This month, we have been marking the Bicentenary of the Birth of Queen Victoria by featuring her Top 20 Jewels, one for each decade since the Birth of 2nd-longest reigning British Monarch, in the 20 days leading up to the Anniversary itself, and today’s feature is her Small Diamond Crown-
The Crown was commissioned by Queen Victoria from Garrard in 1870, to wear over her widow’s cap as she continued to mourn Prince Albert, and found it difficult to wear the heavier Imperial State Crown and George IV State Diadem. The Small Diamond Crown is composed of a diamond base with four cross pattée and fleur-de-lis and four arches joining at a monde in an openwork silver frame 9 cm across and 10 cm high, all set with 1,187 diamonds, including some that were taken from a diamond fringe ornament made by Garrard in 1856, and may have been based on Queen Charlotte’s Nuptial Crown.
The crown comprises an openwork silver frame set with 1,187 brilliant-cut and rose-cut diamonds in open-backed collet mounts. The band is formed with a frieze of lozenges and ovals in oval apertures, between two rows of single diamonds, supporting four crosses-pattée and four fleurs-de-lis, with four half-arches above, surmounted by a monde and a further cross-pattée.
Queen Victoria first wore her new Diamond Crown at the State Opening of Parliament in 1871, and frequently used it for State occasions, and for receiving guests at formal Drawing-rooms.
Queen Victoria also wore the Small Diamond Crown for many of the portraits of her later reign, sometimes worn without the arches, including those taken for Golden Jubilee in 1887 and her Diamond Jubilee, taken in 1897, as well as the Wedding of the Duke of York and Princess May of Teck in 1893.
The Small Diamond Crown was such an integral part of the Queen’s image in her latter years that it was placed on top of her coffin after her death at Osborne House.
By the time of her death, the small crown had become so closely associated with the image of the Queen, that it was placed on her coffin at Osborne.
Queen Victoria left her Small Diamond Crown to the Crown “to be worn by future Queens in right of it”, and it was worn by Queen Alexandra for the State Opening of Parliament in 1901 just a few weeks after Queen Victoria’s passing.
The Diamond Crown was also worn by Queen Alexandra for the State Openings of Parliament in 1902 and 1907 among a few others, paired with several of the most magnificent heirlooms of the Crown.
Queen Alexandra also notably wore the Small Diamond Crown with her Cartier Collier Résille and Koh-i-Noor Diamond for an iconic portrait by François Flameng, which hangs in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.
Queen Alexandra retained the Small Diamond Crown in her possession upon being widowed, wearing it with her Diamond Circlet for the Wedding of Prince Arthur of Connaught and her granddaughter, Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife, in 1913.
The Crown was not pictured on Queen Mary or Queen Elizabeth, and in 1937, King George VI deposited it in the Jewel House at the Tower of London, where it remains on public display with the rest of the Crown Jewels.
Imperial State Crown
George IV State Diadem
Queen Victoria’s Regal Circlet
Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara
Queen Victoria’s Sapphire Coronet
Queen Victoria’s Emerald Tiara
Queen Victoria’s Strawberry Leaf Tiara
Queen Victoria’s Sunray Fringe Tiara
Queen Adelaide’s Fringe
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Crown
Queen Charlotte’s Nuptial Crown
Coronation Necklace and Earrings
Queen Victoria’s Turkish Diamond Necklace
Prince Albert’s Sapphire Brooch
Koh-i-Noor Diamond
Queen Victoria’s Fringe Brooch
Queen Victoria’s Bow Brooches
Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace
Queen Victoria’s Pearl Earrings
Queen Victoria’s Hesse Diamond Jubilee Brooch
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Chain
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bracelet
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Brooch
Queen Victoria’s Wheat Ear Brooches
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bar Brooches
Queen Victoria’s 11 Pearl Brooch
Queen Victoria’s Crown Ruby Brooch
Queen Victoria’s Gold Brooch
Royal Order of Victoria and Albert
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Commissioned by Queen Victoria from Garrards in 1870, to wear over her widow’s cap as she continued to mourn Prince Albert, and found it difficult to wear the heavier Imperial State Crown and George IV State Diadem. The Small Diamond Crown features a diamond base with four cross pattée and fleur-de-lis and four arches joining at a monde in an openwork silver frame 9 cm across and 10 cm high, all set with 1,187 diamonds, including some that were taken from a diamond fringe ornament made by Garrard in 1856.
Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images
Queen Victoria first wore her new Crown at the State Opening of Parliament in 1871, and it quickly became a favourite, often worn it without the arches for many official portraits, including those taken for Golden Jubilee in 1887 and her Diamond Jubilee, taken in 1893. The Tiara was such an integral part of the Queen’s image in her latter years that it was placed on top of her coffin after her death at Osborne House.
Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images
Queen Victoria left her Small Diamond Crown to the Crown “to be worn by future Queens in right of it”, and it was frequently worn by Queen Alexandra during her husband’s reign and afterwards. The Crown was not pictured on Queen Mary or Queen Elizabeth, and in 1937, King George VI deposited it in the Jewel House at the Tower of London, where it remains on public display with the rest of the Crown Jewels.
