brooch also happens to consist of nine beautiful brilliant cut diamonds, surrounding a large diamond. Extra is the new normal, right? Mary also gave this tiara to Queen Elizabeth II, who in turn lent it to Meghan Markle on her wedding day.
Spencer Tiara
There is a very big story behind the Spencer Tiara. Princess Diana wore this tiara during her wedding in 1981. Not surprising, you might think, but with this the former Princess of Wales broke a great tradition: it was a tiara from her own family’s collection. The tiara is a mix of all kinds of other precious family heirlooms and was designed by Garrard & Co in 1930. The most important part incorporated into the tiara is a wedding gift to Diana’s grandmother from 1919, but other elements are also incorporated into the decorative piece.
Greville Emerald Coconut Tiara
Last up is this elegant showpiece. This tiara was made in 1919 by the French jeweler Boucheron and contains several diamonds and emeralds. Originally, this tiara belonged to philanthropist Dame Margaret Greville, but after her death she left all of her jewels to the Queen Mother, who in turn – you guessed it – passed the pieces on to Queen Elizabeth II. This tiara was also spotted not so long ago:
Princess Eugenie wore this tiara as something borrowed during her wedding in 2018. To be honest, with such a tiara on our head we would immediately say ‘yes’, right?
Source: Harper’s Bazaar Australia, Glamial archive | Image: NL Image
