Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara

Princess Beatrix wore a well-known heirloom for her Wedding to Count Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at Windsor yesterday, and while we have covered the piece before, we thought it the perfect time to have an in-depth article on Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara. Click HERE to learn about Princess Beatrice’s Wedding.

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Often mistaken with the older Queen Adelaide’s Fringe, Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara is made of diamonds set in gold and silver by E. Wolff and Co. for Garrard in 1919, using diamonds from a necklace given by Queen Victoria to Queen Mary for her Wedding in 1893 in the Chapel Royal at St. James’ Palace (the original venue for Princess Beatrice’s Wedding).

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In 1936, Queen Mary gave her Fringe Tiara to her daughter-in-law, Queen Elizabeth, upon her husband’s accession to the Throne. She wore the piece for her first official portrait as Queen and quite frequently during the 1930s and 1940s, pairing it with the Coronation Rivière and Greville Emerald Necklace and even with Queen Adelaide’s Fringe Necklace.

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In 1947, Queen Elizabeth loaned Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara to her elder daughter, Princess Elizabeth, for her Wedding to Prince Phillip of Greece. The Tiara snapped that morning and had hurriedly fixed by the Court Jeweller while the Queen calmed down her daughter. However, you can still see the gap where the frame was hurriedly fixed in the pictures, which was fixed by the time Queen Elizabeth wore the Tiara a few days later.

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In 1973, the Queen Mother again loaned the Tiara, this time to her granddaughter, Princess Anne for her Wedding to Captain Mark Phillips, worn with her Tudor-inspired high-necked and dramatic-sleeved gown by Maureen Baker of Susan Small.

Despite being rarely worn after the 1950s, Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara remained with the Queen Mother until her death in 2002, and has been worn a rarely since it was inherited by the Queen, who wore it for an Official Dinner and also for the New Zealand Diamond Jubilee Portrait.

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Continuing the family tradition, the Queen loaned Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara to her eldest male-line granddaughter, Princess Beatrice for her Wedding to Count Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor, which was worn alongside a vintage Norman Hartnell Gown worn by the Queen in the 1960s, which was remodelled and fitted by Angela Kelly. Lets hope that means we will get to see this Tiara again soon!

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2 thoughts on “Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara

  1. Wonderful to see that Princess Beatrice was able to show off a very significant jewel at her wedding even with the Covid situation making it impossible to have the grand wedding she definitely deserves. And even better that we were able to see her wear it albeit be it on photos and not on live television images 🙂

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