History of Famous Jewels and Collections: Re: Princess Marina Festoon Tiara

I also think that QM may have left the tiara to Marina.

She might have been also given a collet necklace at the death of QM.

Indeed I have noticed that she had/wore 2 collet necklaces + a longer collet necklace before the death of QM :

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After the death of QM she had/wore 3 collet necklaces + a longer collet necklace (I have seen a photo of QM wearing 4 collet necklaces at once) at the Shah's Visit in 1959 (See youtube).

She might have worn her collet necklace (the shorter one) given by QM (maybe her own wedding present) with her pearl and diamond tiara also from QM for the first time at the coronation of QEII in 1953 :

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Franck

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I also think that QM may have left it to Marina or it may have been also a piece purchased from the second wave of ship wrecked monarchies from WW2 but that's pure supposition.

I also believe that QM also started to wear somewhat smaller tiara's post WW2 as well. Perhaps relegating a newly purchased piece to a wishful position.

It would be very interesting if it is a QA piece as it could indicate a fair bit of QA's collection survived Mary's love of a reset.

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I really don't know where to start in any reply Marc. It is a complicated matter.

Every time I go back to research this tiara, I seem to get side tracked, so what I say may have little foundation.

The earliest wearing of this tiara by the Duchess of Kent which I can find is at the coronation in 1953.

That is why I say it did not appear until after the death of Queen Mary. I suspect that Queen Mary left the tiara to Princess Marina. I have also wondered if the tiara may have originally belonged to Queen Alexandra, who did have a diamond and pearl tiara -- but we have no photos of that.

The other classic photo of Princess Marina wearing the tiara was not published in the press until the end of 1953.

I think it is accepted that, after the death of the Duke of Kent, Princess Marina was short of money, so I cannot see that she would have purchased this herself as she had to sell furniture etc at various times. If Queen Mary left her a substantial amount of cash, perhaps she purchased it. But I am still inclined to the theory (and I stress it is just a theory) that Queen Mary left her this tiara.

Unfortunately, I am not feeling 100% today but, if I am better tomorrow, I will upload the cuttings I have about Queen Alexandra's tiara.