Princess Victoria’s Cartier Diamond Tiara

Today marks the 85th Anniversary of the Death of Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom, who died on this day in 1935! The British Princess, who was the daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and the sister of King George V and Queen Maud of Norway, was prevented from marrying and remained the lifelong companion of her mother, living only a decade after her death. To mark the Anniversary, we are taking a look at her Cartier Diamond Tiara.

Since Princess Victoria never married, and did not receive jewels for her wedding gifts, in 1902, she acquired a Tiara from Cartier, and while its not known if that was this delicate diamond floral spray, often nestled in her massive hairdo, this is the piece she was most frequently pictured wearing, an early notable appearance being at the State Opening of Parliament in 1902.

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In 1905, Princess Victoria was pictured in the Diamond Floral Tiara at the Wedding of her cousin, Princess Margaret of Connaught, and Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden at Windsor Castle. While Princess Victoria accompanied her parents for many State Occasions, there were few pictures taken in those days and thus we do not have many picture of her wearing the Tiara.

The Cartier Tiara was pictured on Princess Victoria at the Coronation of her brother-in-law King Haakon VII of Norway, in 1906 and it appears she also wore the Tiara at a Gala Performance during the British State Visit to Norway in 1908, but in both instances, the pictures are too small to be fully sure. Princess Victoria (and the Tiara) do not seem to be pictured at Gala Events after King Edward VII’s death in 1910, and after Queen Alexandra’s death, she also inherited her Wedding Tiara, which was ‘disposed of’ and that might also be the fate of her Cartier Tiara.

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After her death, Princess Victoria’s country house, Coppins, was inherited by her nephew, the Duke of Kent, while the rest of her estate was divided between her nephew, King Olav V of Norway, and niece, Princess Maud, Countess of Southesk. Queen Sonja of Norway wears a few floral brooches which could be elements of Princess Victoria’s Tiara, but ultimately the fate of the Cartier Tiara remains a mystery

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HRJ

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