Queen Soraya’s Diamond Tiara

Today marks the Anniversary of the Death of Princess Soraya of Iran, who died on this day in 2001! The Shah’s second wife who became an Actress after their forced divorce and was known as the ‘Princess with the sad eyes’, Princess Soraya had a magnificent jewellery collection, which included this spectacular Diamond Tiara!

Emerald Tiara | Diamond Tiara | Ruby Earrings | Harry Winston Diamond Necklace

The exact origin of the Diamond Tiara is not known but given its similarities to the Tiara of Queen Tadj ol-Molouk, which was created when Crown Prince Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was marrying Princess Fawzia of Egypt in 1939.

Queen Soraya first wore the Diamond Tiara for a series of official portraits taken shortly after her wedding to the Shah in 1951.

In 1955, Queen Soraya wore the Diamond Tiara for a Dinner held by the British Foreign Affairs secretary Sir Anthony Eden at Carlton House in London during a visit to the United Kingdom, as well as another Banquet in London.

The Diamond Tiara was also worn by Queen Soraya for a Reception at Bad Godesberg and a Banquet at Benrath Palace during a State Visit to Germany in 1955, as well as on a State Visit to Spain.

Queen Soraya wore the Diamond Tiara with her Harry Winston Diamond Necklace for a Banquet for the President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Gronchi in the gardens of Golestan Palace in Tehran in 1957, and on a State Visit to Lebanon that same year, just a few months before her divorce.

While Princess Soraya retained her extensive personal collection of jewellery following her divorce, the Diamond Tiara remained in the Iranian Treasury and was notably worn by Empress Farah with an antique Spinel Necklace not long after her marriage to the Shah in 1959.

Queen Soraya’s Diamond Tiara was also worn by Princess Ashraf Pahlavi, the twin sister of the Shah.

Empress Farah wore Queen Soraya’s Diamond Tiara for a portrait taken in the late 1960s, after which the Tiara was not publicly worn again,

The Tiara may have been among the Iranian Imperial Family’s jewels which were reset ahead of the Shah of Iran’s Coronation in 1967. When the Iranian Royal Family fled Tehran in 1979, their jewels was left behind in Tehran, where many are on display at the National Treasury of Iran in the Central Bank in Tehran.