Today at Hidden Gems, I’m delving into yet another recently unsealed royal will. As we discuss the life and legacy of Grand Duchess Augusta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, here’s a roundup of articles on her jewelry from our archives.
A Profusion of Royal Sapphires and Diamonds: The Will of Grand Duchess Augusta (Part 1)
[Hidden Gems exclusive]
Grand Duchess Augusta, the aunt and confidant of Queen Mary, had to revise her will–and her jewelry bequests–after a series of unfortunate family events at the dawn of the twentieth century.
Georgian Royal Jewels on Display at Buckingham Palace
Grand Duchess Augusta and Queen Mary were both dedicated jewelry collectors. One of the most striking things made clear by these Royal Collection exhibitions is just how essential Queen Mary was to the assembling—inheriting, purchasing, reacquiring, etc.—of the collection itself. The anecdotes about Mary pressuring people to give her various objects are highly exaggerated, but she was a keen and skilled collector who certainly valued historical artifacts.
King George IV’s Royal Family Order Featured at Sotheby’s
George IV was the first British monarch to distribute the kinds of royal family order badges that have become a standard part of gala dress for royal ladies over the past two centuries. The orders are worn pinned at the shoulder on formal occasions. The badges regularly feature a miniature portrait of the monarch, surrounded by diamonds, and suspended from ribbons. One of these was given to his niece, Princess Augusta of Cambridge.
Queen Mary’s jewelry collection included several complete parures featuring colorful gemstones. Today, we’re talking about the history of one of those sets–the Cambridge Sapphires–as well as their current royal status today.
Princess Augusta’s Shimmering Lover’s Knot Tiara
The story of this special royal tiara begins with a tragedy. In November 1817, King George III’s only legitimate grandchild, Princess Charlotte of Wales, died after giving birth to a stillborn son. Though King George and Queen Charlotte’s marriage had produced a remarkable 15 children, only a handful of them had married, and by the end of 1817, none of them had living, legitimate children.
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