Princess Margaret’s Tiaras

Today marks the 90th Anniversary of the Birth of Princess Margaret, the Queen’s late sister, who was born on this day in 1930. As one of the leading members of the Royal Century for her entire life, the late Princess had a huge jewelry collection, which we are bringing together to look at all of her Tiaras-

Poltimore Tiara

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Made by Garrard for the 2nd Baroness Poltimore in the 1870s, the magnificent Poltimore Tiara was auctioned by the 4th Baron Poltimore in 1958, when it was bought by Princess Margaret, who famously wore the Tiara for her Wedding to Lord Snowdon in 1960, and was her most frequently worn Tiara for the rest of her life, often being worn at State Banquets, State Openings of Parliaments, and iconic Official Portraits. The Tiara headed the famous auction of her jewels in 2006, being sold for £926,400 to a ‘private Asian buyer’ and disappearing from public view. Learn more!

Turquoise Tiara

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A wedding gift to the Queen Mother in 1923, from her father-in-law, King George V, the Persian Turquoise Parure was worn by her quite often in the 1920s and 30s, and was given to Princess Margaret as a 21st Birthday gift in 1951. The Turquoise Tiara and Parure continued to be one of Princess Margaret’s most substantial jewels and was worn after her marriage and well into the following decades, though it was never a favourite. The Parure was not sold in the famous auction after her death and reportedly is in the possession of her son and daughter-in-law, the Earl and Countess of Snowdon. Learn more!

Lotus Flower Tiara

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Made from a necklace given as a wedding gift to the Queen Mother from her husband in 1923, the Lotus Flower Tiara has been frequently loaned throughout the decades, and given by the Queen Mother to Princess Margaret in the late 1950s, being frequently worn for the rest of her life, and even being loaned to the Hon. Serena Stanhope when she married her only son, then Viscount Linley, in 1993. After Princess Margaret’s death, the Tiara came into the Queen’s collection, and has been worn by the Duchess of Cambridge. Learn more!

Halo Scroll Tiara

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Given as a gift to the Queen Mother from her husband in 1936, the Halo Scroll Tiara was worn by her to a couple of occasions in the late 1930s before being given as an 18th birthday gift to her daughter, Princess (now Queen) Elisabeth, in 1944. The Tiara was loaned it to Princess Margaret in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, first worn at Queen Juliana’s Inauguration Gala in 1948 and later famously worn at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and on her Official Tours, like when she granted Independence to the Colony of Jamaica in 1962, becoming a symbol of the glamorous young Princess. The Tiara was later worn Princess Anne in the 60s and 70s before Queen famously loaned the Tiara to the Duchess of Cambridge for her wedding in 2011.

Snowdon Floral Tiara

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Princess Margaret received three antique diamond flower brooches from her husband, Antony Armstrong-Jones, around the time of their Wedding in 1960, which she wore in a variety of creative ways througout her life. The Brooches were mounted as a Tiara for the Wedding of her only daughter, Lady Sarah Armstrong Jones, in 1994, and are owned by Lady Sarah today. Learn more!

Queen Mary’s Lozenge Bandeau

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Commissioned by Queen Mary sometime in the interwar years, the Diamond Lozenge Bandeau (originally topped with thirteen large oval oriental pearls) was worn by Queen Mary to the Theatre in 1935 and a Gala in 1939, before the Pearls were removed and the Lozenge Bandeau was loaned to Princess Margaret and became her first tiara, worn to Queen Juliana’s Inauguration Gala in 1948 and two years later for the Dutch State Visit in 1950. The Bandeau has not been publicly worn since 1965.

Maria Feodorovna’s Sapphire Bandeau

Come from the collection of Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia, this Diamond Sunburst Bandeau with a large central sapphire was acquired by Queen Mary in the 1920s, and after being inherited by the Queen in 1953, it was frequently loaned the tiara to her sister, Princess Margaret, in the 1950s and 60s, who also wore the central sapphire as a brooch. Notable appearances include the 1960 French State Visit and the Wedding of Princess Astrid of Norway in 1961, but the Bandeau hasn’t been publicly worn in over 50 years. Learn more!

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 The Poltimore Tiara | Turquoise Parure Diamond Earrings | Ruby Girandole Earrings |  Pearl Earrings | Diamond and Pearl Riviere

2 thoughts on “Princess Margaret’s Tiaras

  1. Princess Margaret was a stunningly beautiful young woman! Practically any tiara she wore looked great on her, but my favorite is the Turquoise tiara. The stones are of a beautiful, soft milky blue that perfectly complements the blue in the princess’ eyes. I find it a much better fit for her than the Poltimore, which I find a bit too tall for her height. It fulfilled its job during her wedding because it had a companion veil which lent it cohesiveness, but it tended to overwhelm her when it was all by itself, perched on top of her head. I think the princess looked her best wearing small to medium size tiaras like the Sapphire Bandeau or my favorite, the Turquoise!

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