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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

The George IV Diamond Diadem

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When the Queen gives her annual speech at the State Opening of Parliament later today, she’ll do so wearing the Imperial State Crown. (Read all about that crown over here!) But on her way to and from Westminster, she’ll wear another piece of heirloom royal jewelry: the diamond diadem that belonged to King George IV.

Although the diamond diadem is today worn exclusively by British queens, it was actually made for a British king. George IV ordered the crown from Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell in 1820. The jeweler finished the diadem that May, constructing it out of silver, gold, diamonds, and pearls. (Here are some great close-up photos courtesy the Royal Collection.) The diadem was charged to a special account set up for costs related to George’s coronation, which took place the following year.

Detail of Hayter’s portrait of Victoria, ca. 1838 [source]

At the time, it was common practice for the British royals to rent gemstones for major events like coronations. After the coronation was over, the stones were simply removed from various crowns and diadems and sent back to the jeweler. (This stopped after Queen Victoria’s coronation in 1837.)

For George IV’s diadem, the stones were initially rented — a fee that ended up being charged a second time when the controversy over Queen Caroline delayed the coronation — but Rundall and Bridge ended up simply selling the stones to the royal family rather than removing them from the delicate settings of the diadem. The 1,333 diamonds set in the diadem, including a rare pale-yellow stone in the center of one of the crosses, are the original stones from 1820.

George IV wore the diadem, which features English roses, Scottish thistles, and Irish shamrocks, on his way to Westminster Abbey for his coronation. On that occasion, the diadem was worn with a large purple velvet cap, which was adorned with an ostrich feather. Reportedly the cap was so large that it obscured most of the brilliant diamonds of the diadem.

George’s reign was a relatively short one. The diadem was inherited by his sister-in-law, Queen Adelaide, only a decade after it was made. Since then, the diadem has been in the jewel collection of every British queen, both regnant and consort: Victoria, Alexandra, Mary, Elizabeth (the Queen Mum), and Elizabeth II. The diadem has also been altered slightly three different times over the past two centuries: for the coronations of Victoria (1838), Alexandra (1902), and the Queen Mother (1937).

Queen Elizabeth II wore the diadem for the first time in public at her very first state opening of parliament in 1952.

She then followed in George IV’s footsteps when she wore it on the way to her own coronation in 1953 (pictured above).

The diadem also features in one of my favorite portraits of the Queen: the cartoon-like cover of a ladies’ magazine special edition from the time of the coronation. The colorful mid-century image of the Queen was painted by the Welsh artist Margaret Lindsay Williams.

Stay tuned later today: you’ll be sure to spot the Queen wearing two hundred years of bejeweled history atop her royal crown!

The Top Ten: Bandeau Tiaras

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The Top Ten: Bandeau Tiaras

They may not be the biggest or mightiest of tiaras, but I have a soft spot in my heart for the humble bandeau. Sparkly with a vintage flair, these tiaras tend to be lightweight, easy to wear, and flattering even on modern hairstyles. Be sure to chime in with a list of your favorite bandeaux in the comments below!



10. The Diamond Daisy Bandeau

When Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby married Crown Prince Haakon of Norway in 2001, she embodied cool, minimalist Scandinavian style. Her wedding bandeau was a vintage piece that complemented that aesthetic perfectly. Reportedly made during the Edwardian era, the bandeau is a delicate row of diamond-studded daisies. It was a gift to the new crown princess from her husband’s parents, King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway.

9. The Swedish Aquamarine Bandeau

It’s a tradition for Scandinavian princesses to receive a tiara as an 18th birthday present, and Princess Madeleine of Sweden’s birthday gift tiara was a vintage bandeau. The tiara, which features a single large aquamarine suspended between two thin bands of diamonds, was reportedly worn by Queen Louise in the 1920s. The tiara has been worn both atop the head and, in true ’20s style, across the forehead.

8. The Luxembourg Amethyst and Pearl Bandeau

The jewel vaults of the grand ducal family of Luxembourg are full of bandeau tiaras set with a variety of gemstones, including citrines, aquamarines, and pearls. This golden bandeau, worn above in the 1970s by Princess Marie-Astrid, features oval-shaped amethysts interspersed with rows of seed pearls. The tiara was recently worn by one of the family’s newest members, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie.

