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Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection? Posted by Beth on November 9, 2018, 3:39 pm This news item caught my attention. https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/royal-weddings/queens-prewedding-row-with-difficult-meghan-markle-revealed/news-story/98446eb820d49dfc805272c28c056d47 The story could be a complete fabrication to sell newspapers or there may be another emerald tiara sitting in storage. I don't think that the reference is to the Greville emerald tiara. Its origin would be well documented. The reference to the mystery emerald tiara possibly having a Russian origin also makes me sceptical. What would be odd about a jewel having originated in Russia? The Vladimir tiara, Queen Mary's diamond sautoir and several brooches have a Russian origin and are worn without any controversy. What do others think?

Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection? Posted by MarcA on November 9, 2018, 5:22 pm, in reply to "Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection?" I was about to do a post on it myself. I think the tiara being referred to is the Greville as it's in the kokoshnik style. It's the Daily Mail we're talking about here so I'm not sure Russian and Russian style would be seen as mutually exclusive. A previous article said how great Harry & Meghan thought it was to try on tiara's with the Queen. There's also a snide comment attributed to the Queen about her wearing veil I don't believe for one moment. However Meghan may have asked to borrow the Vladimir when set with emeralds. For that I would imagine she would have been told to pick from what was offered! The Vladimir is a tiara to be worn by a Queen or the wife perhaps of a direct in line. Previous Message This news item caught my attention. https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/royal-weddings/queens-prewedding-row-with-difficult-meghan-markle-revealed/news-story/98446eb820d49dfc805272c28c056d47 The story could be a complete fabrication to sell newspapers or there may be another emerald tiara sitting in storage. I don't think that the reference is to the Greville emerald tiara. Its origin would be well documented. The reference to the mystery emerald tiara possibly having a Russian origin also makes me sceptical. What would be odd about a jewel having originated in Russia? The Vladimir tiara, Queen Mary's diamond sautoir and several brooches have a Russian origin and are worn without any controversy. What do others think?

Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection? Posted by Beth on November 9, 2018, 6:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection?" For a number of reasons I suspect that the story is just that -- a story, designed to sell newspapers. But there is a possibility that there is another emerald tiara as I have 2 references to Queen Alexandra wearing an emerald tiara.

Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection? Posted by JohnAF on November 9, 2018, 7:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection?" Hi Beth, there was Queen Victoria's emerald tiara as designed by Prince Albert. It could have been worn after QV's death by QA. (Of course I'm not suggesting this is the tiara referred to in the DM's story. Previous Message For a number of reasons I suspect that the story is just that -- a story, designed to sell newspapers. But there is a possibility that there is another emerald tiara as I have 2 references to Queen Alexandra wearing an emerald tiara.

Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection? Posted by Dave on November 10, 2018, 4:56 am, in reply to "Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection?" Interesting story though; 'it however deeply contrast with what Meghan had indicated on the day she and Prince Harry visited with his grandmother the Queen at BP to pick out a bridal head wear. Could there have been in the selection other tiaras we dont know of or have seen before? I think the chances of this is yes for sure given the Queen's wide array of personal jewels. Regards, Dave. Previous Message Hi Beth, there was Queen Victoria's emerald tiara as designed by Prince Albert. It could have been worn after QV's death by QA. (Of course I'm not suggesting this is the tiara referred to in the DM's story. Previous Message For a number of reasons I suspect that the story is just that -- a story, designed to sell newspapers. But there is a possibility that there is another emerald tiara as I have 2 references to Queen Alexandra wearing an emerald tiara.

Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection? Posted by Beth on November 10, 2018, 7:32 am, in reply to "Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection?" One of the references I have to Queen Alexandra wearing an emerald tiara is from a report from 1904, so it is possible that one refers to Queen Victoria's emerald tiara, which later ended up in the Fife collection. The second reference I was thinking of comes from G Munn Tiaras A history of Splendour. Munn quotes Lady Monkswell's recollection of a reception at the Foreign Office in May 1894. She described Queen Alexandra as, "Her hair most beautifully done with a splendid diamond tiara with great emeralds in it, put on in exactly the right place." I very much doubt if on that occasion Queen Alexandra would have had access to Queen Victoria's tiara, although it is of course possible. Munn also provides another reference to a different emerald tiara owned by Queen Victoria. The description comes from an inventory made by Garrard for Queen Victoria in 1896. It was described as -- "A diadem of 15 points, each point composed of a pearl between 2 emeralds set in gold wire, between each point a large lask diamond surrounded by 7 others rather smaller; the diadem set on a band of lask Diamonds." Previous Message Hi Beth, there was Queen Victoria's emerald tiara as designed by Prince Albert. It could have been worn after QV's death by QA. (Of course I'm not suggesting this is the tiara referred to in the DM's story.

Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection? Posted by Thomas on November 10, 2018, 9:07 am, in reply to "Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection?" IMO, you make a valid point in suggesting the emerald tiara could have belonged to Queen Alexandra. First, we know it was loaned by QV at least once in her lifetime, to Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, possibly in the 1880s, which would be consistent with the report of an emerald tiara on the Princess of Wales in 1894. Secondly, nothing (to my knowledge) opposes the theory the QA could have received the tiara some time before or after the death of QV. Unless someone has access to the Queen's will (which is sealed), this remains pure speculation. We don't know when it passed to the Fifes, and I am not aware of any depiction of Pss Louise wearing an emerald tiara, so it could well have remained with QA until her death. I do wonder if there are other references to QA wearing grand emerald jewels... As for the 'second tiara', it is apparently an Indian jewel, which I doubt would have been worn on State functions, and which is probably not a comparable jewel to the first tiara. (the ruby and pearl Indian 'tiara' in the RC is a VERY small piece, which has 12 elements)

Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection? Posted by Beth on November 10, 2018, 6:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection?" Most of the references I have to Queen Alexandra wearing emerald jewels can be identified either as the Indian emerald and pearl necklace which Queen Victoria gave her as a wedding gift or the Cartier collier resille. There are numerous reports (especially when she was Princess of Wales) which refer only to emerald ornaments. These may refer to bracelets and brooches, or they may indicate an emerald necklace which, so far, has not been identified. I find it impossible to determine what was worn when the press reports jewels only as "ornaments"

Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection? Posted by Franck on November 11, 2018, 12:16 am, in reply to "Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection?" This story is very strange ! I have read several reports about this "emerald tiara". We do not know...maybe the Duchess of Sussex had seen a catalogue of all the tiaras available... We only know that she had the choice between several tiaras for her wedding... however it raises the question of the real extend of the collection. Indeed all the tiaras worn are known by us... Franck Previous Message Most of the references I have to Queen Alexandra wearing emerald jewels can be identified either as the Indian emerald and pearl necklace which Queen Victoria gave her as a wedding gift or the Cartier collier resille. There are numerous reports (especially when she was Princess of Wales) which refer only to emerald ornaments. These may refer to bracelets and brooches, or they may indicate an emerald necklace which, so far, has not been identified. I find it impossible to determine what was worn when the press reports jewels only as "ornaments"

Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection? Posted by MarcA on November 11, 2018, 8:57 am, in reply to "Re: Is there another emerald tiara in the British collection?" Why/how though would Meghan choose a tiara she wasn’t shown. I would think a choice would have been laid out for her to try on and then choose from. I don’t think the Queen would have then said no you were supposed to have chosen ‘this one. However I also would suspect there is quite a bit more in the vaults than we know about. In the end like wi’th so many of these news pieces and attributations those who actually know what the Queen says in private do not speak of them. Previous Message This story is very strange ! I have read several reports about this "emerald tiara". We do not know...maybe the Duchess of Sussex had seen a catalogue of all the tiaras available... We only know that she had the choice between several tiaras for her wedding... however it raises the question of the real extend of the collection. Indeed all the tiaras worn are known by us... Franck Previous Message Most of the references I have to Queen Alexandra wearing emerald jewels can be identified either as the Indian emerald and pearl necklace which Queen Victoria gave her as a wedding gift or the Cartier collier resille. There are numerous reports (especially when she was Princess of Wales) which refer only to emerald ornaments. These may refer to bracelets and brooches, or they may indicate an emerald necklace which, so far, has not been identified. I find it impossible to determine what was worn when the press reports jewels only as "ornaments"

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