Meghan Markle: Wedding Tiara and Jewelry Suggestions and Musings

[Countessmeout]

I am sorry but why would the BRF ever use an American designer to make a British royal tiara? The BRF has court jewelers they would use for this kind of thing. This has nothing to do with a so called 'special relationship'.

The BRF has thankfully moved on since the days of Wallis. It wasn't that Wallis was American that she was considered unacceptable. And it certainly wont and isn't being held against Meghan.

The tiaras you mentioned have not been seen in decades. There is no one with any known claim. And if they had some attachment, you'd think we would have seen them in decades.

Kate was said to have been given three options, she chose a smaller tiara.

 

[jacqui24]

Well, she's marrying third down the line of succession, and she's an American. Can't imagine she's going to get better treatment than the current Duchess is, particularly given the past history of Americans marrying into the royal family, ahem. She wants a very simple dress (not a bad one, mind), and the jewelry will undoubtedly be selected to complement. Perhaps the Lozenge or Sapphire Bandeau, but I suspect that's dependent on the particular emotional attachments those pieces have acquired, and whether they're already 'spoken for' which I can't speak to since I don't follow living monarchs so much as I do long dead ones.

If a new one is to be made up it will almost certainly be by an American firm. Can't let an opportunity to reinforce the Special Relationship pass by, particularly when its as strained as it is, oy vey. Probably Tiffany & Co., or Harry Winston.

There is no reason why bad blood going back to a generation before the Queen should affect how her new granddaughter in law is treated. If it does, then shame on them. The Queen clearly has shown Meghan is well accepted into the family by extending an invitation for Christmas at Sandringham, which is unprecedented.

And if a new tiara is commissioned, it’ll be with Cleaves and Co, like Meghan’s engagement ring, as they are the royal jeweler.

 

[soapstar]

Back on topic, please.

 

[W.Y.CII]

Didn't some poster mention that the British brides don't prefer tiara with coloured stones for wedding? and I don't think a tiara with coloured stones is a good choice as a starter, somehow it limits her choice of gown for future event.

 

[Pranter]

Well, she's marrying third down the line of succession, and she's an American. Can't imagine she's going to get better treatment than the current Duchess is, particularly given the past history of Americans marrying into the royal family, ahem. She wants a very simple dress (not a bad one, mind), and the jewelry will undoubtedly be selected to complement. Perhaps the Lozenge or Sapphire Bandeau, but I suspect that's dependent on the particular emotional attachments those pieces have acquired, and whether they're already 'spoken for' which I can't speak to since I don't follow living monarchs so much as I do long dead ones.

If a new one is to be made up it will almost certainly be by an American firm. Can't let an opportunity to reinforce the Special Relationship pass by, particularly when its as strained as it is, oy vey. Probably Tiffany & Co., or Harry Winston.

Third? Harry is 5th in line and soon to be 6th in line.

No American firm is going to do a tiara for her wedding.

Sapphire Bandeau is not likely due to it having a colored stone....the Lozenge would be great if it's still in existence.


LaRae

 

[O-H Anglophile]

We don't actually know what kind of dress Meghan wants-maybe simple maybe not.
I don't see purchasing a tiara from an American jeweler as a viable option at all.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

If a tiara has colored stones, can these not be removed and replaced with stones of a different color?

 

[Osipi]

Many tiaras are very versatile and can be switched around and worn as necklaces and such.

My best guess that if Meghan has a new tiara made for her, it may be along the lines of the tiara made for Sophie when she married Edward. A totally new creation but one where the jewels have provenance relating to the British royal family. I don't see the Queen trusting anyone outside of her own trusted royal jewelers to do this kind of a job. An American company making a royal tiara is definitely a no go.

This kind of a new creation with royal jewels would be Meghan's for her lifetime and then returned to the royal family because of the stones used.

If its a new tiara without any kind of provenance, the Queen would gift it to Harry's family to remain with Harry's family. Should the marriage end in divorce, Harry would remain the owner of the family tiara. At least I'd hope so. It didn't happen with Sarah though, she retained the tiara bought for her but that family still remains so close that I expect to see her daughters wearing it on their wedding day.

Diana's lifetime gift of the Lover's Knot tiara was returned to the Queen's vault on her death as it had royal provenance and was just a lifetime loan.

Its the details like this that have kept the royal vaults so full and intact.

BTW: by the time Harry marries, he'll be sixth in line to the throne.

