The story behind the Queen's favourite tiara

Updated
Emeralds
Emeralds

The Vladimir tiara has a story that could be straight out of a spy novel.

The tiara, which is said to be a favourite of the Queen's; and was the tiara the Duchess of Sussex reportedly had her heart set on for her wedding day look, has long held a special place in the heart of the monarch.

The diamond and pearl tiara was originally commissioned by the Duchess Vladimir from the Russian Romanov court's jeweller. Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin married Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, uncle to the last Tsar, in 1874 and with it began to build a vast collection of jewellery.

England Queen Mary
England Queen Mary

But it was the overthrow of the Romanov monarchy during the 1917 revolution, that led to the jewels being smuggled out of the country. A British military officer, disguised as an old woman, managed to get some of the most valuable parts of her collection out of Russia and to London, where her son, Grand Duke Boris, lived in exile.

The versatile tiara, which sports either emeralds or pearls, was acquired by Queen Mary in an auction after the Duchess Vladimir died.

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