#Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara

[thepastisalreadywritten]

In her “accession” photographs, shot in 1952 by Dorothy Wilding, HM Queen Elizabeth II is pictured with the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara upon her head – a jewel that you might recognize because Her Majesty is seen wearing it on the front of every Bank of England banknote.

Originally the property of Queen Mary, Duchess of York, Princess of Wales and finally Queen Consort of King George V, the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara was crafted by Garrard in 1893 to be given as a wedding present from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland committee.

Designed to be transformable, allowing it to be worn as either a necklace or coronet, over the years, Queen Mary requested that Garrard add diamonds, remove pearls, and separate the bandeau from the base so that she could wear it as a headband.

In 1947, Queen Mary gave the tiara to Princess Elizabeth as a wedding present. In 1969, now Queen Elizabeth II, she asked for the bandeau and tiara to be reunited, as it remains today.

Worn frequently by Her Late Majesty The Queen, the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara is an ongoing source of inspiration for Garrard’s designers, with the repeated pattern of diamonds encircling the base reflected in the round and geometric Windsor motif, which is a signature of the Albemarle and Fanfare jewellery collections.

The Queen’s love of brooches is legendary, and in Bob Thomas’ intimate portrait of Her Majesty at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, she is pictured wearing the Cullinan V Heart Brooch, one of several important brooches commissioned from Garrard by the Royal Family.

Showcasing the 18.80-carat heart shape Cullinan V diamond, the fifth-largest gem to be cut from the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond – the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered – the diamond was given to Queen Mary in 1911 as a gift from the South African government.

It was originally worn by Queen Mary as part of the suite of jewellery made by Garrard for her to wear at the Delhi Durbar in 1911.

When Queen Mary died in 1953, the Cullinan V Brooch was passed to her granddaughter, Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who was photographed wearing it throughout her reign.

The Sapphire and Diamond cluster ring worn by Catherine, Princess of Wales, formerly Duchess of Cambridge, in the 2013 portrait by her father Michael Middleton is among Garrard’s best-known creations.

Set with a magnificent 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire, encircled by a cluster of diamonds set in 18 carat white gold, the ring was personally chosen by Lady Diana Spencer for her engagement to Prince Charles.

It became instantly famous after it was prominently showcased in an engagement shoot in 1981 that took place in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.

A new chapter in the story of Princess Diana’s engagement ring was written when, in 2010, William, Prince of Wales, formerly Duke of Cambridge, chose to propose to Catherine Middleton with the same engagement ring his father had given to Diana.

As this royal jewel, passed down through generations, takes on new meaning and sentiment upon Princess of Wales’ hand, we continue to honour this history-defining design in the 1735 collection.

Garrard’s iconic cluster setting also features prominently in the Jewelled Vault, where each one-of-a-kind creation is designed around an exceptional central stone.

A page from the scrapbook of Princess Victoria of Wales, daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, shows photographs of Alexandra, dating from 1901, wearing a diamond crown that is much smaller than a traditional royal crown.

Crafted by Garrard in 1871 at the request of Queen Victoria, the miniature crown was designed to be worn over Queen Victoria widow’s cap.

Set with more than 1,000 diamonds and featuring alternating crosses and fleur-de-lis motifs, Garrard created the crown so that the arches could be removed.

Queen Victoria wore the Small Diamond Crown for the first time at the opening of Parliament in 1871 and frequently thereafter for state occasions.

After Queen Victoria’s death, the crown was worn by Queen Alexandra, who in turn passed it to her daughter-in-law, Queen Mary.

Today, Queen Victoria’s Small Diamond Crown is housed at the Jewel House at the Tower of London, where it is on display.

Both King George VI and HM The Queen are pictured wearing the Imperial State Crown in the Life Through a Royal Lens exhibition.

The 10th iteration of this historic jewel, the crown was crafted by Garrard in 1937 for King George VI and adjusted for The Queen ahead of her coronation in 1953.

Some of the most historic gems in the royal collection reside in this Crown Jewel, including, at the front of the crown, the Cullinan II, the second largest diamond cut from the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond – the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever discovered.

Above it, mounted on a diamond Maltese cross, is the Black Prince Ruby, which is not a ruby at all.

In the 16th century, it was discovered that this blood-red semi-polished stone is, in fact, a spinel, a gem that is often referred to as “the great imposter” after it was discovered that some of the most famous “rubies” seen in crown jewels around the world are, indeed, spinels.

A big moment in Garrard’s history was the recutting of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond.

This sizeable white diamond was first displayed to the public at the Great Exhibition of 1851.

In 1852, Prince Albert, who was instrumental in the creation of the Exhibition, commission Garrard to recut the diamond.

The intensely demanding cutting process lasted eight weeks and was overseen by The Duke of Wellington.

Garrard worked to create more facets to enhance its beauty; consequently, the diamond emerged as a dazzling brilliant weighing 105.6 carats.

In 1911, the Koh-i-Noor was set into Queen Mary’s Crown, newly created by Garrard for the Coronation.