 

[cdm]

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Victoria’s orange blossom tiara made a reappearance?
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/83/7f/31/...d6--anniversary-gifts-wedding-anniversary.jpg

 

[Pranter]

Erm...well I must say I'm not a fan of that, sorry!


LaRae

 

[CyrilVladisla]

I chose The Papyrus Tiara for Meghan. I just think it’s the perfect wedding tiara.

Dman, What do you like about The Papyrus Tiara?

 

[JennahPc]

I LOVE the Lozenge tiara. It is substantial enough to be worn for years to come.

That said, I predict one of two scenarios.

1: No tiara for the wedding. As a modern bride she may decide not to wear a tiara or as this is her second marriage may follow in the Duchess of Cornwall's footsteps and wear flowers or an ornamental head piece.

2: She may have a tiara created for her as a wedding gift from Harry. Potentially reworking a necklace inherited from Diana, Princess of Wales estate. A few necklaces that may be a bit dated but could be reworked are the Sultan of Oman, the ruby and diamond tassel necklace or the diamond ribbed collar or a combo of a few.

For reference.
http://www.dianasjewels.net/diamondnecklaces.html

This way she gets her own tiara to wear and pass down to her heirs and the taxpayers can't complain because it is part of Harry and William's private inheritance

 

[Pranter]

I am still hoping she gets to wear one of the family tiaras.

However if they create one for her it would be nice for it to be made from some of Diana's other diamonds the boys have.

Possible as well that Charles (or Harry) have found an older tiara in a private sale or auction that could be purchased for her and then passed down later.


LaRae

 

[Leopoldine]

Well, she's marrying third down the line of succession, and she's an American. Can't imagine she's going to get better treatment than the current Duchess is, particularly given the past history of Americans marrying into the royal family, ahem. She wants a very simple dress (not a bad one, mind), and the jewelry will undoubtedly be selected to complement. Perhaps the Lozenge or Sapphire Bandeau, but I suspect that's dependent on the particular emotional attachments those pieces have acquired, and whether they're already 'spoken for' which I can't speak to since I don't follow living monarchs so much as I do long dead ones.

If a new one is to be made up it will almost certainly be by an American firm. Can't let an opportunity to reinforce the Special Relationship pass by, particularly when its as strained as it is, oy vey. Probably Tiffany & Co., or Harry Winston.

Tiffany made a bunch of nice tiaras back in the Gilded Age/ Belle Epoque days. A beauty was up for auction about 2 yrs. ago. Harry Winston is about stones, not styling. If Charles nabbed one of those old Tiffany ones for Meghan, that would be cool.

 

[Leopoldine]

I LOVE the Lozenge tiara. It is substantial enough to be worn for years to come.

That said, I predict one of two scenarios.

1: No tiara for the wedding. As a modern bride she may decide not to wear a tiara or as this is her second marriage may follow in the Duchess of Cornwall's footsteps and wear flowers or an ornamental head piece.

2: She may have a tiara created for her as a wedding gift from Harry. Potentially reworking a necklace inherited from Diana, Princess of Wales estate. A few necklaces that may be a bit dated but could be reworked are the Sultan of Oman, the ruby and diamond tassel necklace or the diamond ribbed collar or a combo of a few.

For reference.
http://www.dianasjewels.net/diamondnecklaces.html

This way she gets her own tiara to wear and pass down to her heirs and the taxpayers can't complain because it is part of Harry and William's private inheritance

Everyone keeps talking about the Lozenge Tiara yet no royal lady has agreed to wear it for many decades. It's not that special. It's a mutt. Just a graceless bandeau of clumsily arranged diamonds.

It's a barker! Move on and select something with more elan.

 

[Countessmeout]

Everyone keeps talking about the Lozenge Tiara yet no royal lady has agreed to wear it for many decades. It's not that special. It's a mutt. Just a graceless bandeau of clumsily arranged diamonds.

It's a barker! Move on and select something with more elan.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps you, and other royal women, have found it a barker Doesn't mean the rest of us have to, or that Meghan will share your opinion.

It was likely considered too small for Diana, and Sarah and Sophie got new ones. We don't know if it was one of the three Kate was given to choose from.

 

[W.Y.CII]

I wish I can see how the diamonds are arranged on the Lozenge because there isn't any high-resolution photo Anyway it's not a feminine as Strathmore Rose but still elegant to me.

