Today marks the Centenary of the Wedding of the Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who unexpectedly became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The King’s second son and the Scottish Aristocrat received hundreds of gifts from family, friends, associations and members of the general public, which included several spectacular pieces of jewellery that all went on public display.
The groom gave Lady Elizabeth a striking pearl and diamond necklace, which was soon remade into the Lotus Flower Tiara. The Duke also gifted the Teck Flower Brooch, which he had received from Queen Mary as well as a few strings of pearls.
From her soon-to-be father-in-law, King George V, the bride received a spectacular Turquoise Tiara and Parure, which was her grandest tiara for the next decade before becoming a favourite of Princess Margaret.
Queen Mary gave the Duchess of York a striking suite of sapphire and diamond jewels, including a necklace that may have been reworked first into a sautoir and later as the Queen Mother’s Sapphire Fringe Earrings, a Rose of York Diamond Brooch and the Sapphire Brooch which remained a lifelong favourite.
The Earl of Strathmore gave his youngest daughter the spectacular Strathmore Rose Tiara, which could also be worn with five sapphires in place of the diamonds in the centre of each of the wild roses.
From her mother, the Countess of Strathmore, the future Queen received a seed pearl and diamond sautoir and a pearl and diamond bracelet.
Queen Alexandra gave the bride a seed pearl and amethyst necklace with a heart-shaped amethyst clasp, which was first publicly pictured almost 90 years later on Queen Camilla.
Gifts from others included a seed pearl and diamond Sautoir from the City of London, and several pins and brooches, with the Rock Crystal Brooch possibly among them, from members of the extended Royal Family and the British Aristocracy.
I guess they didn’t need a toaster or a set of towels….