Note: As I mentioned yesterday I have not finished searching for information about Queen Alexandra's pearl and diamond tiara --so what is below is not complete; however, it does attest to the fact that she had a pearl and diamond tiara, which has flown under the radar.

Shortly after her wedding Queen Alexandra (as Princess of Wales) was recorded wearing pearls and diamonds as part of her headdress. I presume that initially this may have been made with brooches as indicated by this report of a reception held in Denmark in September 1864.

Times 24 September 1864



The following report does not make it clear if a tiara was used or if an improvised headdress was used for a Drawing Room held by Queen Victoria.

Morning Post 10 March 1866.



By 1868 the press was reporting a tiara being worn as for a banquet at Dublin Castle.

Freeman's Journal 20 April 1868.


I don't seem to have yet collected cuttings from the 1870s but there are numerous references to HM wearing a pearl and diamond tiara in the 1880s. Below are some - chosen at random.

For a State Ball in July 1889



For a Drawing Room May 1889



For a State Concert



What I have not been able to find is an image, either a photo or a sketch, of Queen Alexandra wearing this pearl and diamond tiara.

It is possible that she may have used her wedding tiara with elements consisting of pearls and diamonds, or she may have had an entirely different, separate jewel.

The Kent tiara, like the turquoise tiara now worn by Princess Astrid, has Gothic type spires as the dominant elements. Of course this is not proof that the Kent tiara was owned by Queen Alexandra. All I can prove is that Queen Alexandra did wear a pearl and diamond tiara. She continued to wear a similarly described item after she became Queen, but in that era she had access to the Diamond Diadem and it is most likely that she was wearing the diadem, especially on grand state occasions.