However if that had occurred and at the same time all the jewels owned by Queens Victoria, Alexandra and Mary had passed on to Queen Elizabeth II, the Swedes might end up having the prettiest pieces, but the British numbers would be much larger as their collection would be enormous.
Items from Queen Victoria's collection given outside the mainline: Turquoise, emerald and sapphire tiaras & suites designed by Albert, plus the ruby & diamond strawberry tiara, the pearl & diamond Aga Khan tiara, small sun-ray tiara, and pearl & lasque diamond tiara. Also the wonderful diamonds from the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire that she wore to her wedding. There are more.
From Q.Alexandra's collection the British mainline no longer has her valuable "Rundell" wedding gift tiara, and Norway obtained her turquoise tiara and maltese cross and fleur de lis diadem plus other jewels. Her amethyst parure is gone and also her sapphires.
From Q. Mary's collection the mainline has lost the Cambridge sapphire grand parure and a diamond bandeau to the Kents, and the Iveagh and the Honeysuckle tiaras and Teck turquoise parure to the Gloucesters. Not sure if Mary the princess royal received the laurel wreath diadem.
Pss Margaret apparently received Mary's amethyst parure with tiara, and a Mount Stephen riviere necklace.
Many of Mary's necklaces ended up outside the mainline.
These may only be part of what is missing from the total. Leslie Field and others tell of prime minister Disraeli's recollection of Victoria showing him at the banquet to celebrate her obtaining the Empress of India title "three large leather cases that were filled with princely tributes of priceless jewels". More jewels as gifts poured in for her golden and diamond jubilee. During his 1875-76 tour of the Indian sub-continent Bertie prince of wales was said to have received jeweled gifts for Alexandra. More were sent as coronation presents, and George and Mary were given many jeweled gifts during their 1911 Delhi Durbar tour. We have no idea how much was given away and how much lies buried in the vaults
...but imagine if all of the jewels of the first three Bernadotte Queens had been placed in the Bernadotte foundation? It would arguably be the widest and finest collection bar none.
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