This year marks the Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee celebration.  But what's a diamond jubilee without diamonds?  I have always admired the royal collection of crowns, after all I have been endlessly inspired by them for my tiara designs.  Not only are they stunning pieces of high jewelry, but every crown tells a story and now I want to share my favorites with you.

The Queen's diamond diadem.

Originally created in 1821 for King George IV, this gorgeous concoction of diamonds and pearls is one of the Queen's favorites. 
The design includes roses, thistles and shamrocks, which are the symbols of England, Scotland and Ireland, respectively. This is one of the pieces that will be on display starting June 30th at Buckingham Palace in celebration of the  Queen's 60 years on the throne.

Imperial Crown of India

The crown above is known as the Imperial Crown of India, and served to commemorate George V's coronation at the Dehli Durbar in 1911.  Made specifically for his trip, it has been the only crown allowed to leave the country. It features more than 6000 diamonds, and the gems included in the design are emeralds, rubies and sapphires. Believe it or not, this crown has only been worn once!

Bucheron Tiara

The Queen Mum posing for an official portrait in her Bucheron tiara.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in the same.

A favorite of the Queen Mum, mother of Elizabeth II, this Bucheron diamond honeycomb tiara is simply stunning.   It was originally made by Bucheron in 1921. It was worn frequently by the Queen Mum and has been part of Queen Elizabeth's collection since her passing in 2002. Today, it is usually borrowed by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, for official engagements.

Elizabeth II, official coronation portrait.

Elizabeth II, wearing the same crown on her 80th birthday celebration.

The Imperial State Crown

My next fave is the Imperial State Crown.  Somewhat similar to the Imperial Crown of India, this majestic piece was made in 1937, and worn by the Queen at the end of her coronation ceremony.  Her majesty also also wears it on formal occasions, including the annual opening of Parliament. 

The Halo Tiara by Cartier

Something borrowed: Princess Kate wearing the fabulous Halo tiara.

When it came to something borrowed, Princess Kate picked this beautiful tiara dubbed The Halo.  Designed in 1936 by Cartier, this beautiful diamond tiara was a gift to the Queen on her 18th birthday.  Set in platinum, this priceless piece is made with baguette cut diamonds, with the upper part forming a range of lotus flowers, while the lower zig zag part forms a detachable bandeau.

The Strathmore Rose

The Queen Mum posing for a portrait, in the Strathmore Rose

Next is the wonderfully simple Strathmore Rose tiara, which was worn in 1928 by the Queen Mum.  This stunning floral headpiece was a wedding gift from her parents when she married Prince Albert.  This classic art deco floral design was rumored to be one of the top contenders chosen by Kate, Duchess of Cambridge for her wedding day. In the end, the Halo won, and she lived happily ever after. Tough life!

Diana's gift from Elizabeth II: the Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara

Last but not least is the Cambridge Lover's knot, gifted to Diana of Wales for her wedding. This beautiful creation was commissioned by Queen Mary in 1914 using her own pearls and diamonds as a tribute to her family. It is similar to a tiara owned by Princess Augusta of Hesse who married the Duke of Cambridge. There is a strong French influence in the design of this crown which boasts 19 diamond arches each enclosing Oriental pearls suspended from diamond lover's knots. The tiara gets its peculiar name from the design and from the Duke. It has been a part of the Queen's collection since Diana and Charles divorced. 


Hope you enjoyed my dream collection of royal crowns.  If I could own each and every one of these I would.  Lucky for me Harry is still single. Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?


Love Always 
Dani K