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| Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images |
Princess Grace of Monaco wears her diamond tiara at a gala performance at the Champs Elysee Theatre in Paris, April 1967; read more about the tiara’s history here!
Grand Duchess Hilda’s Tiara Stolen
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| Handout image provided by the Badisches Landesmuseum |
Sad news to report from the jewelry world today: the grand diamond tiara once owned by Grand Duchess Hilda of Baden has been stolen from its home in a Karlsruhe museum.
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| Wikimedia Commons |
The Associated Press reports that the tiara was discovered to be missing from the Badisches Landesmuseum on Saturday, April 29. The tiara was taken from a locked display in the museum’s throne room. (The museum is housed in the former grand ducal palace.) Staff are reportedly perplexed about the methods the thieves used to steal the tiara, as all security measures in the museum were up to international standards. They also aren’t sure if thieves were aiming to steal the piece because of its history or because they simple wanted to remove the diamonds.
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| Grand Duchess Hilda (Grand Ladies Site) |
The tiara, which has an estimated value of around $1.31 million, is made of gold and platinum and set with 367 diamonds. It was made for Grand Duchess Hilda, who was born a princess of Nassau, in the early part of the 20th century. The museum names the tiara’s maker as a Baden-based court jeweler, Schmidt-Staub.
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| Wikimedia Commons |
The museum’s director, Eckart Köhne, said on Monday: “The diadem is a significant piece of the history of Baden and invaluable to the museum.” The Baden-Wuerttemberg police were informed of the theft shortly after it was discovered, but with no leads, they turned to the public on Monday for help. They are currently seeking anyone with any information about the theft, including possible witnesses to the crime.
A Tiara for Meghan Markle?
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| Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images |
This weekend, the British press caught Prince Harry’s girlfriend, Meghan Markle, watching him play in the Audi Polo Challenge. The appearance was reminiscent of some of Kate Middleton’s polo pop-ups before her engagement to Prince William, and the outing has set the rumor mill racing.
I think it’s safe to say that Harry’s relationship has entered very serious territory, so you know what that means: it’s time to start a little good-natured premature speculation about Meghan’s royal wedding tiara! 😉 Here are my four choices from the royal vaults…
The Cartier Bracelet Bandeau
Meghan’s style tends toward the sleek and modern, so I think one of the coolest options available would be the triple-bracelet bandeau once owned by the Queen Mother. Made by Cartier, the set features five Deco-style interchangeable bracelets: two set with only diamonds, one set with diamonds and rubies, one set with diamonds and emeralds, and one set with diamonds and sapphires. Although the piece hasn’t been worn in public as a tiara since the 1930s, the Queen still owns and wears the individual bracelets, and I have a feeling the tiara fittings for the piece are still around in the royal vault. Perhaps Meghan could wear diamonds and sapphires, conveniently donning something old (antique), borrowed (from the Queen), new (to her!), and blue?
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| Wikimedia Commons |
The Strathmore Rose Tiara
On the opposite side of the tiara spectrum is the Strathmore Rose, the delicate floral tiara that the Queen Mother received as a wedding present from her parents. There are persistent rumors that the tiara, which hasn’t been worn in public in decades, is in disrepair, but it was photographed for Hugh Roberts’s diamond book in 2012 and looked to be in excellent condition. If Meghan wants to go bohemian for her wedding, the tiara includes one frame that allows it to be worn across the forehead; she could go for an “English rose” look with the piece’s second frame, which situates it more traditionally atop the wearer’s head.
Queen Mary’s Sapphire Bandeau
One of the most glam tiaras lurking in the royal vaults is the diamond and sapphire bandeau worn by Queen Mary and Princess Margaret. The piece is said to have come from the jewelry collection of Empress Marie Feodorovna of Russia, and it features a single sapphire in a cluster of diamonds, flanked on either side by a frame with a diamond sunray design. The diadem would be one of the most unusual royal wedding tiaras worn by a Windsor bride, but it would be a stunning statement.
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| Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images |
Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara
Two Windsor brides — the Queen and Princess Anne — have worn this diamond fringe tiara on their wedding days. It’s currently owned by the Queen, but it was made for Queen Mary almost a century ago. The Queen has only worn it once in public since inheriting it from the Queen Mother in 2002, and loaning it to Meghan would be a clear sign of royal approval. It’s also both classic and packed with diamonds, the perfect marriage of sleek and sparkling for a modern princess.
Meghan Markle flies into UK to watch boyfriend #princeharry play polo at semi-formal engagement raising money for charity. #royals pic.twitter.com/0ufRXn3NOW— Emily Andrews (@byEmilyAndrews) May 6, 2017
What do you think: is an engagement on the way for Prince Harry and Meghan? Which tiara would you like to see her wear if they end up at the altar?