The Cartier Bandeau Tiara
History: Originally owned by Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, the tiara was created by Cartier in 1910, and was in the possession of the Queen in 1912. The tiara was eventually passed on to King Leopold III (son and heir of Queen Elisabeth and her husband, King Albert I) in 1965 after his mother’s death. Originally, the tiara would have been worn by King Leopold III’s first wife Princess Astrid, unfortunately she had passed away before anyone could have seen her wear it. The tiara was later inherited by Leopold III’s second wife, Princess Lilian, who later sold the tiara back to the original makers, Cartier.
The loss of the Bandeau Tiara is considered to be a terrible one for the reason that the Belgian Royal Family lack many royal jewels due inheritance laws and the many sale of many important jewels.
(Thanks to various royal blogs for the info: The Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor, and Tiara Mania, among others. I have tried to do my best research; hopefully there are no errors.)
In May of 2011, Queen Elizabeth (along with Prince Philip) made an official visit to Ireland, the first British monarch to do so in a century. At the State dinner, the Queen began her speech by saying “Úachtárain agus a chairde,” Irish for “President and friends.” Mary McAleese (right), Ireland’s president at the time, was visibly impressed. Moreover, the Queen was praised for her pronunciation.
The Leuchtenberg Diamond Tiara
also known as the Empress Joséphine Tiara
History: The briolette-cut diamonds in the tiara were given to Empress Joséphine as a gift after her divorce from Napoleon by Tsar Alexander I of Russia. The diamonds were later inherited by the son of Empress Joséphine, Eugène de Beauhamais when he married Princess Augusta of Bavaria. Eugène and Augusta’s youngest son, Maximilian ended up marrying the eldest daughter of Tsar Nicholas I, putting the diamond back in the hands of the Russian Imperial Family.
The tiara was created by one of Fabergé’s workmasters, August Holmström around 1890. It is one of the few tiaras created by Ferbergé.
The tiara was eventually sold by the Leuchtenberg family following the Russian Revolution after WWI. The tiara was bought by Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, wife of King Albert I of Belgium from Seiler of Vevey in Switzerland. The tiara was then inherited by the second son of King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth, Prince Charles of Belgium in 1965. After Charles’ death in 1983, the tiara was inherited by his sister, Queen Maria-José of Italy (the last queen of Italy). The crown was later inherited by Queen Maria-José’s daughter, Princess Maria Gabriella of Italy after her mother died in 2001. Princess Maria Gabriella eventually sold the tiara to the now owner the Arthur and Dorothy McFerrin Foundation in an auction at Christie’s for $2,071,389 in order to pay her taxes.
Provenance
- Tsar Alexander I
- Empress Joséphine of France
- Eugène de Beauhamais / Princess Augusta of Bavaria
- Maximilian de Beauharnais, 3rd Duke of Leuchtenberg / Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia
- King Albert I of Belgium / Queen Elisabeth
- Prince Charles, Count of Flanders
- Queen Maria-José of Italy
- Princess Maria Gabriella of Italy
- The Arthur and Dorothy McFerrin Foundation
Notable Occasions:
The Leuchtenberg Diamond Tiara along with other creations by Ferbergé (including his famous eggs) have been and are still exhibited all around the world. Recently in Buckingham Palace in the summer of 2011.
(Thanks to various royal and historical blogs/websites for the info: Tiara Mania, Ferbergé, and among others. I have tried to do my best research; hopefully there are no errors.)
Princess Grace of Monaco
She met Her future husband, Prince Rainier III of Monaco for the first time in the spring of 1955 on a visit to the Palace in the Mediterranean principality of Monaco.
They became engaged in Philadelphia on New Year’s Day 1956, and got married in Monaco’s St. Nicholas Cathedral on April 19, 1956. - Princess Grace Foundation USA
