9. Queen Elizabeth’s Halo Tiara

   This tiara was designed and made by Cartier in 1936, in the then fashionable ‘Halo’ form.[1] It was subsequently purchased by King George VI, when still the Duke of York, from Cartier stock, for “£1,400”; and was presented to Queen Elizabeth as a gift.[2]

   Queen Elizabeth was pictured wearing this tiara, whilst still Duchess of York.[3] She, in turn, gave it to The Queen, whilst still Princess Elizabeth, as an 18th birthday present in 1944.[4]

   Roberts describes this tiara as being “formed as a band of 16 graduated scrolls, set with 739 brilliants and 149 baton diamonds, each scroll divided by a graduated brilliant and with a large brilliant at the centre”.[5]

   Although The Queen has never publicly worn this tiara, she loaned it to Princess Margaret on numerous occasions in the 1950s, most notably to wear to the coronation in 1953.[6] Princess Anne also wore it on numerous occasions in the early 1970s,[7] and most recently it was loaned to the Duchess of Cambridge, on her wedding day in 2011.[8]

1. Roberts, The Queen’s Diamonds, p. 222; Cartier Archive, E.3440.A.X
2. Roberts, The Queen’s Diamonds, p. 222; RA GVI Private Bills/13/02, January 1939
3. Field, The Queen’s Jewels, p. 46; Roberts, The Queen’s Diamonds, p. 222
4. Roberts, The Queen’s Diamonds, p. 222; QEQM 1938 – 53, p. 24
5. Roberts, The Queen’s Diamonds, p. 222
6. Field, The Queen’s Jewels, p. 46; Roberts, The Queen’s Diamonds, p. 222
7. Field, The Queen’s Jewels, p. 46; Roberts, The Queen’s Diamonds, p. 222
8. Roberts, The Queen’s Diamonds, p. 222; Royal Collection: The Royal Wedding Dress: The ‘Halo’ Tiara
http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/microsites/royalweddingdress/MicroObject.asp?item=3&themeid=2444&object=250174&row=4  [Accessed 11 June 2012]