Today, the fabled Koh-i-Noor Diamond (which is now only worn by a woman – if a man wears it, he will supposedly be cursed) is set at the centre of The Queen Mother’s Crown created by Garrard in 1937.

In a black-and-white photograph taken at the Delhi Durbar in 1911, held to mark the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary as Emperor and Empress of India, Queen Mary is pictured wearing the magnificent Delhi Durbar Suite.

Created by Garrard at the request of the Queen, who wanted a suite of jewels that perfectly captured the majesty of the occasion, the suite included an emerald and diamond tiara, earrings, a brooch, a stomacher, and a spectacular necklace.

Designed by Garrard in a striking circlet style, the Delhi Durbar necklace is set with eight large cabochon emeralds known collectively as the Cambridge Emeralds, with a pendant suspended beneath set with a ninth Cambridge Emerald.

In 1912, Garrard made slight alterations to the necklace, making the emerald pendant detachable and adding a second removable pendant showcasing the 8.80-carat marquise cut Cullinan VII diamond.

Queen Mary regularly wore the necklace and the other jewels in the parure for the rest of her life, after which they became the property of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who inherited the Delhi Durbar Necklace in 1953 and had worn it on many occasions.

The Delhi Durbar Tiara, meanwhile, was given by Her Late Majesty The Queen to Camilla, Queen Consort, after her marriage to His Majesty King Charles III.

Commissioned by Queen Mary in 1919, the Fringe Tiara was crafted by Garrard in the fashionable Russian style reminiscent of a kokoshnik and designed to be convertible so that it could be worn as either a tiara or a necklace.

Queen Mary gave the tiara to her daughter-in-law, Queen Elizabeth, later the Queen Mother, who was pictured wearing it in Cecil Beaton’s whimsical portrait.

Queen Elizabeth in turn loaned it to her daughter, Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, to wear for her wedding to Philip Mountbatten in 1947 as her “something borrowed.”

In 1974, the Queen Mother loaned the Fringe tiara for another royal wedding, that of her granddaughter Princess Anne.

Most recently, it was worn by Princess Beatrice on the occasion of her wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in 2020.

Originally created by Garrard in 1870 for Florence, Lady Poltimore, the 2nd Baron of Poltimore, the Poltimore Tiara was not publicly known until it was acquired by Princess Margaret prior to her engagement to Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1959.

Featuring elegant diamond scrolls evocative of flora – an enduring source of inspiration during the Victorian era in which it was made – it quickly became one of the Princess’s most prized possessions.

In the ensuing years, both Margaret and the towering jewel were regularly in the spotlight, including, most famously, the photograph on show as part of the Life Through a Royal Lens exhibition featuring the Princess wearing the Poltimore Tiara in the bathtub.

[ifreakingloveroyals]

[catherinetheprincessofwales]

Queen Mary photographed by Grove & Boulton, 174 Brompton Road, London, 1912.

[oakappleday]

The Girls!!!

[europesroyalsjewels]

Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara ♕ King Charles III

[tiaramania]

TIARA ALERT: Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom wore Queen Mary's Girls of Great Britain & Ireland Tiara for a dinner celebrating the coronation at Mansion House in London on 18 October 2023.

[thewomenofwindsor]

DAY 1 - Favourite British Royal Family Tiara

Queen Mary's Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara

This tiara was a wedding present from the ‘Girls of Great Britain and Ireland’ to the Duchess of York, later Queen Mary, in 1893. It was purchased with money raised by a committee chaired by Lady Eva Greville, who became one of Queen Mary’s ladies-in-waiting.  In November 1947 Queen Mary gave the tiara as a wedding present to her grand-daughter, Princess Elizabeth.  The Queen has worn the tiara regularly throughout her reign and is depicted wearing it on certain issues of British and Commonwealth banknotes and coinage.

[philibetexcerpts]

3 February 1954: The Queen wore a mimosa gold tulle dress adorned with sparkling gold wattle motifs, designed by Norman Hartnell, on her first evening engagement of the royal tour in Sydney, Australia.

As for the jewelry, she wore the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, the Greville chandelier earrings, the King George VI diamond festoon necklace, and the Edinburgh wedding bracelet.

[charlotte-of-wales]

Queen Camilla wears “The Girls of Great Britain & Ireland” Tiara and Queen Elizabeth’s South African Diamond birthday necklace for the first time at a reception and dinner in honour of the Coronation at Mansion House in London, England | October 18th, 2023

[royal-hair]

Day 1 of 31 | Favourite British tiara | Girls of Great Britain & Ireland Tiara

[theroyalsandi]

British Royal Family - Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom is wearing The Girls of Great Britain & Ireland Tiara and Queen Elizabeth’s South African Diamond birthday necklace as she attends a dinner at Mansion House in honour of her and King Charles III's Coronation in London, England | October 18, 2023

[thepastisalreadywritten]

This is a tiara rooted in tragedy. Princess Mary of Teck was engaged to be married to the future king, Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence & Avondale, in 1891.

