Tomorrow, the Duchess of Kent will be celebrating her 90th Birthday! The Baronet’s daughter who married the late Queen’s first cousin and was a working royal for over 40 years before retiring from royal duties, the Duchess possessed some spectacular heirloom Jewels, many of which we have featured over the years, though we reserved some special jewels for her 90th Birthday, ending our series by featuring the Duchess of Kent’s Fouquet Aquamarine Tiara!
Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara | Cambridge Sapphire Parure | Aquamarine Tiara | Diamond and Pearl Suite | Pearl Earrings | Art Deco Brooch | Girandole Earrings | Diamond Flower Suite | Queen Victoria’s Gold Brooch | Empress Maria Feodrovna’s Sapphire Brooch | Princess Marina’s Black Pearl Brooch | The Duchess of Kent’s Tiaras | The Jewels of the Duchess of Kent | 90 Facts about the Duchess of Kent
Designed as five graduated floral motifs, each set with a cushion shaped aquamarine within a petalled border of circular-cut and rose diamonds and natural pearl accents, this Tiara was originally set into an enamelled Kokoshnik before the five individual flowers were set onto a frame. It is unknown if the Tiara was acquired by the Duchess of Kent, or repeatedly loaned by a friend or jeweller, as an additional tiara was a requirement for the Duchess after the sale of the Cambridge Sapphire Parure.
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A few years before the Fouquet Aquamarine Tiara was worn by the Duchess of Kent, the Duchess began wearing a pearl and aquamarine suite of jewels, worn for Lady Helen’s 21st Birthday Gala in 1985 and also the Queen’s 60th Birthday Concert in 1986, and this was likely remade into the aquamarine and pearl suite usually worn by the Duchess with the Tiara.
The Duchess of Kent began wearing the Fouquet Aquamarine Tiara in the late 1980s, with a notable initial appearance at the State Opening of Parliament in 1989.
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The Aquamarine Tiara was acquired as an alternate to the Kent Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara, and in the era of Return Banquets, the Duchess of Kent wore the Tiara for a Dinner hosted by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi at Claridge’s Hotel in 1989, a Banquet given by the Indian President at the St James Court Hotel in 1990, and the Banquet hosted by Polish President Lech Walesa at Claridges Hotel in 1991.
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In 1995, the Duchess of Kent made a final notable appearance in the Fouquet Aquamarine Tiara at the Duchess of Richmond’s Ball, held to mark the 180th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. The Duchess paired the Tiara with a pair of coordinating earrings of which nothing is known, but were later see in 1998, at the then Prince of Wales’ 50th Birthday Gala!
The Duke and Duchess of Kent hit financial difficulties in the mid-1990s and several jewels were sold. The Duchess retired from royal duties soon afterwards, and while it is unknown if she stopped loaning the piece or if it was sold, but in 2013, the Fouquet Aquamarine Tiara was worn by an unidentified lady for the State Opening of Parliament.
In 2014, the Fouquet Aquamarine Tiara was put on auction at the Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels Sale in Geneva, selling for $204,500, near the predicted estimate of 155,000 – 220,000 CHF. The current location of the piece is unknown.
Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara | Cambridge Sapphire Parure | Aquamarine Tiara | Diamond and Pearl Suite | Pearl Earrings | Art Deco Brooch | Girandole Earrings | Diamond Flower Suite | Queen Victoria’s Gold Brooch | Empress Maria Feodrovna’s Sapphire Brooch | Princess Marina’s Black Pearl Brooch | The Duchess of Kent’s Tiaras | The Jewels of the Duchess of Kent | 90 Facts about the Duchess of Kent
Sotheby’s | Tiara Mania | The Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor | Artemisia’s Royal Jewels
