Duchess of Connaught’s Fringe Tiara

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Today marks the centenary of the death of Princess Louise Margaret, Duchess of Connaught, a daughter-in-law of Queen Victoria, who died on this day in 1917. In her honour we will take a look at one of her most worn tiaras, which the Duchess wore to grand events throughout her life, and was also worn by her daughter-in-law. The Connaught Fringe Tiara’s current whereabouts are unknown.

Fringe Tiara | Diamond Shamrock Tiara | Turkish Diamonds | Diamond Bow Brooch | Sapphire Brooch | Pearl Brooch | Diamond Sunburst Brooch

The exact origin of this Diamond Fringe Tiara is unknown but it appears to date from at least the 1830s, possibly around the time of the creation of the historic Hanoverian Fringe Tiara.

The Duchess of Kent notably wore the Diamond Fringe as a Necklace for the Coronation of her daughter, Queen Victoria, at Westminster Abbey in 1838.

Two years later, the Duchess of Kent wore the Diamond Fringe as a Necklace again for the Wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the Chapel Royal at St James’ Palace in 1840.

After her death in 1861, the Diamond Fringe was inherited by Queen Victoria who gave it several years later as a wedding present to her daughter-in-law, Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia, when she married her favourite son, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. The new Duchess first wore the Diamond Fringe as a Necklace on her wedding day at Windsor Castle.

The Duchess of Connaught wore the Diamond Fringe Tiara at many royal events throughout her life, among them the Wedding of Grand Duke Ernest Louis of Hesse and Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1894.

In 1902, Duchess of Connaught wore the Fringe Tiara at the Coronation of her brother-in-law, King Edward VII, when she added a few extra layers of diamonds at the base of the tiara.

The Diamond Fringe Tiara was also worn by the Duchess of Connaught with her Belle Epoque Diamond Bow Brooch for a series of official portraits around 1907.

Upon her death in 1917, the Duchess of Connaught bequeathed the Diamond Fringe Tiara to her only son, Prince Arthur, and wrote in her will:

…all my property real and personal…to my son for his absolute use and benefit in the hope but without intending to create any trust that as regards certain articles of jewellery and furniture he will distribute them in accordance with a memorandum I shall leave for him.”

Prince Arthur was married to Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife, who notably wore the Diamond Fringe Tiara in an official portrait with her husband upon their appointment as Governor General and Viceregal Consort of South Africa. Princess Arthur also inherited a Diamond Fringe Tiara from her own mother, which remains with the family.

Th only son of Prince Arthur and the Duchess of Fife, the Duke of Connaught,  had passed away in the 1940s, so upon her passing in 1959, the Diamond Fringe Tiara were inherited by her nephew, the 3rd Duke of Fife, who put it up for auction at Sotheby’s later that same year, where it sold for £4,200. The current location of the Tiara is not known!

The other Diamond Fringe Tiara remains with the family and is currently on long-term display with the Fife Tiara and Queen Victoria’s Emerald Tiara at Kensington Palace.

Kent Amethyst Parure

Diamond Fringe Necklace

Diamond Brooch

Diamond Fringe Tiara

Diamond Shamrock Tiara

Turkish Diamonds

Diamond Bow Brooch

Pearl Brooch

Diamond Sunburst Brooch

Fife Tiara

Fife Fringe Tiara

Connaught Fringe Tiara

Diamond Earrings

Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Chain

Diamond Tiara

Honeysuckle Tiara

Fringe Tiara

Connaught Diamond Bow Brooch

Connaught Pearl Brooch

Maple Leaf Brooch

Art Deco Diamond Brooch

Victoria, Duchess of Kent, the mother of Queen Victoria, was the first recorded owner of this diamond fringe tiara, which she left to her daughter upon her death in 1861. In 1879, Queen Victoria gave the fringe tiara as a wedding present to her daughter-in-law, Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia, when she married her third son, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. The new Duchess wore the fringe as a necklace on her wedding day, and at many royal events throughout her life.

In 1902, she wore the Fringe Tiara at the Coronation of her brother-in-law, King Edward VII, when she added a few extra layers of diamonds at the base of the tiara.

In 1907, the Duchess wore the Fringe Tiara in an official portrait. The Duke and Duchess of Connaught had three children, Princess Margaret (later Crown Princess of Sweden), Prince Arthur (later Governor General of South Africa), and Princess Patricia (later Lady Patricia Ramsay), and were the Governor General and Viceregal Consort of Canada from 1911 to 1916. The Duchess of Connaught died on this day in 1917 of influenza and bronchitis at Clarence House (now home of the Prince of Wales) at the age of 56. The Duke died in 1942. Through their eldest daughter, the Duke and Duchess are the great grandparents of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and Queen Anne Marie of Greece.

In her last will, the Duchess of Connaught, bequeathed 

“…all my property real and personal…to my son for his absolute use and benefit in the hope but without intending to create any trust that as regards certain articles of jewellery and furniture he will distribute them in accordance with a memorandum I shall leave for him.” 

