Happy Birthday to the Duchess of Kent, who turns 88 today! One of the longest-working members of the Royal Family, who has been largely retired for the past two decades, the Duchess once had access to an illustrious jewellery collection, which we have featured previously, and much of which has been modified or sold. To mark the day, we are taking a look at one of the few jewels still worn by the Duchess, her Diamond Flower Suite!
The exact origin of the Diamond Flower Brooch with a central pearl is unknown, but it may possibly originate from Queen Mary, who wore a Bracelet with an identical clasp with her Lover’s Knot Tiara for a portrait in the 1920s.
Since the time of her Wedding in 1961, the Duchess of Kent frequently wore Pearl and Diamond Flower Brooch on all sorts of occasions, with it being one of her most prominent jewels until she inherited Princess Marina’s Art Deco Brooch.
In the 1970s, the Duchess began to wear the Pearl and Diamond Flower Brooch as the clasp of a choker and she also wore a pair of coordinating pearl and diamond earrings, with a pearl pendant, for a variety of formal and formal events often with the Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara in the 1980s and 1990s.
The Duchess of Kent continued to wear the Pearl and Diamond Flower Brooch over the following few decades, including for Royal Ascot and also for Christmas at Windsor Castle.
The Diamond and Pearl Flower Suite was one of few jewels still worn by the Duchess of Kent since her retirement from royal duties in 2002, with notable appearances at Prince William’s Pre-Wedding Dinner in 2011 and a young musicians reception hosted by the Duchess at Buckingham Palace in 2016.
Most recently, the Diamond and Pearl Flower Brooch was worn by the Duchess’ daughter, Lady Helen Taylor, for the Funeral of the late Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral in London in 2025. Let’s hope we see the jewel worn again soon!
Kent Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara
Cambridge Sapphire Parure
Queen Mary’s Diamond Crochet Bandeau
Duchess of Kent’s Aquamarine Tiara
Kent Festoon Tiara
King Olav’s Gift Tiara
Duchess of Kent’s Diamond and Pearl Suite
Princess Marina’s Diamond Girandole Earrings
Duchess of Kent’s Diamond Flower Suite
Queen Victoria’s Gold Brooch
Empress Maria Feodrovna’s Sapphire Brooch
Duchess of Kent’s Art Deco Brooch
Princess Marina’s Black Pearl Brooch
Duchess of Kent’s Pearl Earrings
Diamond Flower Brooch
Pearl Flower Brooch
Queen Sonja’s Emerald Bead Suite
Cambridge Sapphire Parure
Kent Festoon Tiara
Kent City of London Fringe Tiara
Kent Pearl Bandeau
Greek Ruby Parure
Vladimir Fringe Tiara
Diamond Bandeau Tiara
Princess Marina’s Diamond Girandole Earrings
Diamond Circle Earrings
Vladimir Pearl Earrings
Princess Marina’s Diamond Bow Brooch
Princess Louise’s Diamond Daisy Brooches
Empress Maria Feodrovna’s Sapphire Brooch
Duchess of Kent’s Art Deco Brooch
Princess Marina’s Black Pearl Brooch
Duchess of Kent’s Pearl Earrings
Princess Marina’s Cartier Sapphire Clips
Princess Louise’s Emerald Brooch
Princess Marina’s Cartier Flower Brooch
Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna’s Emerald Brooch
The Duchess of Kent’s Tiaras | Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara | Pearl Earrings | Art Deco Brooch | Girandole Earrings | Diamond Flower Suite | 87 Facts about the Duchess of Kent
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Since the time of her Wedding in 1961, the Duchess of Kent was been wearing this modern diamond flower brooch with a central pearl. The provenance of the piece is unknown but it was likely a wedding present from a member of her own family or the Royal Family, and it may possibly originate from Queen Mary.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
In the 1970s, the Duchess began to wear the Diamond Flower Brooch as the clasp of a choker and she also wore a pair of coordinating pearl and diamond earrings, with a pearl pendant. Worn for a variety of formal and formal events, the Diamond and Pearl Flower Suite was often worn with the Kent Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara in the 1980s and 1990s.
Embed from Getty Images
The Diamond and Pearl Flower Suite is one of few jewels still worn by the Duchess of Kent since her retirement from royal duties in 2002. Notable appearences include Prince William’s Pre-Wedding Dinner in 2011 and a young musicians reception hosted by the Duchess at Buckingham Palace in 2016. There is no doubt the Duchess will continue to wear these jewels for years to come!
The Diamond and Pearl Flower Brooch was worn by the Duchess’ daughter, Lady Helen Taylor, for the Funeral of the late Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral in London in 2025.
