“I declare before you all that by whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service”
A few weeks ago, on the 8th of September, Queen Elizabeth ll passed away in Balmoral castle in Scotland. After 70 years of reigning as monarch, Queen Elisabeth left an incredible legacy behind her as she accompanied great events in history throughout the years. Being the longest reigning monarch in British History, she remained a figure of stability for Great Britain, and the world. Most people cannot even remember a time when she wasn’t the reigning monarch. This conveys just how iconic she is and the extent of the impact left after her passing.
In memory of the queen, this article will reveal the story behind some of the Queen and the public's favourite tiaras from the British crown jewels collection.
The George IV State Diadem tiara
This tiara is most likely one of the most iconic tiaras worn by Queen Elizabeth during her reign. The gold and silver framed tiara, with 1 333 diamonds and 94 pearls, was commissioned by King George IV in 1820 for his coronation. Since then, it has become very popular amongst all Queens which followed his reign. Queens who have worn it include Queen Adelaide, Queen Victoria, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth l and Queen Elizabeth ll. The tiara has even been depicted on British coins in the 1960s as well as bank notes.
The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara
Another tiara which Queen Elizabeth is known for, is the Girls of Britain and Ireland tiara. The tiara was a gift from “the girls of Great Britain and Ireland” to the Duchess of York, who later became Queen Mary, in 1893. Nevertheless, Queen Mary gifted the tiara to Queen Elizabeth ll, her grand-daughter, in 1947 as a wedding gift. Since then, this tiara has also been depicted in several British and Commonwealth banknotes and coinage.
The Queen Mary Fringe tiara
One of the Queen's favourite tiaras is the Queen Mary Fringe tiara or “granny's tiara” as Queen Elizabeth ll used to call it. The tiara, which can also be converted into a necklace, was famously worn by Queen Elizabeth ll on her wedding day in 1947. According to certain rumours, the tiara is said to have fallen apart on the morning of the Queen's wedding. Despite this, it has remained a popular tiara for weddings as it has since then been seen worn by Princess Anne at her wedding in 1973 and, more recently, worn by Princess Beatrice for her wedding in 2020. Originally this tiara was gifted to Queen Mary in 1893 for her wedding.
The Lover's Knot tiara
One of the most famous tiaras, however, is the Lover's knot tiara. It was commissioned by Queen Mary in 1913 to replicate a similar tiara called the Cambridge Lover's knot which was owned by the Duchess of Cambridge in 1818. It’s 19 oriental pearls hang freely under ornate heart shaped bows encrusted with flawless diamonds. Ironically, this tiara is the current Duchess of Cambridge’s, Katherine Windsor, favourite tiara. However, this is not the only replica of the Cambridge Lover's knot which shows how timeless this tiara is. In fact, even Princess Diana has, in the past, been seen wearing this beautiful tiara. Despite her wearing it quite often, it was not Princess Diana's favourite tiara. Rumour has it that it in fact caused her terrible headaches due to the carat weight of all the diamonds.
By Oliver