Today at Hidden Gems, I wrote the second in a series of articles on the last will and testament of Grand Duchess Augusta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and the jewels that she bequeathed (and didn’t) to her niece, Queen Mary. As a bonus here today, I’ve got an interesting selection of my earlier articles showcasing just a fraction of Mary’s incredible jewelry collection. Enjoy!
A Queen, a Grand Duchess, and the Fate of Two Sparkling Royal Tiaras: The Will of Grand Duchess Augusta (Part 2)
[Hidden Gems Exclusive]
I’ve been spending a fair bit of time recently digging in to the bejeweled details of several recently unsealed royal wills. Today at Hidden Gems, I’m bringing you the conclusion of our exploration of the will of Grand Duchess Augusta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who owned two of history’s most iconic British royal tiaras, both of which were coveted by her niece, Queen Mary.
Queen Mary’s Teck Turquoise Tiara
Queen Mary’s jewelry box, at one point or another, seemed to contain jewels set with gems in every color of the rainbow. But one of her earliest, and perhaps most sentimental, complete jewelry suites was this turquoise parure.
Queen Mary’s Ladies of England Tiara
The incredible wedding gift haul given to the couple was highlighted in newspapers across the country in July 1893. May, in particular, received an astonishing number of fabulous jewels. Among these was a convertible diamond and pearl tiara from Hunt & Roskell, a gift from a committee of 650 women calling themselves the “Ladies of England.”
Queen Mary’s Lost (and Hidden!) Royal Portrait Tiara and Jewels
There are generally two dates given online for this particular royal portrait session. Some outlets and agencies date the photographs to 1902, while the Royal Collection states that the pictures were taken in 1905. The latter date seems to be the accurate one. The session took place at the studios of W.&D. Downey in London, likely a few weeks before Mary and George embarked on a royal tour of India in November 1905.
The Fascinating History of Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau Tiara
The bandeau has its roots in Queen Mary’s wedding gift collection. Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, as she was then, received a spectacular group of jewels as wedding presents when she married Prince George, Duke of York in July 1893. The couple became King George V and Queen Mary in 1910.
Queen Mary’s Incredible Royal Tiara Legacy
Queen Mary lived through a remarkable six royal reigns—Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, King George V, King Edward VIII, King George VI, and Queen Elizabeth II—and significantly helped to shape the modern monarchy. She also left behind a major collection of royal jewels, most of which ended up with her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II. Today, we’re looking at five tiaras worn by the Queen that come from Queen Mary’s collection.
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