Posters of original research, analyses, insights etc retain all rights to their work. Such research etc cannot be used in any format without the written consent of the author.

QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara?? Posted by Beth on July 23, 2020, 4:35 pm I came across this description of a tiara worn by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at an opera in 1933. My query is -- is this the so called Lotus/Papyrus tiara or could it be one we are not familiar with? What do others think? My query arises because I don't think we have ever solved the mystery of the jewels worn by QEQM in 1935 as seen in that intriguing photo which Franck found some years ago. Photo found by Franck

Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara?? Posted by Bryce on July 24, 2020, 7:24 am, in reply to "QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara??" I think that you are probably right Beth in that, the description provided does tie into the Papyrus - especially if seen from a distance. As to Franck's mystery tiara photo...could this be her turquoise tiara which seems to have been worn a few times in the mid 1930.

Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara?? Posted by J-F on July 24, 2020, 10:50 am, in reply to "QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara??" Hello ! Hard to say. Don't seems to match the Lotus tiara. Wow, I've never seen that photo of the Duchess of York before. Totally unknown tiara to me ! J-F Previous Message I came across this description of a tiara worn by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at an opera in 1933. My query is -- is this the so called Lotus/Papyrus tiara or could it be one we are not familiar with? What do others think? My query arises because I don't think we have ever solved the mystery of the jewels worn by QEQM in 1935 as seen in that intriguing photo which Franck found some years ago. Photo found by Franck

Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara?? Posted by Franck on July 24, 2020, 6:42 pm, in reply to "Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara??" I think it the turquoise tiara with an unknown necklace (it is sure that this necklace is longer than the one from the turquoise parure). Franck Previous Message Hello ! Hard to say. Don't seems to match the Lotus tiara. Wow, I've never seen that photo of the Duchess of York before. Totally unknown tiara to me ! J-F Previous Message I came across this description of a tiara worn by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at an opera in 1933. My query is -- is this the so called Lotus/Papyrus tiara or could it be one we are not familiar with? What do others think? My query arises because I don't think we have ever solved the mystery of the jewels worn by QEQM in 1935 as seen in that intriguing photo which Franck found some years ago. Photo found by Franck

Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara?? Posted by Bryce on July 24, 2020, 8:17 pm, in reply to "Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara??" That was my thought too Franck. However, upon looking closely, I think that the Duchess may be wearing the turquoise necklace as there are some faint round impressions along the Duchess's neckline and that the darker "necklace" is actually the trim to the neckline of her gown. ?????? Do we know what event HM was attending?

Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara?? Posted by J-F on July 25, 2020, 11:38 am, in reply to "Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara??" Hello, First, I've found another version of that photo: Between The Duke of York and The Duchess of York is Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig Holstein. Side by side, I think we can say that the tiara may be the turquoise one on the first photo posted by Beth. The general shape matches. For the necklace, I think we can say that its not the turquoise one... Here, I circled in red an element I think are the same on both tiaras. What do you think ? J-F

Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara?? Posted by Franck on July 25, 2020, 5:40 pm, in reply to "Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara??" Thank you J-F ! It is what I think : 1° The turquoise tiara ; 2° An unknown necklace maybe made with turquoise Franck Previous Message Hello, First, I've found another version of that photo: Between The Duke of York and The Duchess of York is Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig Holstein. Side by side, I think we can say that the tiara may be the turquoise one on the first photo posted by Beth. The general shape matches. For the necklace, I think we can say that its not the turquoise one... Here, I circled in red an element I think are the same on both tiaras. What do you think ? J-F

Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara?? Posted by mauriz on July 25, 2020, 9:23 pm, in reply to "Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara??" It was a concert at the Austrian embassy on 25th February 1935, during the visit of Austrian Federal Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg (between the Duchess of York and Princess Helena Victoria) in London. Getty has a large version of this image. I agree, it's the turquoise tiara. Not sure about the necklace.

Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara?? Posted by Franck on July 26, 2020, 6:14 pm, in reply to "Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara??" It must be a second turquoise and diamond necklace. Have we got photos of the Duchess of York wearing the parure after this date (February 1935) ? Franck Previous Message It was a concert at the Austrian embassy on 25th February 1935, during the visit of Austrian Federal Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg (between the Duchess of York and Princess Helena Victoria) in London. Getty has a large version of this image. I agree, it's the turquoise tiara. Not sure about the necklace.

Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara?? Posted by mauriz on July 26, 2020, 7:13 pm, in reply to "Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara??" She wore the parure with its necklace and what seems to be the same gown and ostrich feather fan at a reception during George V's silver jubilee celebrations a couple of weeks later in May 1935. I'm more and more convinced that it was the same necklace at the Austrian embassy in February 1935: the clusters and the pendants are distinguishable, it might be just a play of light and shadow which is deceiving us.

Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara?? Posted by Beth on July 26, 2020, 7:33 pm, in reply to "Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara??" Thanks Mauriz! If it is the turquoise necklace, then I suspect that QEQM lengthened it by attaching a bracelet or a row of diamonds at the back of the necklace. In the photos from the Austrian concert, the necklace worn hangs lower -- and closer to the neckline of the dress.

Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara?? Posted by mauriz on July 26, 2020, 9:04 pm, in reply to "Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara??" That's definitely much lower! I wonder why she would have felt the need to lenghten a necklace which she wore without extension with the same gown a couple of weeks later? Doesn't make sense really, and seems to support the theory that it's a different necklace altogether.

Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara??- Congratulations ! Posted by Franck on July 26, 2020, 11:17 pm, in reply to "Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara??" Dear Beth, Congratulations to these photos !! I was awaiting for new photos for many years !! thank you so much !! Please find below screenshots of this unknown necklace : I think it is a long sautoir with small turquoises (maybe with pearls) with triangle motifs ? Franck Previous Message That's definitely much lower! I wonder why she would have felt the need to lenghten a necklace which she wore without extension with the same gown a couple of weeks later? Doesn't make sense really, and seems to support the theory that it's a different necklace altogether.

Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara?? Posted by Beth on July 26, 2020, 7:21 pm, in reply to "Re: QEQM. Unknown tiara or the Lotus/Papyrus tiara??" I have the following 2 images. 1. This is dated 2 July 1935 Getty dates the image below as 1 January 1935. The date 1 January often appears as a date when Getty is unsure of the precise date. I think that the function may have been held in early June 1935 -- in conjunction with celebrations for the Silver Jubilee, but I have not double checked that.

« Back to index