the life of a princess

Again, more posts from the royal wedding--

my apologies to those not interested in such silliness.

I loved peeking through all of these tiaras
with their beautiful stones and filigree,

something so far removed from the everyday.

Crown Jewels

Queen Elizabeth II has one of the most extensive collections of tiaras in the world both for official engagements and personal use. She has been known to purchase or give a tiara to royal brides for their wedding days. Will she do so for her grandson’s bride? Take a look inside some of the royal tiaras past and present. 

Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara

The Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, collected clothing coupons for her wedding dress, as Britain was still recovering from World War II. However, she was given this diamond and silver tiara by her grandmother on her wedding day when she married Prince Philip in Westminster Abbey in 1947.

The Poltimore Tiara

Princess Margaret wore the Poltimore Tiara on her wedding day and parts were also worn as a necklace at various points throughout her life. It was later auctioned at Christie’s in 2006 for over 1.5 million dollars.

Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara

The Queen’s Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara was displayed at the “Dress for the Occasion” exhibition at Buckingham Palace in 2006. In the early 1970s the Queen’s tiara was altered to include jewels given to the Queen by the Governor of São Paulo 15 years after her coronation.

Papyrus Tiara

Elizabeth Angela Marguerite, the future Queen Mother, wears the Papyrus Tiara, also referred to as the lotus flower tiara. It was given to her daughter, Princess Margaret, who then loaned it to her new daughter-in-law, Serena Stanhope, for her wedding to Viscount Linley.

Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara with Emeralds

The 1880s creation is made up of 15 intertwined diamond-set ovals. Pendant emeralds hang from the ovals, but they can be interchanged with pearls. Queen Elizabeth II now owns the tiara her grandmother purchased about 90 years ago.

1936 Cartier 'Halo'

Britain's Prince William's wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, smiles as they travel in the 1902 State Landau carriage along the Processional Route to Buckingham Palace. The tiara was her "something borrowed" and was loaned to her by the queen. Her earings were a wedding gift from her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton. The diamond-set stylized oak leaves were created by Robinson Pelham, and feature a pear-shaped diamond set drop and a pave set diamond acorn suspended in the center.

via {msnbc}