According to the media, during the reign of Queen Victoria, Maids of Honour who married while in service to the Queen traditionally received one thousand pounds. Perhaps that is one reason why the Queen was known not to favour marriages among her Maids of Honour.

King Edward and Queen Alexandra varied the custom giving gifts of jewels instead of cash.



When Dorothy Vivian and Mary Dyke married Douglas Haig and Captain Bell respectively in July 1905 both King Edward and Queen Alexandra attended their wedding and presented each lady with a tiara as a wedding gift.




Detail


Unfortunately I could not find any photos or sketches of the wedding gifts each bride received.

Neither bride wore a jewelled tiara for their wedding, although Dorothy Vivian wore a jewelled necklace, but I don't think it is the tiara which she can be seen wearing in later years.



Mary Dyke (Mrs Bell) is not featured frequently in the press after her marriage, and sadly I couldn't find any images of her wearing a tiara.

Dorothy Vivian (Mrs Douglas Haig) has a much more visible presence, perhaps because her husband became a renowned general.

Tiara she wore for formal portraits can be seen being worn by her descendants, but whether it is the one given to her by Queen Alexandra is unknown. Perhaps it is.



Irene Haig as a bride in 1945


When Adrienne Morley married the then Earl Haig in 1956 she too wore the Haig family tiara.



Detail


Dorothy Vivian (Lady Haig) had one other interesting jewel seen in photos: a pearl necklace. It seems to have been her principal necklace.

1918


1922