Tiaras For the Wives of William and Harry

[wymanda]

What Tiaras, besides those worn by Diana, do you think will be made available to Williams future wife?

I hope that one is the Indian Tiara which was worn by the Queen Mother. Queen Alexandra had it set with the current rubies as she thought the original opals were unlucky. I think it would be a pretty tiara for a young woman and with opals so fashionable now it would be ideal with it's original stones reset.

http://royal-jewels1.tripod.com/et/india.html

[A.C.C.]

I think when William becomes king he will, of course, inherit the entire vast collection of jewels, but until that time, I think William's wife will wear the Lover's Knot Tiara and she might have one more, that's it.

[wymanda]

Has the Spencer tiara been returned permanently to the family or is Earl Spencer holding it in trust for Williams wife? My understanding was that the tiara was Diana's wedding present from her father.

[branchg]

Originally Posted by wymanda

Has the Spencer tiara been returned permanently to the family or is Earl Spencer holding it in trust for Williams wife? My understanding was that the tiara was Diana's wedding present from her father.

The Spencer tiara Diana wore on her wedding day and throughout her marriage was a loan from her brother, who inherited this tiara when his grandfather died in 1975. The Earl Spencer allowed Diana to continue wearing it until he married Victoria and Diana separated from Prince Charles. At that time, Diana returned it at his request.

The Lover's Knot tiara was a gift from the Queen and was returned to her after Diana's death. It is likely to reappear, along with Diana's other jewels, when William gets married.

[iowabelle]

I have always thought it would be a lovely gesture if Earl Spencer were to loan William's wife the Spencer tiara for her wedding. Just to add a touch of remembrance to the event.

[runaway princess]

Originally Posted by iowabelle

I have always thought it would be a lovely gesture if Earl Spencer were to loan William's wife the Spencer tiara for her wedding. Just to add a touch of remembrance to the event.

I agreee..but unfortunately the family is still distant with each other..

[iowabelle]

William's wedding, or Harry's, would be an excellent time to mend some bridges. (Although I'm not sure what the senior Windsors would think.)

It's obvious both boys have expressed pride in their mother and her heritage when they selected scallop shells for their coats of arms.

[branchg]

Originally Posted by iowabelle

I have always thought it would be a lovely gesture if Earl Spencer were to loan William's wife the Spencer tiara for her wedding. Just to add a touch of remembrance to the event.

Not really appropriate since William may (1) marry another aristocrat who will wear her own family's tiara for her wedding day; (2) marry a commoner who will likely wear a royal tiara (most likely the Lover's Knot Tiara worn by Diana).

[wymanda]

Originally Posted by branchg

marry a commoner who will likely wear a royal tiara (most likely the Lover's Knot Tiara worn by Diana).

God I hope not! There are so many lovely old tiaras in the royal vaults that need an airing. I hope she gets to wear something like the Nizam of Hyderabad (now that we know it still exists).

[Warren]

Originally Posted by iowabelle

I have always thought it would be a lovely gesture if Earl Spencer were to loan William's wife the Spencer tiara for her wedding. Just to add a touch of remembrance to the event.

I find this a bit icky. Isn't it tantamount to "crowning" William's bride as "the new Diana"? I don't think the bride-to-be would have a bar of it. She will be under enough pressure and scrutiny as it is; why would she go out of her way to invite and encourage the inevitable Diana comparisons? Either a Royal tiara, or one from the bride's own family, would be more appropriate, IMO. Perhaps a Spencer motif in the bridal gown embroidery would be OK. In any case, aren't weddings about looking forward rather than looking back? But I can understand that in William's mind he would be wishing his mother was there to witness his marriage. So there will be emotional elements on several levels. Will be interesting when it happens!
.

[Fireweaver]

I believe it was just for her lifetime, and not something she could inherit.

[justine]

isn't it the Spencer tiara and thus remains in the Spencer family in possession of Spencer?
I always thought that Diana borrowed it often because it was a family piece (and much lighter than the Lover's Knot). The other sisters as well as Countess Spencer all have the 'right' to wear it don't they. Victoria Lockwood wore it when she married the (then) Viscount Althorp.

Who in that family would have refused the (then) future queen the right to wear a family heirloom anyway?

Has anyone ever seen pix of other female family members wearing this tiara by chance?

[wymanda]

Hello! did publish some photo's of Diana's grandmother wearing the tiara.
I would have thought that the Spencers would have wanted it worn by Diana's descendants to remind everyone that they were Spencers as well as Windsors.

[A.C.C.]

Don't the Spencer's have another tiara besides the one worn by Diana? I think the Spencer Tiara worn by Diana should be a wedding gift to William's wife, but they could still be able to borrow it from her. They won't need a tiara but for select events like a wedding, if they are invited to a ball or state event, or a coronation (of either Charles or William), because all peers and peeresses are invited.

Anyway, it would be a nice gesture to give William's wife that Spencer Tiara (if they have another tiara for themselves).

[Fireweaver]

There's talk that they own another one, but I haven't seen any current Spencer ladies wearing it.
Diana's step mother (Or was it step grandmother? Raine Spencer does have one that was bought for her/bought by her, but she's under no obligation to give it to the Spencer family.

[wymanda]

Perhaps some of Diana's other jewels will be remodelled for Williams wife.

I would like to see the Sapphire & Diamond brooch which Diana wore as the centre piece of a choker, incorporated into a tiara. Perhaps with a triple row of pearls to commemorate how Diana wore it??

[wymanda]

I wish I could draw because there are some great ideas running around in my head!! I'd be greatful if someone could translate this one.

Perhaps the brooch as a centrepiece with a base of baguette diamonds, three rows of pearls separated by blue enamel bars every three pearls. The whole piece tapering away at the back Kokoshnik style.

[Lady Jean]

Wymanda I love your idea for a choker w/that huge sapphire. I have always thought the way Diana had it was a bit of a dowdy style.
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I highly doubt William would have his wife wear the tiaras associated so closely with his mother. It would be very unfair to his wife: the comparisons, expectations, etc. There will be plenty of jewels for his wife to choose from, and she will surely get some fabulous gifts from other royal families just as the previous royal fiancees/wives have.

Perhaps the Spencer tiara with the Greek key design has since been restyled or sold. The only other photo I have seen of it is in the book "Ancestral Jewels", Diana's grandmother Cynthia is wearing it. THe tiara certainly has a distinctive design, but I wouldn't say it is pretty.

[Fireweaver]

that's why if they still have it, they should make it into two different ones :)

[wymanda]

I think he might want to pay tribute in a lasting way to his mother and what better way than to convert a piece of jewellery that was closely identified with her into a substantial tiara. Also, once Charles becomes King and if he remarries quite a large number of the current pieces would be worn by his wife, wether she is crowned Queen or not. This would leave only the Cambridge Lovers Knot for a new Princess of Wales. Remember that Diana had the Spencer piece as well. A Pncss of W would look a little poor if she had only one tiara to wear!