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.

[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!

[Fireweaver]

Maybe Charles will be more willing to share the jewels with his sons' wives (Yeah, I'm jumpng ahead a few years here) then his mother was? Her majesty bought Sarah and Sophie's tiaras rather then giving them historical pieces.

[wymanda]

Originally posted by Fireweaver@Feb 17th, 2004 - 5:37 pm
Maybe Charles will be more willing to share the jewels with his sons' wives (Yeah, I'm jumpng ahead a few years here) then his mother was? Her majesty bought Sarah and Sophie's tiaras rather then giving them historical pieces.

My understanding was that Sophie's tiara was achieved by remodelling one of Queen Alexandra's pieces that had not been worn in decades. Is there any proof that they were purchased?

[justine]

or any proof to which one of Queen Alexandra's tiara's this might have originally been?

[wymanda]

Originally posted by justine@Feb 17th, 2004 - 8:07 pm
or any proof to which one of Queen Alexandra's tiara's this might have originally been?

I'm not sure what it was called but there was a picture of her dressed in black wearing the tiara and a line of diamond stars down the front of the dress.

[justine]

are you referring to the Rundell tiara?

a while back I posted a picture that compares the Rundell and Sophie's tiara as well as the honeysuckle tiara.

The Rundell doesn't seem to have any real similarity to Sophie's tiara.

at Danjel's.......
Queen Alexandra's Rundell Tiara http://groups.msn.com/RoyaltyDanjel2/gbrundellw.msnw

Wessex Wedding Tiara http://groups.msn.com/RoyaltyDanjel2/gbwessexw.msnw

Princess Mary's Diamond Honeysuckle Tiara
http://groups.msn.com/RoyaltyDanjel2...ydiamondw.msnw

[wymanda]

Can we get back onto the topic of what jewels will be available to William's wife either as Princess of Wales or as Princess William (if he marries before Charles becomes King).

[wymanda]

However, William may want the tiara for his wife as it is so closely identified with his mother.