OT but I don't agree with the idea that "nobody wears it because nobody loves it", I would rather say "nobody needs it". The Lozenge is a "starter" type, it's pretty small (while comparing to other pieces in the vault) and doesn't have big stones (similar to the Halo). It is a perfect starter tiara for the young princess or new royal bride. But after Anne got her own tiara(s) there isn't so much need for starter tiara – Diana had family tiara, Sarah and Sophie got a new grander tiara (reasonable, as the daughter-in-law of the monarch), the York sisters doesn't attend tiara event.

New tiara that made of old jewels is a nice idea (even though I still look for some unseen tiara from the vault), I just hope it would look better than Sophie's......?

 

[Mirabel]

Everyone keeps talking about the Lozenge Tiara yet no royal lady has agreed to wear it for many decades. It's not that special. It's a mutt. Just a graceless bandeau of clumsily arranged diamonds.

It's a barker! Move on and select something with more elan.

Like what?

Almost all of the known tiaras are in the possession of someone else, or else exclusively reserved for the Queen.

If Meghan gets one from the collection, I feel it will be the lotus.

But it would be better if she gets her own (and NOT something cobbled together from bits and pieces, like Sophie's monstrosity).

 

[Gaudete]

I wonder if there's any of Queen Alexandra's tiaras tucked away in a vault somewhere that could be reworked or reinvented for Meghan to use?

 

[Pranter]

I'd rather they buy her a nice one than have her end up with something like poor Sophie ended up with (even if well intentioned by her husband).

The Lotus would be a nice tiara for Meghan to have use of as well. After the Lozenge it's my pick for her wedding and it would go with a number of clothing styles for those tiara events.


LaRae

 

[Pranter]

I really hope they just find an old classic tiara being sold and snap it up if they decide to not go with loaning her one of the existing ones in the vaults.


LaRae

 

[CyrilVladisla]

I wonder if there's any of Queen Alexandra's tiaras tucked away in a vault somewhere that could be reworked or reinvented for Meghan to use?

Which of Queen Alexandra's tiaras might there be?

 

[Countessmeout]

The only tiaras I am aware of, beyond her fringe, were the Rundell (which while other pieces of the collection are still in use, the tiara no longer exists), an amethyst tiara and a sapphire tiara (both which seemed to have passed to granddaughters out of the mainline and were sold in auction).

 

[Pranter]

Cyril here is an link where you can see some of the family tiaras:

More British Royal Tiaras - The Tudors Wiki

 

[Pranter]

The only tiaras I am aware of, beyond her fringe, were the Rundell (which while other pieces of the collection are still in use, the tiara no longer exists), an amethyst tiara and a sapphire tiara (both which seemed to have passed to granddaughters out of the mainline and were sold in auction).

That one made by Garrard, called a Kokoshnick is one associated with Queen Alexandra...


LaRae

 

[Countessmeout]

That one made by Garrard, called a Kokoshnick is one associated with Queen Alexandra...


LaRae

Its what I was referring to when I said 'beyond the fringe' as to me it seems more fringe then kokoshnik. I guess I should have used a better term.

I just meant beyond the 'known' tiaras that are currently in use. The original OP suggested there may be some of Alexandra's tiaras in the vault that haven't been seen in decades. the Kokoshnik/fringe doesn't meet that requirement.

 

[Pranter]

I can't even find other tiaras associated with Alexandra besides this one?


LaRae

 

[Countessmeout]

I can't even find other tiaras associated with Alexandra besides this one?


LaRae

The ones I mentioned, a sapphire one and an amethyst one (sapphire seemed to have been a collette actually but was put on a base at some point), and the Rundell were wedding gifts to Alexandra. That is why I can find a link to them. But they seemed to have passed to junior branches and eventually auctioned. The Rundell we only know doesn't exist anymore because of a book on the queen's jewels that was done.

It just seems perhaps posters think since Alexandra was considered a bit of a magpie when it came to jewels, she had other pieces???

 

[Pranter]

Yeah maybe so (magpie) but at her death she must of either left them to family who later disposed of them or gotten rid of them before her death...I'm guessing most of them were left to family and later disposed of.



LaRae

 

[Countessmeout]

Yeah maybe so (magpie) but at her death she must of either left them to family who later disposed of them or gotten rid of them before her death...I'm guessing most of them were left to family and later disposed of.



LaRae

Most of her pieces were said to be left to Mary, including her wedding gifts. But many of them ended up with other grandchildren, and saw the auction block. There may be some unseen Alexandra jewels in the queen's collection, but any tiaras I have never heard of but the ones I mentioned. I guess maybe one of her necklaces could be transformed.