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.
Princess Alexandra. Her tiara and its evolution. Some more thoughts
Posted by Beth on December 15, 2020, 8:36 pm
I have been having more thoughts about the evolution of Princess Alexandra's tiara, and in particular about when the floral elements used either turquoise or pearl centres. (I think we will all agree that the sapphire centres came much later).
Initially I thought that the floral elements had turquoise centres and that the pearl centres were later additions.
Then I saw this photo, which Alamy dates as circa 1956.
Detail showing the pearl centres.
I haven't found this exact photograph in 2 of the databases I use (it might be in others which I have not checked), so I was unsure when the photo was taken. We can be sure, however, that the photo was before 1963 when Princess Alexandra wore the remodelled elements in her tiara.
Finally, I came across the photo below. It comes from a ball she attended: The Maple Leaf Ball, in December 1960. The important element in this photo is that Princess Alexandra is wearing the same ball gown as in the first photo above. To my way of thinking that places the initial photo as circa 1960, not 1956. But the question still remains -- were the floral elements originally interchangeable, or was this something which Princess Alexandra or her mother organised?
Maple Leaf Ball 1960
Re: Princess Alexandra. Her tiara and its evolution. Some more thoughts
I think that the Almay picture is circa 1956. To me it portrays the younger, more fuller-faced Princess before her her face slimmed down.
Previous Message
I have been having more thoughts about the evolution of Princess Alexandra's tiara, and in particular about when the floral elements used either turquoise or pearl centres. (I think we will all agree that the sapphire centres came much later).
Initially I thought that the floral elements had turquoise centres and that the pearl centres were later additions.
Then I saw this photo, which Alamy dates as circa 1956.
Detail showing the pearl centres.
I haven't found this exact photograph in 2 of the databases I use (it might be in others which I have not checked), so I was unsure when the photo was taken. We can be sure, however, that the photo was before 1963 when Princess Alexandra wore the remodelled elements in her tiara.
Finally, I came across the photo below. It comes from a ball she attended: The Maple Leaf Ball, in December 1960. The important element in this photo is that Princess Alexandra is wearing the same ball gown as in the first photo above. To my way of thinking that places the initial photo as circa 1960, not 1956. But the question still remains -- were the floral elements originally interchangeable, or was this something which Princess Alexandra or her mother organised?
Maple Leaf Ball 1960
Re: Princess Alexandra. Her tiara and its evolution. Some more thoughts
I belive I just found the photo posted by Beth used in a print from 1961. This of course does not prove that the photo is from 1961. It could be that the photo is in fact an older one and that it was the one the print was able to use or wanted to use in 1961. But it makes it more plausible I think that the photo is taken around 1960 as I guess it would be more appropriate for the print to use an as recent photo as possible. Also there is the issue with the dress that Beth raised, though it could also be that the Princess was not the one to buy new dressed all the time and that she could have re-used in 1960 a dress she bought in 1956. Talking about the dress... in the photo I found it looks like the dress is a completely different colour (green instead of beige) but the pattern seems to be exactly the same. The same goes for the jewels, the cape draped around her shoulders, the smile and the posture. So I think it must be the same photo, but maybe coloured in a different way... I know I am not adding any conclusive proof here as to the date of the photo, but I thought I would just "put it out there" now that I found the photo/print:
I think that the Almay picture is circa 1956. To me it portrays the younger, more fuller-faced Princess before her her face slimmed down.
Previous Message
I have been having more thoughts about the evolution of Princess Alexandra's tiara, and in particular about when the floral elements used either turquoise or pearl centres. (I think we will all agree that the sapphire centres came much later).
Initially I thought that the floral elements had turquoise centres and that the pearl centres were later additions.
Then I saw this photo, which Alamy dates as circa 1956.
Detail showing the pearl centres.
I haven't found this exact photograph in 2 of the databases I use (it might be in others which I have not checked), so I was unsure when the photo was taken. We can be sure, however, that the photo was before 1963 when Princess Alexandra wore the remodelled elements in her tiara.
Finally, I came across the photo below. It comes from a ball she attended: The Maple Leaf Ball, in December 1960. The important element in this photo is that Princess Alexandra is wearing the same ball gown as in the first photo above. To my way of thinking that places the initial photo as circa 1960, not 1956. But the question still remains -- were the floral elements originally interchangeable, or was this something which Princess Alexandra or her mother organised?
What an interesting find Kongetro! I think it is exactly the same photo as the one in the Alamy collection, it is just one has been fliped. The different colours might be the result of the printing process used by the press.
One idea which came to me earlier is that the bandeau with the floral elements was not seen in the extensive 1959 tour in Australia.
Princess Alexandra attended numerous balls and evening receptions over the course of this tour; yet, the bandeau with the floral elements was not seen. Her head jewels were the stars, the Kent bandeau and the snake pearl tiara.
I suspect that the elements had not then been mounted to form a head ornament.
The first pictures I have found of the Flower Tiara are from October 1960, when Princess Alexandra made a big tour to give Independence to Nigeria. Maybe the Tiara was created for that?
I suspect that you are correct The Royal Watcher, As I mentioned some time ago, the Nigerian tour is the first occasion which I also discovered this arrangement of the floral elements. See https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/msg/1606726591.html
Although Princess Alexandra and her mother did an official tour of South America in the earlier months of 1959 (February-March 1959) neither the press or the photo agencies appear to have images of Princess Alexandra wearing the floral elements arranged as a bandeau. And, importantly, for the long Australian tour in late 1959, Princess Alexandra was not photographed wearing the arrangement - for that trip there are a lot of photos of each of the major events, so I doubt if somehow we have overlooked a photo.
Previous Message
The first pictures I have found of the Flower Tiara are from October 1960, when Princess Alexandra made a big tour to give Independence to Nigeria. Maybe the Tiara was created for that?
Re: Princess Alexandra. Her tiara and its evolution. Some more thoughts
The Princess seems to look slightly different depending on the angle from which photos were taken.
The photo below was published in the Australian Women's Weekly in 1955. To my eye the photo suggests that the Princess already had a slim face; yet, other photos suggest otherwise.