Another interesting possibility, I suppose if the frame were to be stitched on to a fabric headband then removing the ribbon would make it lay flatter.

I’m not sure exactly what Garrard would have done in regards to repairing it after Alfred Stopford got it out of Russia but I suppose as there would no longer have been a need to sew it on to a backing then maybe they would have just soldered it all together as one piece. Not to say that they couldn’t have removed the ribbon again if instructed to but the stones would have to be un set and that might have led to damaging them for the future.

Thanks for wonderful feedback, I do like doing these long reads (when I stop procrastinating). I think I might do the Cambridge Emeralds/Delhi Durbhar next so stay stuned