Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau

Meghan Markle wore a long unseen Tiara at her Wedding to Prince Harry, so forgotten that we didn’t even think to include it in our tiara predictions ahead of the big day. Ahead of the completion of the royal wedding, we are featuring Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau-

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A flexible band of eleven sections, pierced with interlaced ovals and pavé set with large and small brilliant diamonds, with a central detachable brooch of ten brilliant diamonds, this Diamond Bandeau (previously known as the Filgree Tiara) was made for Queen Mary in 1932, specifically to accommodate the central diamond brooch, which was given to her as a wedding gift by the County of Lincoln in 1893.

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While not a favourite, Queen Mary wore this Diamond Bandeau for less formal events, usually Gala performances in the later years of her life.

Queen Mary also loaned it to her daughter-in-law, Princess Marina, for a Ball in 1935. After Queen Mary’s death in 1953, the Bandeau was inherited by the Queen.

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Not publicly seen for over 60 years, Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau was loaned by the Queen to Meghan Markle as she wed Prince Harry at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle and became the Duchess of Sussex. I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to spot the tiara. This delicate piece really suited her look, and I’m sure we will see this Tiara on her for years to come.

In an audio recording made for the exhibition of their Wedding Outfits at Windsor Castle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex recalled how she chose the Tiara:

When it came to the tiara on the day I was very fortunate to be able to choose this very gorgeous Art Deco-style bandeau tiara,’ the Duchess of Sussex recalls. ‘Harry and I had gone to Buckingham Palace to meet with Her Majesty The Queen to select one of the options that were there, which was an incredibly surreal day, as you can imagine.

‘That was the one that I think as we tried them on stood out; I think it was just perfect because it was so clean and simple, and I think also at that point an extension to what Clare and I had been trying to do with the dress, which was have something that could be so incredibly timeless but still feel modern.’

‘Every girl’s dream,’ the Duke interjects. ‘To be able to try on a tiara and funnily enough the one that suited the best, the one that looked the best on you without question. I shouldn’t have really been there; it was such an incredible loan by my grandmother. Very sweet.’

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For more information, check out:

Tiara Mania

6 thoughts on “Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau

  1. Well, you called it, didn’t you! The only difference is that they switched out the central sapphire element with a diamond one. And I’m so glad you were right. This tiara was absolute perfection! 🙂

  2. Oh, oh……I just noticed this is a different bandeau than the one I thought. The thing is, it resembles Marie Feodorovna’s Sapphire bandeau prodigiously! I could have sworn it was that one with a diamond center. Oh, well! It was a beautiful choice and she looked wonderful in it which is what really matters! :):):)

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