7. The Turquoise Daisy Bandeau

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark’s nickname is “Daisy,” so it’s only fair that she should have her own delicate bandeau made of daisies. This tiara is nearly the twin of Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s daisy bandeau; however, this one includes small turquoises interspersed between the diamonds, making it a perfect partner to Margrethe’s growing collection of modern turquoise jewelry.

6. The Strathmore Rose Tiara

The Queen Mum was a true ’20s princess when she joined the British royal family, and she had plenty of bandeau tiaras to keep up with the latest fashions. One of the most lovely was the small diamond floral tiara given to her as a wedding present by her parents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore. The tiara was made in the late 19th century, but it had two frames: one that allowed it to be worn atop the wearer’s head, and another that let it drop down across the forehead.

5. Queen Marie-José’s Seed Pearl Bandeau

Now owned by the German state of Baden-Württemberg, this tiara originally belonged to Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Baden. It was later lengthened to be worn bandeau-style by Marie-José, the last queen of Italy. Its delicate pattern of seed pearls echoes the shape of a coronet.

4. The Nine Provinces Tiara

The tiara reserved for Belgian queens, the Nine Provinces Tiara, can be worn in various forms, but my favorite is without a doubt the delicate meander bandeau of the tiara’s base. Made by Van Bever for Queen Astrid in the 1920s, it has been worn by every Belgian queen since. When Queen Mathilde began wearing the tiara, she originally selected just to wear the bandeau, saving the bigger version for later.



3. Empress Marie Feodorovna’s Sapphire Bandeau

We don’t really know that this gorgeous diamond and sapphire bandeau belonged to Empress Marie Feodorovna of Russia, but tradition links the piece to her. Regardless of its provenance, it’s one of the most gorgeous bandeaux in the British royal collection. Worn in the 20th century by Queen Mary and Princess Margaret, this one hasn’t been seen in years — but I’d love to see one of the young Windsor princesses give it a whirl!





2. The Emerald Wreath Bandeau

Francesca von Habsburg, who is married to the head of the House of Habsburg, often wears a bandeau featuring emeralds and diamonds set in a wreath pattern. The tiara was originally owned by a different royal family: it was a silver wedding anniversary present given to Empress Augusta Viktoria of Germany. From her, it moved into the collection of the Hanoverian royal family, and when they auctioned it, it was bought by the Habsburgs. The bandeau can also be worn as a necklace.

1. The Dutch Diamond Bandeau

With more than a hundred total carats of diamonds, this diamond bandeau is perhaps the grandest of them all. Made in the 1930s using stones from one of Queen Emma’s necklaces, the tiara has become one of Queen Máxima’s trademarks. It’s easy to see why: the platinum tiara is reportedly light and very easy to integrate into various hairstyles. And it has serious, serious sparkle under candlelight!

Queen Máxima’s Inauguration Jewels

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As we wrap up our month-long look at the jewels of Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, we’re going to explore the history of the jewels that she wore on one of the most important days of her royal life: the inauguration of her husband, Willem-Alexander, as king.

The majestic sapphire and diamond tiara worn by Máxima at the inauguration has been in the Dutch royal collection for more than a century. It was made by Maison van der Stichel, a Dutch jewelry firm, around 1881. That’s the year that King Willem III ordered the tiara and its coordinating parure from Vita Israël, a jewelry broker based in Amsterdam. The sapphires in the tiara were sourced from Sri Lanka.

Queen Wilhelmina (left) and Queen Emma at Wilhelmina’s inauguration, 1898 [source]

Máxima wasn’t the first Dutch queen to wear the sapphire tiara at an inauguration. In 1898, Queen Emma wore the tiara at the inauguration ceremony for her daughter, Queen Wilhelmina.

The tiara as worn by Máxima at the inauguration wasn’t actually the largest setting of the piece. In the picture above, you can see Máxima wearing the tiara during a recent state visit to Denmark. Note that the tiara is just a bit taller: there’s an additional grouping of diamonds at the tiara’s peak.

The earrings worn by Máxima were made for the king’s aunt, Princess Margriet, using gemstones from the sapphire and diamond tiara given to Queen Wilhelmina as a wedding present by the Dutch people in 1901.

Máxima also wore a magnificent sapphire and diamond brooch pinned to her cape. The piece features a large sapphire pendant, surrounded by diamonds, suspended from a diamond bow brooch. It’s also from the family’s sapphire parure. The large sapphire pendant is also sometimes worn in a setting that includes another large sapphire and a pair of diamond wings; Máxima chose this setting of the brooch for the recent Danish state visit.