Happy Birthday to Princess Joan of Luxembourg, the Dowager Duchess of Mouchy, who turns 90 today! The striking Diamond Tiara of the widow of both a Luxembourg Prince and the Duke of Mouchy originates from her prominent American Family and has also been worn by her daughter, Princess Charlotte!
But first, lets learn about Princess Joan! The daughter of U.S. Treasury Secretary C. Douglas Dillon and Phyllis Chess Ellsworth, Joan Dillon was born in New York City but grew up in Paris, where her father served as the American Ambassador in the mid-1950s. First married to James Brady Moseley between 1953 and 1955, with whom she had a daughter, in 1967, Joan Dillon married Prince Charles of Luxembourg, the younger son of Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg, which was the first authorized marriage between a Luxembourgeois prince and a commoner. The couple had two children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Robert, before his death in 1977. The following year, she married Philippe de Noailles, 7th Duke of Mouchy, remaining wed until his death in 2011. From 1975 to 2008, Princess Joan held the presidency of Domaine Clarence Dillon, a wine company founded by her father that owns several of France’s leading wine estates, and is now managed by her son, Prince Robert.
The striking Diamond Floral Tiara is of unknown provenance but it likely originates from the Dillon Family since it does not appear to be a Grand Ducal Heirloom.
Princess Joan of Luxembourg notably wore the Diamond Floral Tiara in an Official Portrait with Prince Charles soon after her marriage in 1967.
The Diamond Floral Tiara was also notably worn by Princess Joan for the State Banquet during the Dutch State Visit to Luxembourg in 1972.
More recently, the Diamond Floral Tiara was worn by Princess Joan’s only daughter, Princess Charlotte of Luxembourg, for her Wedding to Marc Victor Cunningham in 1993. With Princess Joan’s grandchildren reaching marriageable age, lets hope the Tiara is worn again soon, hopefully by her granddaughter, Princess Charlotte of Nassau, who got engaged last year!
