History of Famous Jewels and Collections: Re: How did Queen Victoria’s emerald parure come to be owned by Duke of Fife? A possibility?

I think Maud is wearing the sapphire necklace originally given in 1888 to Alexandra as a silver wedding gift by her sister Dagmar and Alexander III ..it was sold after Mauds death

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I think that it is likely that Queen Victoria's parure may have belonged to Princess Maud of Fife, also known as Lady Maud Carnegie and Countess of Southesk. (I'll refer to her as Lady Maud Carnegie here as that is how she is referred to in the press reports I have found)

As I am sure everyone remembers she married Lord Carnegie, heir to the Earl of Southesk, in 1923.

Queen Victoria's emerald parure was not listed amongst her wedding gifts.

In early June 1924 the press reported that she had worn a diamond and emerald tiara to the Caledonian Ball. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a photo of that event or Lady Maud Carnegie.

Report of the tiara

The next reference I found for her wearing emeralds was for a ball in Scotland in 1933. At this she was reported to have worn emerald earrings and an emerald bracelet.

1933

None of the above goes any where near proving that Lady Maud Carnegie had the emerald parure.

What has made me wonder is an image I found a long time ago of her at the Russian Ball in London in 1939.

I haven't found a description of her jewels which might confirm that this was an emerald necklace, however, when I looked at a blurry image of Caroline Dewar, as Duchess of Fife, wearing the necklace in 1960, I began to wonder. I personally think it is the same necklace. What do others think?

A slightly better image which is floating on the net. (Everyone seems to have used it!)

A side by side comparison

If Lady Maud Carnegie did own Queen Victoria's parure (I think she did) and wore the tiara in 1924, to my way of thinking, that rules out a transmission through the Duke of Connaught. If the Dukes of Fife inherited the parure through Lady Maud, then it seems more likely that it was inherited by Edward VII and given by him to his daughter, Louise, Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife. Alternatively, Queen Alexandra may have inherited the suite and passed it to her daughter or directly to Lady Maud Carnegie.

Although Lady Maud Carnegie attended numerous Court functions, there is very rarely a description of her jewels; usually the only description covers the colour of her dress!!