Today marks the 185th Anniversary of the Birth of Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, the Duchess of Teck, the mother of Queen Mary and Great Grandmother of the Queen. To mark the day, we are taking a look at her Teck Sapphire Stomacher, which has been worn by the granddaughters of Sovereigns.
Diamond Palmette Tiara | Teck Ears of Wheat Tiara | Pearl and Diamond Tiara | Duchess of Teck’s Diamond Stomacher | Pearl and Diamond Corsage Brooch | The Jewels of Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone
While it is unknown how this Stomacher came into the possession of Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck, it is quite likely that it was inherited from her aunt, Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester. The stomacher includes four detachable diamond clusters in a diamond stomacher with diamond drops, which can be set with Sapphires as well as the Cambridge Emeralds.
Princess Mary Adelaide notably wore the piece with the Teck Crescent Tiara and the Cambridge Emeralds for the series of official portraits in the 1880s.
The Duchess of Teck was also depicted wearing the Diamond Stomacher with the Teck Ears of Wheat Tiara, for a portrait by Hermann Schmiechen in 1882.
Princess Mary Adelaide also wore the Diamond Stomacher set with Sapphires for the Devonshire House Ball in 1897, just a few months before her passing, when it was inherited by her younger son, Prince Alexander of Teck.
After Prince Alexander married Princess Alice of Albany in 1904, the Stomacher was frequently worn by the later Princess Alice, often with the Teck Ears of Wheat Tiara, for Official Portraits as well as at the Coronation of King George V in 1911, when it was set with Sapphires.
Princess Alice notably wore the Diamond Stomacher for the British State Banquet at the Royal Palace of Brussels in 1922 as well as for the Coronation of King George VI in 1937, when it was again set with Sapphires.
As fashions changed, Princess Alice continued to wear the Duchess of Teck’s Stomacher without the sapphire clusters, which she wore as earrings and brooches, often paired with her Diamond Palmette Tiara, like at the Coronation of the Queen in 1953.
The Stomacher has not been seen since Princess Alice’s death in 1981, but since it hasn’t been publicly sold like some of her other jewels, it probably still belongs to the family, along with the Ears of Wheat Tiara, which her descendants have continued to wear.
Diamond Palmette Tiara | Teck Ears of Wheat Tiara | Pearl and Diamond Tiara | Duchess of Teck’s Diamond Stomacher | Pearl and Diamond Corsage Brooch | The Jewels of Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone
Princess Alice’s Diamond Palmette Tiara
Teck Ears of Wheat Tiara
Princess Alice’s Pearl and Diamond Tiara
Duchess of Teck’s Diamond Stomacher
Princess Alice’s Pearl Corsage Brooch
Cambridge Pearl Pendant Brooch
Duchess of Gloucester’s Pendant Earrings
The Teck Flower Brooch
Diamond Palmette Tiara | Teck Ears of Wheat Tiara | Pearl and Diamond Tiara | Teck Sapphire Stomacher | Pearl and Diamond Corsage Brooch | The Jewels of Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone
Embed from Getty Images
While it is unknown how this Stomacher came into Princess Mary Adelaide’s possession, it is likely that it came from her aunt, Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester. The stomacher includes four detachable diamond clusters in a diamond stomacher with diamond drops. She notably wore the piece with the Teck Crescent Tiara, Teck Ears of Wheat Tiara, and the Cambridge Emeralds. After her death, the stomacher was inherited by her younger son, Prince Alexander.
After Prince Alexander married Princess Alice of Albany in 1904, the Stomacher was frequently worn by the later Princess Alice, later the Countess of Athlone, often with the Teck Ears of Wheat Tiara, at a variety of events including the Coronation of King George V in 1911the Belgian State Visit to the Britain in 1922, and the Coronation of King George VI in 1937.
As fashions changed, Princess Alice continued to wear the Duchess of Teck’s Stomacher without the sapphire clusters, which she wore as earrings and brooches, often paired with her Diamond Palmette Tiara, like at the Coronation of the Queen in 1953. The Stomacher has not been seen since Princess Alice’s death in 1981, but since it hasn’t been publicly sold like some of her other jewels, it probably still belongs to the family, along with the Ears of Wheat Tiara.
Diamond Palmette Tiara | Teck Ears of Wheat Tiara | Pearl and Diamond Tiara | Teck Sapphire Stomacher | Pearl and Diamond Corsage Brooch | The Jewels of Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone
