The late Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon was born on this day in 1930. To mark the day, we are taking a look at her classic Greville Pearl and Diamond Earrings which are now regularly worn by her daughter, Lady Sarah Chatto.
Snowdon Floral Tiara | Greville Pearl Earrings | Sapphire Earrings | Emerald Earrings | Diamond Star Earrings | Queen Mary’s Diamond and Pearl Riviere | Ear-of-Wheat Brooch | Star Brooch | Floral Spray Brooch
These striking Pearl and Diamond Earrings originate form Dame Margaret Greville, and possibly date from the 1930s. (the image of Mrs Greville, and the information that the earrings came from her, was found by the wonderful Beth of HFJCMB)
On the death of Dame Margaret Greville, the Hon Mrs Greville in 1942, the majority of her magnificent Jewellery Collection, all pieces valued over 100 pounds, was inherited by Queen Elizabeth. In 1942, the Queen wrote to Queen Mary:
I must tell you that Mrs Greville has left me her jewels, She has left them to me ‘with her loving thoughts,’ dear old thing, and I feel very touched, I don’t suppose I shall see what they consist of for a long time, owing to the slowness of lawyers & death duties etc, but it is rather exciting to be left something, and I do admire beautiful stones with all my heart.”
When the jewels arrived to the Queen a few months later, there was much unwanted press attention on the contents of the initialled black trunk, which included the Greville Diamond Tiara, an Emerald Tiara, the Festoon Necklace, Diamond Peardrop Earrings, the Diamond Chandelier Earrings, Emerald Earrings, the Ruby Necklace, two Emerald Necklaces, Ivy Leaf Clips, Diamond Bow Brooch, and a pair of Pearl Earrings, alongside several spectacular Diamond Earrings, Necklaces, Brooches and Bracelets, the true extent of which has never been publicly revealed.
By the late 1950s, the Greville Pearl and Diamond Earrings were seen on Princess Margaret, and were often paired it with the Lotus Flower Tiara, and continued to be worn it well into the 90s, being worn in Canada in 1958, the Jamaican Independence Celebrations in 1962, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon in America in 1965, the Japanese State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in 1971, and the Dutch State Visit to Britain in 1972.
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In 1994, Princess Margaret gave the earrings as a gift to her only daughter, Lady Sarah, who first wore them for her wedding to Daniel Chatto. In the years since, these earrings have been regularly worn by Lady Sarah for a plethora of events, both personal and royal, including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral in 2002, the Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton and the Wedding of Zara Phillips in 2011, the Wedding of her godson, the Duke of Sussex in 2018 and the Funeral of her uncle, the Duke of Edinburgh, in 2021 . There is no doubt she will continue to wear them for years to come.
Snowdon Floral Tiara | Greville Pearl Earrings | Sapphire Earrings | Emerald Earrings | Diamond Star Earrings | Queen Mary’s Diamond and Pearl Riviere | Ear-of-Wheat Brooch | Star Brooch | Floral Spray Brooch
Greville Tiara
Greville Emerald Tiara
Greville Festoon Necklace
Greville Ruby Necklace
Greville Emerald Necklace
Diamond Peardrop Earrings
Greville Emerald Earrings
Greville Diamond Chandelier Earrings
Diamond Bow Brooch
Pearl Earrings
Greville Ivy Leaf Clips
Crown
Greville Tiara
Oriental Circlet Tiara
Delhi Durbar Tiara
Dame Margaret Greville wearing the Pearl Earrings that later went to Princess Margaret and are now worn by Lady Sarah Chatto!
📷 Beth of HFJCMB
https://t.co/8nzyf5ikYO pic.twitter.com/sGZOIgMh34
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) April 21, 2021
Dame Margaret Greville wearing the Pearl Earrings that later went to Princess Margaret and are now worn by Lady Sarah Chatto!
📷 Beth of HFJCMB
https://t.co/8nzyf5ikYO pic.twitter.com/sGZOIgMh34
Embed from Getty Images
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKCcTP1FaY9/
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Princess Margaret was seen in the Pearl and Diamond Earrings as early as the 1950s, and originally belonged to . She often paired it with the Lotus Flower Tiara, and continued to wear it well into the 90s.
Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images
In 1994, Princess Margaret gave the earrings as a gift to her only daughter, Lady Sarah, who first wore them for her wedding to Daniel Chatto. In the years since, these earrings have been regularly worn by Lady Sarah for a plethora of events, both personal and royal, including the recent wedding of her godson, the Duke of Sussex. I have no doubt she will continue to wear them for years to come.
Oh! These are my all-time favorite pearl and diamond earrings! 🙂