Greville Pearl Earrings

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 EarringsEmerald Earrings | Diamond Star EarringsQueen 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 NecklaceDiamond Peardrop Earrings, the Diamond Chandelier EarringsEmerald Earrings, the Ruby Necklacetwo Emerald NecklacesIvy Leaf ClipsDiamond Bow Broochand a pair of Pearl Earringsalongside 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 , and continued to be worn it well into the 90s, being worn in Canada in 1958, the Jamaican Independence Celebrations in 1962Princess 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. Pauls 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 EarringsEmerald Earrings | Diamond Star EarringsQueen Mary’s Diamond and Pearl Riviere | Ear-of-Wheat Brooch | Star Brooch | Floral Spray Brooch

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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

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https://www.instagram.com/p/CKCcTP1FaY9/

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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 , 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.

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