Windsor Jewels Pt 7

Lady Colin Campbell's new book on the Queen mother discussed the relationship between Maggie Grevell & the Queen Mother.

BBC News: Over 10, 000 diamonds go on display at Buckingham Palace:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18640384

R.I.

Good News ! Awesome ! Only diamonds here and no gem stones.

I was amazed at how genuinely tiny Queen Victoria's small diamond crown is - how she kept it on her head I don't know, she must have had an incredibly upright posture.  Queen Alexandra had a fairly high hairdo, so could have secured it more easily and unobtrusively with pins, but that would have been difficult for Victoria whose hair was flat to her head, at least in her later years when the crown was made for her.

All of her life, QV wore her hair in a chignon. In her younger days she had enough hair to adorn it with looped braids. As all women learn, hair becomes thinner with age, creating difficulties in keeping attached to it anything with weight, but it would have been possible to add artificial padding, such as frizzeur force, to Victoria's meagre chignon, in order to create bulk and enough density to hold pins and combs.

I imagine that, by now, Her Majesty has a wardrobe of handmade "pieces" which can be attached to her jewelled headwear to create more fullness than could be provided by her own hair. Her grandmother, Queen Mary had false frizzy fringes (bangs) attached to the front of her crowns and tiaras.

I was amazed at how genuinely tiny Queen Victoria's small diamond crown is - how she kept it on her head I don't know, she must have had an incredibly upright posture.  Queen Alexandra had a fairly high hairdo, so could have secured it more easily and unobtrusively with pins, but that would have been difficult for Victoria whose hair was flat to her head, at least in her later years when the crown was made for her.

"I don't think the Queen Mother wore her Queen Consort Crown after the death of her husband. "

I may be wrong, but I think that she wore the circlet part of the consort crown at the coronation of her daughter, as did Queen Mary at the coronation of George VI.

If so, that may be the only time.

The Queen Mother wore her circlet for the state banquet at Buckingham Palace for President de Gaulle in April 1960 along with all five strands of Mrs Greville's necklace.

Queen Elizabeth II wore the State Diadem for an opera event during De Gaulle's visit.  I don't think she wore it often for  non-state events.

The Queen Mother also wore Queen Mary's big tiara only once in Canada.

Just to pick up on something the Countesskate said earlier about QV's small diamond crown.  This particular jewel is featured in the current diamond exhibition at BP (which does also include jewellery set with pearls and diamonds, and the Delhi Durbar emerald and diamond necklace by virtue of it having the Cullinan VI marquise pendant).

The crown is minute, delicate and exquisitely crafted.  I think that most photos that show QV wearing it, showing it sitting atop a veil of some description which may have helped to anchor it to her hair.  It's a lovely piece and was apparently created from a diamond fringe corsage ornament, of which only the brooch (sometimes labelled as QV's waterfall brooch) remains.  This brooch was also on display and was a lovely piece, worn by the late Queen Mother most notably in Beaton's portrait of her clad in a black velvet crinoline.

Just to pick up on something the Countesskate said earlier about QV's small diamond crown.  This particular jewel is featured in the current diamond exhibition at BP (which does also include jewellery set with pearls and diamonds, and the Delhi Durbar emerald and diamond necklace by virtue of it having the Cullinan VI marquise pendant).
The crown is minute, delicate and exquisitely crafted.  I think that most photos that show QV wearing it, showing it sitting atop a veil of some description which may have helped to anchor it to her hair.  It's a lovely piece and was apparently created from a diamond fringe corsage ornament, of which only the brooch (sometimes labelled as QV's waterfall brooch) remains.  This brooch was also on display and was a lovely piece, worn by the late Queen Mother most notably in Beaton's portrait of her clad in a black velvet crinoline.

Thanks, Martyn, I'm not going to the exhibition until much later on in the year, but am looking forward to it greatly.  I noted the sort of cushion on top of the Queen's head on which the small crown rested, covered by her veil - but that brought further thoughts, of how the cushion was anchored.........

I assume the diamond fringe corsage ornament, was the one pictured in the Winterhalter portrait? A detail is below:

However, she also seems to be wearing a diamond fringe ornament with the small diamond crown, in the 1897 diamond jubilee photograph, detailed below:

Rather mystifying, though the latter fringe might not be diamond, of course.

I think the Queen should start wearing the small diamond crown. The other one is too heavy for the elderly queen.

Yes, you've made your opinion on that perfectly clear many times.  Yet once again, it is quite clear that the Queen will NOT be wearing QV's small crown any time soon, as it is currently part of a public exhibition - which rules out her wearing it in this, her diamond jubilee year. 

If I sound a bit irritated by revisiting this topic, it is because I find it slightly offensive for you to decide (and even worse to publicly state) that Her Majesty is too elderly and frail to wear some other crown.  I happen to disagree with you, and I suspect so would The Queen herself.  She has had ample opportunity to wear this crown, yet has chosen not to.  That speaks for itself.

Yes, you've made your opinion on that perfectly clear many times.  Yet once again, it is quite clear that the Queen will NOT be wearing QV's small crown any time soon, as it is currently part of a public exhibition - which rules out her wearing it in this, her diamond jubilee year.

If I sound a bit irritated by revisiting this topic, it is because I find it slightly offensive for you to decide (and even worse to publicly state) that Her Majesty is too elderly and frail to wear some other crown.  I happen to disagree with you, and I suspect so would The Queen herself.  She has had ample opportunity to wear this crown, yet has chosen not to.  That speaks for itself.

So very well said.