The Long-Hidden Tiara That Shows The Depth Of The Queen’s Royal Jewellery Vaults

What else is hidden in Queen Elizabeth II’s jewellery vault?

That’s the question after a long-hidden tiara made a surprise appearance on the head of her granddaughter, Princess Eugenie at her wedding to Jack Brooksbank. The diamond, emerald and platinum tiara hadn’t been seen in public for nearly a century, and had, as far as royal watchers know, never been photographed on a royal head. Until now.

It’s part of the Greville treasure trove, a legendary collection of jewellery. On March 27, 1942, in the depths of the Second World War, Margaret Greville made her last will. The fabulously wealthy society hostess had inherited a fortune from her father, a brewer. Now, as a childless widow nearing the end of her life, she was ready to give away her possessions. She donated her home, Polesden Lacey, to the National Trust. Her chauffeur, Sidney Smith, got “all my motor cars with accessories” and “an annuity of two hundred pounds per annum.” The 12-year-old Princess Margaret got 20,000 pounds. And for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) she bequeathed “with my loving thoughts all my jewels and jewellery” except for a few specific legacies. After the Queen Mother’s death in 2002, the Greville treasures were inherited by her daughter, the present monarch.

For Eugenie’s wedding day, the Queen loaned her granddaughter the Greville emerald kokoshnik tiara. It is made up of brilliant and rose-cut diamonds that are pavé set in platinum. The delicate weave of the tiara highlights six emeralds that are inset to each side, with a massive stone in the centre. It was made by Boucheron in 1919 and was designed in the “kokoshnik” style that was popularized by the headpieces worn in the Russian imperial court. The Queen has her own kokoshnik-style tiara, made of spikes of diamonds.

While the emerald tiara was an unconfirmed royal tiara until Eugenie’s wedding day, parts of the Greville collection have been seen before. They include:

• A spectacular “honeycomb” diamond tiara by Boucheron often worn by the Queen Mother and now belonging to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
• The tiara is often worn with her “festoon necklace,” made by Cartier, which can be divided into two separate parts, one incorporating two strands of diamonds, the other three strands. In 2007, Camilla wore the combined five-strand version to a Commonwealth meeting. It is so large, it completely covered her chest.
• A massive diamond bow brooch by Boucheron that is so large (a staggering 12 cm by 10 cm) it has only been seen a few times.
• In 1929, Cartier made a pair of chandelier earrings that include every variety of modern diamond cuts (brilliant, pear, half-moon, trapeze, square, baquette, baton and emerald).
• One of the smallest items is a scroll brooch by Cartier incorporating three pearls that the Queen wears regularly.
• A garland v-shaped diamond-and-ruby necklace by Boucheron that has been worn frequently by the Queen and which Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, wore to the state banquet for the king and queen of Spain in 2017.
• A gob-smacking emerald-and-diamond necklace that is rumoured to include stones that belonged to Marie Antoinette.

The question remains: what other glorious pieces of jewellery are lurking in the depths of royal vaults? After all, the diamond tiara worn by Meghan Markle for her May marriage to Prince Harry hadn’t been seen since the 1930s. Royal jewellery fans hope the next up is the sapphire bandeau tiara, once owned by Russian Empress Marie Feodorovna and last worn by Princess Margaret in the 1950s.

Or perhaps — dare we dream? — the Strathmore floral tiara given to the Queen Mother’s family on her own wedding day in 1923. Only time will tell.