Today marks the 55th Anniversary of the Death of Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, who passed away on this day in 1968! The glamorous Greek Princess who married the dashing British Prince, was widowed during the Second World War, and continued to be a busy working British Royal until her untimely death in 1968, Princess Marina possessed an exceptional Jewellery Collection, which we are rounding up today!
Cambridge Sapphire Parure
Origin: Made for Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge, which was inherited by Princess Augusta of Cambridge, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and then by Queen Mary, who gave it as a Wedding Gift to Princess Marina
Notable Appearances: The Coronation Ball in London, Anglo-Hellenic Ball in 1938, Independence of Ghana in 1957, Banquet at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea in 1956, State Opening of Parliament in 1960, Nepalese State Visit in 1960, King Paul of Greece’s 60th Birthday Banquet in 1961, the Wedding Ball of Prince Juan Carlos of Spain and Princess Sophia of Greece in 1962, the Princess Alexandra’s Wedding Ball at Windsor Castle in 1963, and the Wedding of Queen Margrethe of Denmark in 1967.
Current Location: Inherited by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and worn by the Duchess of Kent before the Tiara was sold at Auction in the 1990s. A new Parure made from remaining Jewels was also sold in the 1990s.
Kent Festoon Tiara
Origin: Unknown, possibly inherited from Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll
Notable Appearances: Royal Film Performance of ‘Where No Vultures Fly’ in 1951, Far East Tour in 1952, Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, Portuguese State Visit to Britain in 1955
Current Location: Inherited by Prince Michael of Kent and worn by Princess Michael
Kent City of London Fringe Tiara
Origin: A wedding gift to Princess Marina from the City of London in 1934
Notable Appearances: The Coronation of King George VI in 1937, Gala Performance at Covent Garden in 1939, Gala Performance at Covent Garden in 1950, Opening of the Festival of Britain in 1951, Far East Tour in 1952, Coronation Ball at the Royal Albert Hall in 1953, Coronation Gala at Covent Garden in 1953, Wedding Gala of her nephew, Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, and Princess Maria Pia of Savoy in 1955, French State Visit to Britain in 1960, Order of the British Empire Service in 1960, Greek State Visit in 1963
Current Location: Inherited by Prince Michael of Kent and worn by Princess Michael as well as Lady Gabriella Windsor
Kent Pearl Bandeau
Origin: A wedding gift to Princess Marina from her mother, Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna, Princess Nicholas of Greece, in 1934
Notable Appearances: Gala Performance in 1935, Presentation Court at Buckingham Palace in 1937, Royal Variety Performance in 1937, Ball in Bath in 1938, Royal Variety Performance in 1938, Danish State Visit to Britain in 1951, Banquet in Athens in 1952, Wedding Ball of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and her niece, Countess Helen zu Toerring-Jettenbach, in 1956, Iraqi State Visit to Britain in 1956, Independence of Ghana in 1957, Queen Juliana’s Silver Anniversary in 1962, Independence of the Kingdom of Lesotho in 1966. State Opening of Parliament in 1967
Current Location: Inherited by Princess Alexandra of Kent and sold off in the 1970s
Greek Ruby Parure
Origin: On loan from Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna, Princess Nicholas of Greece
Notable Appearances: The State Opening of Parliament in 1937 and a Cecil Beaton Portrait
Current Location: Given to Queen Frederica of Greece in 1956 and now worn by Queen Anne-Marie of Greece
Vladimir Fringe Tiara
Origin: Grand Duchess Vladimir, on loan from Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna, Princess Nicholas of Greece
Notable Appearances: Wedding to Prince George, Duke of Kent in 1934
Current Location: Inherited by Archduchess Helen of Austria in 1957 and remains in her collection
Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau
Origin: On loan from Queen Mary
Notable Appearances: The Empire Ball in 1935
Current Location: Inherited by Queen Elizabeth II and recently worn by the Queen Elizabeth II
Princess Marina’s Diamond Girandole Earrings
Origin: Grand Duchess Vladimir, a wedding gift to Princess Marina from her mother, Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna, Princess Nicholas of Greece, in 1934
Notable Appearances: Coronation of King George VI in 1937, Presentation Court at Buckingham Palace in 1937, Royal Variety Performance in 1938, Gala Performance at Covent Garden in 1939, Gala at Hertford House in 1950, Gala Performance at Covent Garden in 1950, Opening of the Festival of Britain in 1951, Far East Tour in 1952, Gala in Athens in 1952, Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, Wedding Gala of her nephew, Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, and Princess Maria Pia of Savoy in 1955, French State Visit to Britain in 1960, Greek State Visit in 1963,
Current Location: Inherited by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and worn by the Duchess of Kent before being sold in the 1990s. Now owned by SJ Phillips and worn by Kim Kardashian and Daphne Guinness.
