Today’s tiara belongs to the Kent branch of the British Royal Family. The Kent Diamond and Pearl Fringe Tiara first appeared on Katherine, Duchess of Kent in the 1970s, but is thought to have been a modified version of the crochet bandeau tiara once owned by Queen Mary. The tiara has also been worn by the Countess of St. Andrews and Lady Helen Taylor, daughter-in-law and daughter of the Duchess.
The striking Diamond Crochet Bandeau was composed of a Victorian base of round and rhombus shaped diamonds, topped with a series of diamond scrolls. Queen Mary possessed several Diamond Bandeaus, like her Diamond Lozenge Bandeau and her Diamond Lattice Bandeau, which were often worn from the 1920s to the 40s for less formal Galas in an era when the King and Queen dined in White Tie every evening.
Queen Mary notably wore the Diamond Crochet Bandeau topped with the pear-shaped Cambridge Emeralds for the premiere of ‘The Woman in the Hall’ at the Leicester Square Theatre in October 1947.
After Queen Mary’s death in 1953, the Diamond Crochet Bandeau was among the jewels inherited by her daughter-in-law, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, and among the first Tiaras worn by her granddaughter, Princess Alexandra of Kent, most notably for the Wedding Ball of Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia and Princess Maria Pia of Savoy in 1955 and the Portuguese State Visit to Britain in 1955.
Princess Alexandra also wore Queen Mary’s Diamond Crochet Bandeau for her Tour of Australia in 1959, the Iranian State Visit in 1959, the French State Visit in 1960, a Gala Performance at Covent Garden, and a Nigerian Independence Celebrations in 1960.
When Katherine Worsley married Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent in 1961, she received Queen Mary’s Diamond Crochet Bandeau as a Wedding Gift from Princess Marina, which was first worn for the lavish Wedding Ceremony at York Minister.
In the first decade after her marriage, Queen Mary’s Diamond Crochet Bandeau was the primary Tiara of the Duchess of Kent, being worn for all Galas and Portraits alongside the Gala Performance of ‘HMS Pinafore’ in 1962 and the Ugandan Independence Celebrations as well as the Wedding Ball of Princess Alexandra and the Hon. Angus Ogilvy in 1963.
The Duchess of Kent also wore Queen Mary’s Diamond Crochet Bandeau for the Battle of Waterloo 150th Anniversary Banquet in 1965, the Royal Variety Performance in 1966, and the State Opening of Parliament in 1967.
Queen Mary’s Diamond Crochet Bandeau was also worn by the Duchess of Kent for the Coronation of King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV of Tonga in 1968, the Italian State Visit to Britain, the Royal Film Premiere at Dominion Theatre in 1969, and a Gala at the Palace of Versailles in 1972 among other occasions until the mid-1970s.
In the mid 1970s, the Duchess of Kent began wearing a ‘mystery’ Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara atop the base of the Diamond Crochet Bandeau from Queen Mary. The antique upper portion may have been the Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara of Princess Louise.
After the sale of the Cambridge Sapphire Parure, the Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara became the primary jewel of the Duchess of Kent, worn for State Openings of Parliament, the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Gala in 1977, the Spanish State Banquet at Windsor Castle in 1986, the State Opening of Parliament in 1987, Crown Prince Harald’s 50th Birthday at the Royal Palace of Oslo in 1987, and a Banquet at Claridge’s Hotel in 1989.
The Diamond and Pearl Fringe Tiara was worn by Sylvana, Countess of St Andrews, the daughter in-law of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, at an event in the early 1990s.
In 1992, the Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara was worn by Lady Helen Windsor, for her Wedding to Tim Taylor at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, with the Tiara inspiring designer Catherine Walker to create the embroidery on her wedding gown.
The Duchess of Kent continued to wear the Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara through the 1990s, including for the Polish State Banquet at Windsor Castle in 1991, several State Openings of Parliament, the Brunei State Visit to Britain in 1992, and the Malaysian State Visit to Britain in 1993, but appearances stopped when the Duchess retired from public duties around 2000.
Most recently, the Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara went on display at ‘Power & Image: Royal & Aristocratic Tiaras’ at Sotheby’s in London in 2022.
Kent Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara
Cambridge Sapphire Parure
Duchess of Kent’s Aquamarine Tiara
Kent Festoon Tiara
King Olav’s Gift Tiara
Duchess of Kent’s Diamond and Pearl Suite
Princess Marina’s Diamond Girandole Earrings
Duchess of Kent’s Diamond Flower Suite
Queen Victoria’s Gold Brooch
Empress Maria Feodrovna’s Sapphire Brooch
Duchess of Kent’s Art Deco Brooch
Princess Marina’s Black Pearl Brooch
Duchess of Kent’s Pearl Earrings
Queen Sonja’s Emerald Bead Suite
Duchess of Kent’s Tiaras
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Originally bought by Queen Mary in the 1920s, and later fitted for some of her Cambridge emeralds on top, the crochet bandeau tiara was inherited by Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent on the death of her mother-in-law, Queen Mary, in 1953. In the 1950’s, she lent the piece to her daughter, Princess Alexandra, for a couple of occasions. In 1961, when her son, the Duke of Kent, married Katherine Worsley, Princess Marina gave the tiara as a wedding gift to her daughter-in-law. The new Duchess wore the tiara frequently during the 1960 & 70s, including at her wedding and at State Events before she inherited the other Kent jewels after the death of Princess Marina in 1968.
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The Diamond and Pearl Fringe Tiara became the Duchess of Kent’s most worn tiara during the 1980s & 90s, especially after the sale of the Cambridge Sapphire Tiara. She wore it to State Opening’s of Parliament and at a Banquet given by the King of Malaysia in 1993.
The Diamond and Pearl Fringe Tiara was worn by Sylvana, Countess of St Andrews, daughter in-law of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and wife of the heir to the Dukedom, who wore the tiara at an event in the 1990s.
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The tiara was also worn by Lady Helen Windsor, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, at her 1992 Wedding to Tim Taylor. She wore the Diamond and Pearl Fringe Tiara with her Catherine Walker gown that had been embroidered based on the design of the tiara.
The Diamond and Pearl Fringe Tiara hasn’t been seen since the late 1990s, since Katherine, Duchess of Kent has mostly retired from the royal life and no longer attends tiara events, and her daughter & daughter-in-laws don’t undertake royal duties or attend royal events. However, it might be seen soon at weddings, or at the next Coronation.
The Tiara is currently on display at ‘Power & Image: Royal & Aristocratic Tiaras’ at Sotheby’s in London
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Katharine, Duchess of Kent Is a Beautiful Woman