History of Famous Jewels and Collections: Re: Princess Alexandra of Kent's grandmother brooch

Wow !

Thanks Beth for all these infos !

You are so good at finding information and descriptions in old newspaper !

I had no date for the picture with the brooch worn on the Princess' hat.

Both events were before her wedding in 1963. So the brooch can't be a wedding gift.

It's maybe a bequest from her grandmother who died in 1957, just few years earlier, or a loan or gift from her own mother Princess Marina.

As Marina wed in 1934, and her mother, Princess Helen, wore the brooch that same year (my first photo), I don't think she gave it to her as a wedding gift but I can be wrong of course.

Regarding the stones in the brooch, I guess it can be sapphires.

1-They look dark on the b&w photos, as emeralds, rubies and sapphires do.

2-If the Princess wore a deep blue outfit on the 1961 photo, I can't imagine her wearing rubies or emeralds with that color... (but not impossible: I think of Queen Anne Marie of Greece wearing her emeralds with a blue gown)

Thanks again.

J-F

Previous Message

J-F's marvelous find has captured my interest and so I did some hunting in the press.

Alas, I have found nothing more than the occasions when the photos were taken and reports on the colour of Princess Alexandra's ensemble on one occasion.

None of what I found gives us any real clues, so I wondered if the earrings Princess Alexandra wore on Ladies' Day (J-F's first photo) might give us some clues. Is anyone familiar with them?

Re J-F's first photo.

It was taken on Ladies Day, Ascot, 1961.

According to the press Princess Alexandra wore a deep blue or royal blue off the peg dress and coat with a white hat.

Re J-F's second photo.

It was taken when Princess Alexandra visited the British Industries Trade Fair at Stockholm at the end of May 1962.