Duchess of Abercorn’s Diamond Floral Tiara

Today marks the 80th Anniversary of the Birth of the late Duchess of Abercorn, who was born on this day in 1946! The illustrious Aristocrat who married into the prominent Anglo-Irish Family, becoming an accomplished philanthropist and the Founder of the Pushkin Trust, today we are featuring her heirloom Diamond Floral Tiara!

A magnificent Diamond Floral Tiara composed of Diamond Leaves and Flowers with a large central flower, which can be worn in several different configurations and can also likely be taken apart to be worn as brooches. The Tiara dates from the early 19th century and there are several examples of similar large Diamond Floral Tiaras in the British Aristocracy, including the Lansdowne Tiara as well as the Diamond Floral Tiara we discovered at E. Wolfe.

In 1837, the then Marchioness of Abercorn, who became the 1st Duchess, was described wearing the Diamond Floral Tiara for a Court Ball along with the family Sapphire Necklace:

Marchioness of Abercorn. -Court costume,. siecle de Louis XIV., composed of a blonde manteau, lined with pink satin, blonde berthe and sabots; petticoat of blonde, over pink satin. Head-dress, feathers, and a magnificent diamond tiara of leaves and flowers; splendid brilliant stomacher, with pendants a la cordeliere; necklace of sapphires and diamonds.

In 1914, the 3rd Duchess of Abercorn seems to have worn the central flower from the Tiara as a Brooch for an official portrait.

Almost a decade later, the Duchess wore that Diamond Flower on her hat for the State Entry into Belfast when the 3rd Duke of Abercorn was appointed the first Governor of Northern Ireland.

In 1966, the Diamond Floral Tiara was notably worn by Alexandra ‘Sacha’ Phillips, for her Wedding of the Marquess of Hamilton, the Heir of the 4th Duke of Abercorn, at Westminster Abbey.

The 4th Duchess of Abercorn was the last Mistress of the Robes to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and her daughter, Lady Moyra, was a Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Alexandra, both often wearing a versatile Diamond Star Tiara but not the Floral Tiara.

While she held no Court position like her mother- or sister-in-law, the 5th Duchess of Abercorn could also be sometimes spotted at State Banquets, including the one held at Windsor Caste for French President Nicolas Sarkozy and First Lady Carla Bruni in 2008, at which the Duchess paired the Tiara with the heirloom family Sapphire Necklace.

The following year, the Duchess of Abercorn was spotted wearing the Diamond Floral Tiara for the Mexican State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, which seems to be its last public appearance but lets hope we see the Tiara worn again soon on the next generation!