Marchioness of Cholmondeley’s Diamond Floral Tiara

Happy Birthday to the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, who celebrates her 40th Birthday today! The former model married to the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley who is the chatelaine of the magnificent Houghton Hall and Cholmondeley Castle, Lady Cholmondeley has often worn this spectacular Diamond Floral Tiara!

Diamond Floral Tiara | French Crown Sapphire Parure | Emerald Necklace | Cartier Buckle Brooch

But first, lets learn about the Marchioness! The daughter of Timothy Hanbury and Emma Longman, Rose Hanbury was a maternal granddaughter of Lady Elizabeth Longman, daughter of the 10th Earl of Cavan and a bridesmaid to the late Queen, while her paternal grandmother was Lady Birkin. Growing up at Holfield Grange in Essex, her sister is the Countess of Durham and Rose worked as a fashion model and a political researcher. In 2009, she married David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, at Chelsea Town Hall. The couple have three children; twins, the Earl of Rocksavage and Lord Oliver, and Lady Iris Cholmondeley. The family reside at the magnificent Houghton Hall, one of the finest Palladian houses in Norfolk, and they also own Cholmondeley Castle. Lord and Lady Cholmondeley are close friends and neighbours of the Prince and Princess of Wales, with both the Princess and Marchioness serving as patrons of the charity East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), for which there was a Gala at Houghton Hall in 2016. The Marquess of Cholmondeley exercised the office of Lord Great Chamberlain from 1990 to 2022, and as such the couple have been very active at the Royal Court, thus why Lord Cholmondeley was appointed a permanent lord-in-waiting for this Reign. We wish Lady Cholmondeley a very Happy Birthday and many Happy Returns!

While it has been erroneously stated as being the Ancaster Heathcote Tiara, this striking Diamond Floral Tiara is an heirloom of the Cholmondeley Family, created around 1901, and was recorded at the Cartier Exhibition ahead of the Coronation of King George V in 1911, being compared to the Harewood Floral Tiara and described:

This departure from tradition, which occurred again at the state opening of Parliament that year when coronets were replaced by tiaras, may explain the flood of commissions which the London jewellers enjoyed at that time. The Duchesses of Beaufort and Norfolk, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley and Lady Desborough were among those who acquired new tiaras, and they lent them to an exhibition held by Cartier at the time of George V’s coronation in 1911.

The Countess of Harewood has her diamonds set like fine roses, standing out from leaves and branches of diamonds. The Marchioness of Cholmondeley has a Tiara very much like that belonging to the Countess of Harewood except that the roses do not stand out quite so decidedly.

While Sybil Sassoon, Marchioness of Cholmondeley was only photographed wearing the French Crown Sapphire Tiara, the insightful Beth has discovered that she was recorded wearing the Diamond Floral Tiara at the State Opening of Parliament in 1952:

I saw the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, wearing an exquisite floral design diamond tiara, and other lovely jewels, with her silver and blue brocade dress.

Two years later, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley was recorded wearing the Diamond Floral Tiara for a Gala at Covent Garden during the Swedish State Visit to Britain in 1954:

The Marchioness of Cholmondeley, a striking figure in her superb floral design diamond tiara, six rows of gorgeous pearls, and a chinchilla cape over her beaded pale-mauve evening dress.

While the French Crown Sapphire Parure and the Orleans Emerald Necklace were auctioned before or shortly after the death of Sybil Sassoon, Marchioness of Cholmondeley, the Diamond Floral Tiara remains a family heirloom as was first pictured on the current Marchioness of Cholmondeley as she attended the Chinese State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in 2015.

Two years later, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley wore the Diamond Floral Tiara as she sat beside Prince Harry at the State Banquet in honour of the King and Queen of Spain at Buckingham Palace in 2017.

Lady Cholmondeley wore the Diamond Floral Tiara in the back of her hair for the American State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in 2019, when it was not visible from the front.

More recently, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley wore an element of the Tiara as a Brooch for the Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, which also marked the end of the Marquess’ tenure as Lord Great Chamberlain, though the family will reprise their role in later reigns.

Lord Cholmondeley has been appointed a permanent lord-in-waiting and their younger son, Lord Oliver, serves as the King’s Page, so the Marchioness remains at the centre of Court Life, in addition to their friendship with the Prince and Princess of Wales, so lets hope we see the Diamond Floral Tiara worn again soon!

Diamond Floral Tiara | French Crown Sapphire Parure | Emerald Necklace | Cartier Buckle Brooch