August 31st will mark the 20th Anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, one of the most iconic women of the last century. In honour of her death anniversary, we are featuring 20 of her most iconic jewels. Today’s feature is the Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara, which actually wasn’t even worn by the Princess, but is strongly associated with her!
Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara | Spencer Tiara | Spencer Diamond Earrings | Spencer Diamond Rivière | Tourmaline Brooch/Pendant
Composed of nine diamond ‘honeysuckle’ elements atop a diamond greek key base, this Tiara has been regularly modified over the years, with an earlier version featuring three ‘honeysuckle’ elements in the middle of the greek key base. The exact origin of the Tiara is unknown, but it is no doubt a historic family heirloom, on par with other jewels, like the Spencer Diamond Earrings and the Spencer Diamond Rivière, which are over three centuries old.
The Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara was photographed on 5th Countess Spencer, who is thought to have received it as a wedding gift in 1858. A Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria, Lady Spencer wore the Tiara at the Wedding of the Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra of Denmark in Windsor Castle in 1863.
Countess Spencer was also drawn wearing a version of the Tiara in 1872, later being pictured in the Tiara with the Spencer Diamond Rivière for a series of portraits in 1885.
A few generations later, the Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara was most frequently worn by Cynthia, the 7th Countess Spencer, who was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, and wore the Tiara for a Pagent at Althorp in 1932, the State Opening of Parliament, and for the Royal Visit to Paris in 1938,
Countess Spencer also wore the Honeysuckle Tiara at a Gala Performance in 1950, for the Danish State Visit to Britain in 1951, at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, and at an army dinner in 1956.
The Honeysuckle Tiara was next worn by Raine, the next Countess Spencer for the Wedding Ball of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer at Buckingham Palace in 1981, which was its last appearance.
While she wore the other Spencer Tiara on countless occasions, the late Diana, Princess of Wales was never photographed wearing the Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara, and the image above is just photoshopped.
However, despite having never worn it, the Honeysuckle Tiara was a part of the traveling Diana Exhibition for years, often misleadingly labeled as ‘Princess Diana’s Crown’. Since the conclusion of the exhibition, the Tiara has returned to the Spencer vault in London, but has yet to be worn by the current Countess Spencer.
Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara | Spencer Tiara | Spencer Diamond Earrings | Spencer Diamond Rivière | Tourmaline Brooch/Pendant
Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara
Spencer Tiara
Spencer Diamond Earrings
Spencer Diamond Rivière
Tourmaline Brooch/Pendant
Devonshire Tiara
Devonshire Diamond Rivière
Ruby Clasp
Wellington Tiara
Diamond Earrings
Diamond Tassel Earrings
Bagration Spinel Tiara
Rosebery Tiara
Diamond Necklace
Westminster Myrtle Wreath Tiara
Diamond Fringe Tiara
Duchess of Buccleuch’s Tiaras
Northumberland Tiara
Duchess of Sutherland’s Tiara
Duchess of Bedford’s Tiaras
Marlborough Tiara
Portland Tiara
Duchess of Norfolk’s Sapphire Necklace
Rutland Tiara
Argyll Tiara
Manchester Tiara
Dufferin Tiara
Bath Tiara
Milford Haven Ruby Kokoshnik
Duchess of Devonshire’s Tiaras
Londonderry Tiara
Londonderry Amethyst Parure
Londonderry Pearl Parure
Londonderry Turquoise Parure
Londonderry Diamond Stomacher
Londonderry Emerald Parure
The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara
Vladimir Tiara
Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara
Belgian Sapphire Tiara
Burmese Ruby Tiara
Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara
Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara
Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara
Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara
Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara
Plunket Tiara
Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara | Spencer Tiara | Spencer Diamond Rivière
Embed from Getty Images
Composed of nine diamond ‘honeysuckle’ elements atop a ‘Greek key’ base, this tiara has been regularly modified over the years, including one version which featured three ‘honeysuckle’ elements joining the ‘Greek key’ elements.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-4UgyFnQ_U/
Embed from Getty Images
The Tiara was photographed on 5th Countess Spencer, who is thought to have received it as a wedding gift to her in 1858, at the Wedding of the Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra of Denmark in Windsor Castle in 1863, she was drawn wearing a version of the Tiara in 1872, and was also pictured in the Tiara with the Spencer Diamond Rivière for portraits in 1885.
The person who was most photographed wearing the Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara was Cynthia, Countess Spence, who was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. (Interestingly, Ruth, Baroness Fermoy, the Princess’ maternal grandmother, was also a Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen Mother.) Countess Spencer wore the Tiara for a Pagent at Althorp in 1932, during the Royal Visit to Paris in 1938, and at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
Lady Spencer also wore the Tiara at a Gala Performance in 1950…
…and at an army dinner in 1956.
The Honeysuckle Tiara was notably worn by Raine, the next Countess Spencer for the Wedding Ball of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.
Diana, Princess of Wales was never photographed wearing the Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara (though she regularly wore the other Spencer Tiara), and the image above is convincingly photoshopped. However, despite having never worn it, the Honeysuckle Tiara was a part of the traveling Diana Exhibition, often misleadingly labeled as ‘Princess Diana’s Crown’. Since the conclusion of the exhibition, the Tiara has returned to the Spencer vaults at Althrop House.
Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara | Spencer Tiara | Spencer Diamond Rivière
I Think Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara needs to be worn by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
Catherine is not a Spencer, so has no right to wear the Honeysuckle tiara.
I Think Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara Is Gorgeous
I’d like to add my comment. Diana “wearing” the Spencer Honeysuckle tiara is not a “Photoshop” image. It was actually created [by ME] many years before Photoshop existed, simply by using scissors and glue on two photocopies. I find it a great chuckle that this image is still circulating at least 25 years after I shared it with a friend and asked her never to send it to anyone else…but she did, and it’s been going around the public domain ever since. Diana never, ever wore that tiara. The occasion used fr the basis of the photo, she was not wearing any tiara. It was snipped out of a copy of the Duchess which is next to Diana in your compilation and glued on with a simple Pritt-stick. I still have the original and it makes me smile every time I see it touted as evidence that Diana once appeared wearing the honeycomb – As IF!! There would be hundreds of different photos, if ever she had and it would have hit the headlines, too….
I Think Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara needs to be worn by Lady Eliza Spencer