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The Gloucesters

The Duchess of Gloucester pulls a tiara surprise with a long hidden emerald

There were several surprise tiara choices from the British Royal Family for the State Dinner held for the President and First Lady of Korea. The Princess of Wales wore the Strathmore Rose Tiara, which had not been seen for nearly a century. The Queen wore the Burmese Ruby Tiara, which Queen Elizabeth II commissioned in 1973. However, The Duchess of Gloucester also chose a piece that she rarely wears, Princess Alice’s Diamond and Emerald Bandeau. 

Princess Alice received this bandeau-style tiara from her future husband, The Duke of Gloucester, as a wedding present in 1935. The diamond and emerald set included two different tiaras, three brooches, three bracelets, and a pair of earrings.

The Art-Deco designed tiara features clusters of gemstones; it can either be worn in an all-diamond setting or with emeralds. The clusters can be worn separately as brooches. 

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The current Duchess paired the tiara with a diamond and emerald brooch from the birthday set. She also wore Princess Alice’s Festoon Necklace, another diamond and emerald piece in her collection. 

This is the first time that The Duchess of Gloucester has worn this tiara in decades. 

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Historian and blogger at AnHistorianAboutTown.com