The Jewels of Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck

Today marks the 190th Anniversary of the Birth of Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, the Duchess of Teck, who was born on this day in 1833! The granddaughter of King George III, who married a cousin of the King of Württemberg, and became the mother of Queen Mary, Princess Mary Adelaide possessed a spectacular Jewellery Collection of old family heirlooms!

Click on the highlighted links/images below to see the article on each piece, and the highlighted terms above to get to each jewel category!

The Teck Crescent Tiara

Origin: Inherited by Princess Mary Adelaide from her aunt, Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester

Notable Appearances: The Wedding of Victoria, Princess Royal and Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia in 1858, The Wedding of her daughter, Princess May, to the Duke of York, later King George V, in 1893, and the Wedding of Prince Carl of Denmark and Princess Maud of Wales in 1896.

Current Location: Inherited by her son,  Prince Adolphus, the 2nd Duke of Teck and later the Marquess of Cambridge, before being acquired by Queen Mary and worn by the Queen Mother. Now in the collection of Queen Camilla

The Teck Ears of Wheat Tiara

Origin: Originating from Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge and then inherited by her daughter, Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck

Notable Appearances: Portrait by Hermann Schmiechen in 1882

Current Location: Inherited by her son, Prince Alexander of Teck, worn by Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone and now with their grandchildren

The Teck Diamond Hoop Necklace

Origin: A Wedding Gift when Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge married Prince Francis of Teck in 1866

Notable Appearances: The Wedding of her daughter, Princess May, to the Duke of York, later King George V, in 1893, the Wedding of Prince Carl of Denmark and Princess Maud of Wales in 1896, and the Devonshire House Ball in 1897

Current Location: Inherited by her son Prince Adolphus, the 2nd Duke of Teck and later the Marquess of Cambridge, before being acquired by Queen Mary and worn by the Queen Mother. Last worn by Princess Margaret

The Cambridge Emerald Parure

Origin: Won by Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge in a charity lottery in Frankfurt

Notable Appearances: Official Portraits

Current Location: Left to her son Prince Francis of Teck, who in turn left them to his mistress, the Countess of Kilmorey, in 1910, before being acquired by Queen Mary, who left them to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953

The Cambridge Pearl Pendant Brooch

Origin: Acquired by Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge before 1877

Notable Appearances: Portrait in 1885

Current Location: Inherited by Queen Mary who left it to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953

The Teck Sapphire Stomacher

Origin: Possibly inherited from her aunt, Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester

Notable Appearances: Official Portraits and the Devonshire House Ball in 1897

Current Location: Inherited by her son, Prince Alexander of Teck, worn by Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone and now with their grandchildren

The Teck Flower Brooch

Origin: Possibly inherited from her aunt, Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester

Notable Appearances: Portrait Session in 1893

Current Location: Inherited by her son, Prince Adolphus, the 2nd Duke of Teck and later the Marquess of Cambridge, before being acquired by Queen Mary in the early 1920s, when it was given to the Queen Mother.

The Duchess of Gloucester’s Pendant Earrings

Origin: Inherited from her aunt, Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester

Notable Appearances: The Wedding of Victoria, Princess Royal and Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia in 1858 and Official Portraits

Current Location: Inherited by Queen Mary who gave them a Wedding Gift to the future Queen Elizabeth II in 1947

The Teck Corsage Brooch

Origin: Given to Princess Mary Adelaide from Emperor Franz Josef of Austria to mark the birth of Prince Francis of Teck

Notable Appearances: Official Portraits

Current Location:  Left to her son Prince Francis of Teck, who in turn left it to his mistress, the Countess of Kilmorey, in 1910, before being acquired by Queen Mary, who left it to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953

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Queen Mary’s Crown

George IV State Diadem

Queen Victoria’s Regal Circlet

Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara

Vladimir Tiara

Delhi Durbar Tiara

Cambridge Emerald Parure

Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara

Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara

Queen Adelaide’s Fringe Tiara

Gloucester Honeysuckle Tiara

Cambridge Sapphire Parure

Teck Turquoise Tiara

Iveagh Tiara

Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara

Maria Feodorovna’s Sapphire Bandeau

Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau

Crochet Bandeau Tiara

Diamond Bandeau Tiara

Queen Mary’s Amethyst Tiara

Queen Mary’s Ladies of England Tiara

Queen Mary’s Surrey Fringe Tiara

 Cullinan Diamond

Queen Mary’s Art Deco Emerald Choker

Queen Mary’s City of London Choker

Queen Mary’s Diamond and Pearl Riviere

Queen Mary’s Diamond Choker Bracelet

Empress Maria Feodorovna’s Sapphire Choker

Queen Mary’s 11-row Pearl Choker

Coronation Necklace and Earrings

Queen Mary’s Love Trophy Collar

Queen Mary’s Diamond Stomacher

Cambridge Pearl Pendant Brooch

Queen Adelaide’s Diamond Brooch

Queen Mary’s Diamond Thistle Brooch

Countess of Snowdon’s Diamond Clips

Diamond Pendant

Prince Albert’s Sapphire Brooch

Queen Mary’s Russian Sapphire Cluster Brooch

Koh-i-Noor Diamond

Queen Victoria’s Bow Brooches

Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bracelet

Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bar Brooches

Queen Victoria’s Crown Ruby Brooch

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