The two tiaras picutred are the honeycomb tiara, which was left to the Queen Mother by a wealthy friend, and the Indian tiara, which was created for Queen Victoria (with opals subsequently replaced by rubies).
There were the only two The Queen Mother worn in her latter years. She posessed quite a number of tiaras, some she gave to Princess Margaret (the papyrus and the halo tiaras, for example) but for some reason only wore these two after her daugther's accesion.
Is it because they belonged to the Crown, and since her daughter succeeded the Queen Mum's husband, that the jewels of the crown went to QEII for her use?
I'm sure of course that the Queen wouldn't have begrudged her mother any tiaras, but maybe the Queen Mum didn't want to upstage her daughter at events?
The tiara is also a necklace. Pictures scanned from Tiaras: A History of Splendor by Geoffrey C. Munn
1. The Queen Mum wears the necklace as a tiara to concert w/ the royal family in attendence
2. The necklace/tiara
3. Princess Margaret wears the necklace w/the tiara she wore for her wedding
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Real princesses always wear sleeves so why do we all go for strapless?
This is my first post, and I am not english speaking (Please excuse me for my language mistakes.).
I'm particularily interested into the english royal collection, which I know more and more reading your posts.
I was specially pleased to see this very good picture of Camilla wearing Queen Alexandra's welsh diamond and emerald brooch. I think it is the first time it appears again since The Queen Mother wore it for Charles intronisation as Prince of Wales. (The picture, then, was not as good !)
The brooch looks like a larger version of the diamond and emerald pendant Diana as worn a lot at a time (given to her by The Queen Mother as a wedding present).
Leslie FIELD describes these two pieces as part of the welsh presents to Alexandra of Danmark when she married the Prince of Wales, future Edward VII. She also talks about a wide diamond, pearl and emerald bracelet as part of the lot. It seems that The Queen Mother wore it a lot.
Any picture of it ?
Could this be the necklace that Sophie of Wessex converted into a tiara for a wedding she went to. It looks very similiar.
No one knows for sure the provenance of the tiara Sophie wore at the Danish wedding, but it isn't the Teck necklace that Princess Margaret wore. It is speculated that Sophie's tiara may have been the base of an aquamarine tiara owned by Prince Philip's mother, Princess Alice.
The Queen Mother seemed to have many emerald pieces of jewelley. She often wore two brooches. One was a large diamond cluster emerald brooch with a pear-cut diamond drops. The other was a gold floral brooch incrusted with small emeralds and diamonds. She occasionnaly wore an impressive diamond cluster emerald necklace, with a cluster pendant, (inherited from her friend Lady GREVILLE), different emerald and diamond bracelets (quintets, cluster, art-deco...) and earrings.
Pictures are rare about these. Can anyone help me with more informations about the emeralds owned by The Queen Mother and The Queen ?
Can anyone help me with more informations about the emeralds owned by The Queen Mother and The Queen ?
Gael, you could start with the two books that have the most information and photos of the British Royal Jewels: The Jewels of Queen Elizabeth II, Her Personal Collection by Leslie Field; The Royal Jewels by Suzy Menkes.
Gael, you could start with the two books that have the most information and photos of the British Royal Jewels: The Jewels of Queen Elizabeth II, Her Personal Collection by Leslie Field; The Royal Jewels by Suzy Menkes.
The first one is my bible, and I am waiting for the second. But L. FIELD shows and describes a few items (mainly the emerald "Durbar parure"), not all of them. I'm looking for good pictures of the others (for example, the Queen Mother's necklace and bracelets).
The first one is my bible, and I am waiting for the second. But L. FIELD shows and describes a few items (mainly the emerald "Durbar parure"), not all of them. I'm looking for good pictures of the others (for example, the Queen Mother's necklace and bracelets).
When you get the Suzy Menkes book you'll have the same information as many members. Those are the two primary sources.
The more recent Geoffrey Munn magnum opus Tiaras: A History of Splendour is a must-have if you are into glittering head ornaments. :)
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