But just a few weeks after the engagement was announced, he died of influenza.

His younger brother, Prince George, Duke of York, became the heir to the throne. He was also unmarried. Prince George had proposed to one of his cousins, who he was in love with, but she turned him down.

He turned his attention to Princess Mary, and she accepted. The couple were wed on 6 July 1893.

The tiara was a wedding gift to Mary. The name came from the committee of women, led by Lady Eva Greville, who raised the money for its creation.

They purchased the piece from Garrard in 1893. At Mary’s request, the remaining money from the fundraising event was sent to a fund to support widows and children of sailors who died in the HMS Victoria disaster, which killed 350.

Mary didn’t wear the piece on her wedding day - instead choosing one given to her by Queen Victoria - but it became one of her favourites. She chose it for one of her first official portraits when George ascended to the throne in 1910.

When her granddaughter Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip in 1947, Mary decided to gift her the tiara. It is reported that the Queen still calls the diadem “Granny’s Tiara” because of this.

Like Mary before her, Elizabeth loved this item and wore it often - including one for her first public appearance after her father’s funeral.

She had chosen it for portraits and at many official events over the years, marking it as her signature tiara.

Made by Garrard, this diadem features festoon and fleur-de-lys designs. Made of diamonds set in silver and gold, the original version was topped by 14 pearls.

It also came with a second frame, allowing it to be worn as a coronet. It could also be taken off a frame entirely and worn as a necklace.

Mary tweaked the tiara in 1914, removing the top row of pearls and replacing them with 13 diamond brilliants.

The pearls found their way to the Lover’s Knot tiara instead. The base of the tiara was also removed, and Mary wore it a separate bandeau.

Elizabeth put the two pieces back together in the 1960s, which is how it remains now.

Commenting on the tiara for Express UK, James Constantinou, owner of Prestige Pawnbrokers of Channel 4’s Posh Pawn, said:

"This tiara was a wedding present from the 'Girls of Great Britain and Ireland' to the Duchess of York, later Queen Mary in 1893.

It was purchased with money raised by a committee chaired by Lady Eva Grenville who became one of Queen Mary’s ladies in waiting."

"In November 1947, Queen Mary gave the tiara as a wedding present to her granddaughter Princess Elizabeth.

The Queen has worn the tiara regularly throughout her reign. She is depicted wearing it on certain issues of British and Commonwealth banknotes and coinage.

Due to the historic attachment to Queen Mary, this spectacular piece would most likely not come onto the open market, but hypothetically, if it did, it could certainly sparkle interest of up to £20 million."

How many tiaras are there in the royal collection?

There are dozens of priceless tiaras owned by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family. Many of the British aristocracy also own tiaras, wearing them at state banquets and on wedding days.

As well as tiaras currently in existence, there are a couple which have been dismantled to make other diadems. This includes The Surrey Fringe and The Nizam of Hyderabad.

Some tiaras have formed part of iconic moments in the history of the Royal Family.

The Cartier Halo, for instance, was worn by Catherine Middleton on her wedding day to Prince William in 2011.

And it is the Lover's Knot tiara that is most often seen today, as it is a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge.

It was closely associated with Diana, Princess of Wales, during her marriage to Prince Charles, so it holds a special significance for Catherine.

Edited

[ifreakingloveroyals]

5 November 2013 | South Korea's President Park Geun-hye poses for a formal portrait with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh before a state banquet at Buckingham Palace in London, England. The President of the Republic of Korea Park Geun-Hye is on a State Visit to the United Kingdom. (c) David Parker -WPA Pool/Getty Images

[mathsandwhiteroses]

Royal Tiara Challenge 2024: All Time Favourite Tiara

The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland

It’s apt that the tiara that started this challenge is the one to finish it. The Girls is THE tiara, it is iconic, it is beautiful and I love it!

Other tiaras within my top 10: Queen Victoria’s Emerald, Swedish Aquamarine Kokoshnik, Baden Fringe, the Fife, Dutch Diamond Bandeau, Queen Mary’s fringe, Dutch Sapphire Necklace Tiara, Sapphire Sunburst Tiara, Queen Mary of Denmark’s necklace tiara.

[royal-confessions]

“Slayyyyy Queen Camilla in the Girl's Tiara” - Submitted by Anonymous

“QUEEN CAMILLA LOOKS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING WITH THE GIRLS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND!!! I'M SURPRISED THAT IT FITS HER VERY MUCH, IT'S LIKE SHE TRIES TO SAY "I'M THE QUEEN, Y'ALL"” - Submitted by Anonymous

[anonymoushouseplantfan]

I LOVED seeing the festoon necklace on Kate. What did you think of it?

I loved it. It’s classic and understated (relatively) and fits her style perfectly. I hope it becomes a signature piece for her. I also hope to see her in the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, which is the “matching” tiara.

I have my fingers crossed for a tiara upgrade at the next state dinner. It’s the next step.