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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.