Prince Arthur married Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife in her own right, in 1913, and he inherited his mother’s Fringe Tiara at her death in 1917. The Duchess of Fife, wore the Connaught Fringe in an official portrait with her husband, Prince Arthur of Connaught, upon their appointment as Governor General and Viceregal Consort of South Africa. She also inherited a Fringe Tiara from her own mother, which she wore at the wedding ball of her niece, Princess Ingrid of Sweden in 1935.

In 1956, the Connaught Fringe Tiara was worn by the Hon. Caroline Dewar when she married Lord Carnegie, nephew and heir of Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife, who became the 3rd Duke of Fife.

However, when he succeeded to the title in 1959, the Connaught Fringe Tiara was auctioned at Sotheby’s for £4,200, joining other jewels like Queen Victoria’s Turkish Diamond Parure. Other Fife Tiaras are currently on long-term display at the Victoria Revealed Exhibition at Kensington Palace, which marks the 200th Anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth, and the displays feature personal objects and an intimate account of her fascinating life and long reign. You can go see them until 2020.

Fringe Tiara | Diamond Shamrock Tiara | Turkish Diamonds | Diamond Bow Brooch | Sapphire Brooch | Pearl Brooch | Diamond Sunburst Brooch

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Fringe Tiara

Diamond Shamrock Tiara

Turkish Diamonds

Diamond Bow Brooch

Pearl Brooch

Diamond Sunburst Brooch

Fife Tiara

Fife Fringe Tiara

Connaught Fringe Tiara

Diamond Earrings

Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Chain

Diamond Tiara

Honeysuckle Tiara

Fringe Tiara

Connaught Diamond Bow Brooch

Connaught Pearl Brooch

Maple Leaf Brooch

Art Deco Diamond Brooch

For more information, check out:

Tiara Mania

Royal Magazin

Fife Fringe Tiara

Today marks the centenary of the death of Princess Louise Margaret, Duchess of Connaught, a daughter-in-law of Queen Victoria, who died on this day in 1917. In her honour we will take a look at one of her most worn tiaras, which the Duchess wore to grand events throughout her life, and was also worn by her daughter-in-law. The Connaught Fringe Tiara’s current whereabouts are unknown.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Victoria, Duchess of Kent, the mother of Queen Victoria, was the first recorded owner of this diamond fringe tiara, which she left to her daughter upon her death in 1861. In 1879, Queen Victoria gave the fringe tiara as a wedding present to her daughter-in-law, Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia, when she married her third son, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. The new Duchess wore the fringe as a necklace on her wedding day, and at many royal events throughout her life. In 1902, she wore the Fringe Tiara at the Coronation of her brother-in-law, King Edward VII, when she added a few extra layers of diamonds at the base of the tiara. In 1907, the Duchess wore the Fringe Tiara in an official portrait. The Duke and Duchess of Connaught had three children, Princess Margaret (later Crown Princess of Sweden), Prince Arthur (later Governor General of South Africa), and Princess Patricia (later Lady Patricia Ramsay), and were the Governor General and Viceregal Consort of Canada from 1911 to 1916. The Duchess of Connaught died on this day in 1917 of influenza and bronchitis at Clarence House (now home of the Prince of Wales) at the age of 56. The Duke died in 1942. Through their eldest daughter, the Duke and Duchess are the great grandparents of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and Queen Anne Marie of Greece.

In her last will, the Duchess of Connaught, bequeathed “…all my property real and personal…to my son for his absolute use and benefit in the hope but without intending to create any trust that as regards certain articles of jewellery and furniture he will distribute them in accordance with a memorandum I shall leave for him.” Prince Arthur married Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife in her own right, in 1913, and he inherited his mother’s Fringe Tiara at her death in 1917. The Duchess of Fife, wore the Connaught Fringe in an official portrait with her husband, Prince Arthur of Connaught, upon their appointment as Governor General and Viceregal Consort of South Africa. She also inherited a Fringe Tiara from her own mother, which she wore at the wedding ball of her niece, Princess Ingrid of Sweden in 1935.

In 1956, the Connaught Fringe Tiara was worn by the Hon. Caroline Dewar when she married Lord Carnegie, nephew and heir of Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife, who became the 3rd Duke of Fife.

However, when he succeeded to the title in 1959, the Connaught Fringe Tiara was auctioned at Sotheby’s for £4,200, joining other jewels like Queen Victoria’s Turkish Diamond Parure. Other Fife Tiaras are currently on long-term display at the Victoria Revealed Exhibition at Kensington Palace, which marks the 200th Anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth, and the displays feature personal objects and an intimate account of her fascinating life and long reign. You can go see them until 2020.

4 thoughts on “Duchess of Connaught’s Fringe Tiara”

  2. I have a question, rather a doubt … In the photographs where Princess Alexandra appears with the tiara, that is not the Fife Fringe Tiara? I ask because for the articles of both tiaras the same photographs are used as a reference.

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