From the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik to the Fleur-de-Lys tiara, see the greatest diamond headpieces of the European royal families here.
The tradition of tiaras began during the Greek and Roman empires, when high-ranking men and women wore headpieces as symbols of their status. But it was Napoleon who made them truly en vogue: with the aim of presenting his court as the most magnificent in 19th-century Europe—and to associate himself with the ancient emperors of the past—he commissioned a number of fantastical headpieces for his wife, Josephine. Soon enough, all the noblewomen of their court began to follow her fashionable neoclassical suit, as did the rest of the grand houses of Europe.
Today, a number of royal women wear the precious diamond diadems on grand state occasions or for their weddings. Queen Elizabeth, for example, appeared on her banknotes in the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara once owned by her great-grandmother Queen Mary, while Princess Eugenie’s 2018 wedding saw her don the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik tiara, rumored to cost a whopping 17 million dollars due to its 93.7-carat center emerald. Meanwhile, the internet was abuzz when the Princess of Wales wore the forgotten Strathmore Rose Tiara for a 2023 banquet in honor of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee. Often, the pieces are products of the exquisite and grand work of great jewelry houses such as Garrard, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Boucheron.
Below, find some of the greatest royal tiaras in history.
This article first appeared on vogue.com
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The Strathmore Rose Tiara
The Strathmore Rose Tiara was a wedding gift given to the Queen Mother by her father, Lord Strathmore, before she married the Duke of York in 1923. Designed to look like a garland of wild roses, the diamond flower crown was originally purchased from London-based jewelers Catchpole & Williams. Most recently, it was worn by the Princess of Wales at a state dinner for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee.
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The Danish Ruby Tiara
Dating back to the Court of Napoleon and originally made for Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte (the future king of Sweden) and his wife, the Danish Ruby Tiara is designed in a way that the rubies resemble berries. It came to Denmark in 1869, after the original owner’s descendant married the King of Denmark.
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George IV State Diadem
Made for the coronation of King George IV in 1820, the state diadem has been worn by every queen and queen consort since. Comprised of 1,333 diamonds, its central diamond is four carats.
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Queen Mary’s Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara
The Great Britian and Ireland tiara was given to Queen Mary in 1893 for her wedding day. Fifty years later, the Queen gave the tiara to her granddaughter, Princess Elizabeth, as she married Prince Philip.
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The Lover’s Knot tiara
The Lover’s Knot tiara was commissioned for Queen Mary in 1913 from Britain's House of Garrard. It consists of diamonds and a collection of 19 hanging pearls, all set in silver and gold. Later it was handed down to Queen Elizabeth. She then eventually lent it to her daughter-in-law, Princess Diana.
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The Poltimore tiara
Made in 1870 by the House of Garrard in London, the Poltimore tiara is the epitome of the Victorian-era jewelry style, with the diamond scrolls evoking flowers and nature. The fantastical creation is named after its first owner, Lady Poltimore; in 1959, it was purchased by Prince Margaret at auction.
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Greville Emerald Kokoshnik tiara
The diamond and emerald headpiece, made by the French jeweler Boucheron in 1919, is just under 100 years old. The center jewel is estimated to be over 93 carats.
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Belgian Sapphire tiara
As the name implies, the Belgian Sapphire Tiara once belonged to Princess Louise of Belgium. The queen purchased it herself through auction in the 1970s.
