Today marks the 170th Anniversary of the Birth of Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg und Gotha and Edinburgh, who was born on this day in 1853! The imperious Romanov Grand Duchess who became Queen Victoria’s daughter-in-law and the Consort of a Sovereign German Duke, the Tsar’s only daughter came to England with a spectacular jewellery collection which became the source of family strife!
Fringe Tiara
Origin: Wedding Gift from her mother, Tsarina Marie Alexandrovna in 1874
Notable Appearances: The Coronation of her nephew, Tsar Nicholas II, in 1896 and the Coronation of her nephew, King George V, in 1911.
Fate: Left to Princess Beatrice, Duchess of Galliera, who sold it to her sister, Queen Marie of Romania, and was in turn inherited by her daughter, Queen Marie of Yugoslavia, who sold it at Auction in 1960. Now unknown.
Bolin Ruby Tiara
Origin: Wedding Gift from Tsar Alexander II in 1874
Notable Appearances: The Coronation of her nephew, Tsar Nicholas II, in 1896
Fate: Left to the Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and later frequently worn by Princess Margarita of Greece, before being sold at auction in 1978 and later dismantled
Diamond Tiara
Origin: House of Saxe-Coburg und Gotha
Notable Appearances: The Wedding of the Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and her daughter, Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, in 1896.
Fate: Passed on to Princess Victoria Adelaide, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Albany and likely broken up following the First World War
Faberge Pearl and Diamond Tiara
Origin: Unknown, possibly made by Faberge
Notable Appearances: The Wedding of the Grand Duke of Hesse, to her daughter, Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, in 1894 and the Wedding of the Duke of Schleswig-Holstein and Princess Dorothea of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1898
Fate: Left to Queen Marie of Romania who had it transformed into her Cartier Pearl Tiara, now location is unknown.
Sapphire Tiara
Origin: Wedding Gift from Tsar Alexander II in 1874
Notable Appearances: Russian State Banquet at Windsor Castle in 1874
Fate: Given as a wedding gift to her daughter, Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia, and likely sold after the Russian Revolution
Ruby Tiara
Origin: Unknown but some speculate it may be Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara without the Arches
Notable Appearances: Portrait in 1880s
Fate: Unknown
