Countess of Snowdon’s Diamond Clips

Happy Birthday to the Countess of Snowdon, who turns 50 today! Despite being the daughter of the 12th Earl of Harrington, who was married to Princess Margaret’s only son, the Countess has worn relatively few heirloom jewels, an exception being these Art Deco Diamond Clips.

Linley Beachwood Tiara | Lotus Flower TiaraArt Deco Diamond Clips

A pair of versatile Art Deco Diamond Clips, these jewels appeared on Queen Mary in the 1930s, being worn by her on her hat, and more traditionally on her bodice. There is no confirmed provenance, but the Diamond Clips were probably acquired by Queen Mary herself.

After Queen Mary’s death in 1953, her Art Deco Diamond Clips were inherited by her granddaughter, Princess Margaret, who wore them quite frequently in the 1950s, most notably on a long Tour of the Caribbean in 1955.

Two years later, Princess Margaret wore Queen Mary’s Art Deco Diamond Clips for Trooping the Colour in 1957, among a series of appearances in the late 1950s, but they were not pictured in the decades following.

In 1993, Princess Margaret gave Queen Mary’s Art Deco Diamond Clips as a wedding gift to the Hon. Serena Stanhope when she married her only son, the then Viscount Linley. The Diamond Clips were the principal jewels of the new Viscountess and were worn for a variety of events, most notably the Christening of her son, the current Viscount Linley, in 1999.

Fittingly, Viscountess Linley also wore Queen Mary’s Art Deco Diamond Clips for the Funeral of Princess Margaret at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in 2002.

In 2008, Viscountess Linley wore Queen Mary’s Art Deco Diamond Clips for the Wedding of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

In recent years, the Countess notably wore Queen Mary’s Art Deco Diamond Clips for Church at Sandringham, and while she has not been publicly seen since the announcement of their divorce in 2020, the Art Deco Diamond Clips probably remain with the Countess, though lets hope we will soon see them being worn by her daughter, Lady Margarita.

Linley Beachwood Tiara | Lotus Flower TiaraArt Deco Diamond Clips

Linley Beachwood Tiara

Lotus Flower Tiara

Art Deco Diamond Clips

Poltimore Tiara

Turquoise Parure

Cartier Halo Tiara

Lotus Flower Tiara

Snowdon Floral Tiara

Empress Maria Feodorovna’s Sapphire Bandeau

Teck Diamond Hoop Necklace

Diamond Earrings

Ruby Girandole Earrings

Emerald Earrings

Greville Pearl Earrings

Sapphire Earrings

Diamond Star Earrings

Diamond and Pearl Riviere 

 Star Brooch

Cartier Rose Brooch

Ear-of-Wheat Brooch

Floral Spray Brooch

Diamond Fleur-de-Lys Brooch

Cartier Ruby Flower Brooch

A pair of versatile Art Deco Diamond Clips, these pieces appeared on Queen Mary in the 1930s, and were worn by her on her hat, and more traditionally on her bodice. There is no confirmed provenance, but the Diamond Clips were probably acquired by Queen Mary herself.

Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images

After Queen Mary’s death in 1953, her Art Deco Diamond Clips were inherited by her granddaughter, Princess Margaret, who wore them quite frequently in the 1950s and 1960s, most notably on a long Tour of the Caribbean in 1955.

Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images

In 1993, Princess Margaret gave her Art Deco Diamond Clips as a wedding gift to the Hon. Serena Stanhope when she married her only son, the then Viscount Linley. The Diamond Clips are the principal jewels of the Countess and have been worn for a variety of events, most notably the Christening of her son, the current Viscount Linley, and the Funeral of Princess Margaret in 2002. After the recent announcement of their divorce, the Art Deco Diamond Clips will probably remain with the Countess, and we will most likely continue to see her at some royal events, hopefully wearing these heirloom jewels, or lending them to her daughter, Lady Margarita.

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