Diamond Circle Earrings
Origin: Unknown, possibly inherited from Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll
Notable Appearances: Dorothy Wilding Portraits, Wedding Ball of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and her niece, Countess Helen zu Toerring-Jettenbach, in 1956, Order of the British Empire Service in 1960
Current Location: Inherited by Prince Michael of Kent and now worn by Princess Michael
Vladimir Pearl Earrings
Origin: Grand Duchess Vladimir through to her daughter, Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna, Princess Nicholas of Greece, who gave them to Princess Marina in the early 1950s
Notable Appearances: Danish State Visit to Britain in 1951, Gala in Athens in 1952, Coronation Ball at the Royal Albert Hall in 1953, Independence of Ghana in 1957, Banquet at Nepalese Embassy in 1960
Current Location: Inherited by Prince Michael of Kent and now worn by Princess Michael
Princess Marina’s Diamond Bow Brooch
Origin: Grand Duchess Vladimir, a wedding gift to Princess Marina from her mother, Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna, Princess Nicholas of Greece, in 1934
Notable Appearances: Coronation of King George VI in 1937, Wedding of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark in 1947, Far East Tour in 1952, Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, Royal Film Performance in 1957, Independence of Ghana in 1957, State Opening of Parliament in 1967
Current Location: Inherited by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and sold in the 1970s, most recently worn by Sheikha Amna bint Mohammed Al Thani of Qatar for the Committal Service of Queen Elizabeth II at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
Princess Louise’s Diamond Daisy Brooches
Origin: Inherited by Princess Marina from Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll
Current Location: Inherited by Prince Michael of Kent and now worn by Princess Michael
Empress Maria Feodrovna’s Sapphire Brooch
Origin: Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, later sold to Queen Mary in 1928, who gave it to Princess Marina in the early 1950s
Notable Appearances: Christmas at Sandringham in 1951
Current Location: Inherited by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and worn by the Duchess of Kent
Duchess of Kent’s Art Deco Brooch
Origin: A Wedding Gift from Queen Mary in 1934
Notable Appearances: Wedding to Prince George, Duke of Kent in 1934, Wedding Ball of Prince Juan Carlos of Spain and Princess Sophia of Greece in 1962
Current Location: Inherited by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and worn by the Duchess of Kent
Princess Marina’s Black Pearl Brooch
Origin: Unknown, possibly Grand Duchess Vladimir
Notable Appearances: The Wedding of the Hon. Gerald Lascelles in 1952
Current Location: Inherited by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and worn by the Duchess of Kent
Duchess of Kent’s Pearl Earrings
Origin: Unknown, likely Wedding Gifts
Notable Appearances: Gala Performance in 1935, Engagement of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent in 1961, Independence of the Kingdom of Lesotho in 1966
Current Location: Inherited by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and worn by the Duchess of Kent
Princess Marina’s Cartier Sapphire Clips
Origin: A Gift from Prince George, Duke of Kent
Notable Appearances: The Wedding of Crown Prince Paul of Greece and Princess Frederica of Hanover in 1938
Current Location: Inherited by Prince Michael of Kent and now worn by Princess Michael
Princess Louise’s Emerald Brooch
Origin: Inherited by Princess Marina from Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll
Current Location: Inherited by Prince Michael of Kent and now worn by Princess Michael
Princess Marina’s Cartier Flower Brooch
Origin: A Gift from Prince George, Duke of Kent to mark the birth of Prince Michael weeks before his death
Notable Appearances: Christening of Prince Michael at Windsor Castle in 1942,
Current Location: Inherited by Prince Michael of Kent and now worn by Princess Michael
Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna’s Emerald Brooch
Origin: From Grand Duchess Vladimir to her son Grand Duke Boris and his wife, Grand Duchess Zenaide, and then inherited by Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna, Princess Nicholas of Greece, who left it to Princess Marina
Notable Appearances: Wedding of the Marquess of Hamilton and Sacha Phillips in 1966
Current Location: Inherited by Princess Alexandra of Kent
It was indeed a spectacular collection and she wore all her jewels so well. Sadly, many of those pieces had to be sold off either by the Duchess herself or by her decendants. Especially the sale of the Sapphire parure must have been difficult for them and a real shame that such an historic piece left the Royal Family – be it the main line or any of the junior lines.