A controversial royal tiara is now on display in London

Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians was a popular consort, known for founding the Queen Elisabeth Competition, a global competition for classical musicians and her love of Egyptology. One of her favourite tiaras is currently on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Cartier Bandeau Tiara. 

The ‘Cartier’ exhibition at the V&A features several royal and aristocratic tiaras, including this stunning scroll tiara. 

In the official ‘Cartier’ exhibition book, Vivienne Becker shared, ‘This broad openwork tiara designed from scrolling acanthus and laurel leaf motifs is a fine example of Garland Style jewellery, the inspiration for which came from ancient Greece and Rome, by way of neoclassical French reinterpretation.’ 

Cartier ordered the tiara from a French workshop in 1910 and in 1912, the Belgian Queen purchased it. 

Although it was originally set to sit on top of the crown of the head, Elisabeth had the diadem slightly changed to be able to wear it as a bandeau across the brow. You can see the queen wearing it in the newer style in a 1925 portrait. 

It remained one of Queen Elisabeth’s favourite tiaras; she wore it to her son’s wedding in 1926, as well as her daughter’s wedding in 1930. 

After her death, Elisabeth left the tiara to her son, Leopold. His second wife, Princess Lilian, Princess of Réthy, wore the tiara, and inherited it upon Leopold’s death. 

The tiara is no longer in the Belgian Royal Family’s collection, as Lilian sold the tiara back to Cartier in 1987. King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola were incredibly upset, as they were not able to keep it in the family.