Snowdon Floral Tiara

Happy Silver Anniversary to Lady Sarah and Daniel Chatto, who got married on this day in 1994! We have covered some of Lady Sarah’s heirloom jewels, like Princess Margaret’s Pearl Earrings and Queen Mary’s Diamond and Pearl Riviere, but we have saved today’s piece for this special day-

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In 1960, Princess Margaret received three antique diamond flower brooches from her husband, Antony Armstrong-Jones, around the time of their Wedding. She wore the brooches in various configurations as dress and hair ornaments throughout the 1960s, though it is hard to distinguish them from the many similar pieces she had in her collection. The diamond flower brooches remained with Princess Margaret after her divorce and she continued to wear them for daytime and evening events.

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In 1994, Jasper Conran, designer of Lady Sarah’s wedding gown, saw the brooches in Princess Margaret’s jewellery box and suggested they be made into a tiara. Wartski made a frame to hold the brooches as a tiara, while the brooch fittings remained in place. As such, the piece was worn by Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones when she married Daniel Chatto at St. Stephen’s Walbrook Church in London on this day in 1994, paired with Princess Margaret’s Greville Pearl Earrings.

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The three antique diamond flower brooches came into Lady Sarah’s possession after her wedding, and while she still retains the frame (the Tiara was exhibited with her wedding dress at the Victoria & Albert Museum IIRC), she has worn them as brooches, most notably at the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s Golden Anniversary Gala, Princess Margaret’s Funeral, and the Queen and Duke’s Diamond Wedding Anniversary Service. Lady Sarah has also loaned the brooches to her younger sister, Lady Frances, for her wedding in 2006. As Lady Sarah continues to be one of the most bejewelled ladies at the family events she attends, there is no doubt we will continue to see the brooches for years to come, and hopefully as the Tiara as well.

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