The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh received Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran on his first and only State Visit to the United Kingdom on this day in 1959, 65 years ago, ahead of his State Visits to Denmark and The Netherlands. The Shah had previously visited the United Kingdom in 1955, and later hosted the Queen and Duke on their State Visit to Iran in 1961.
The Queen and members of the British Royal Family received the Shah of Iran at Victoria Station in London, which was followed by a Carriage Procession to Buckingham Palace, where the State Banquet was held that evening without any cameras.
The Queen (wearing the Vladimir Tiara) and members of the British Royal Family joined the Shah for a Gala Performance of the ballet of the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, which included the Queen Mother (wearing the Greville Tiara), Princess Margaret (in the Poltimore Tiara), Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester (wearing the Gloucester Honeysuckle Tiara), Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (in the Kent City of London Fringe Tiara), Mary, Princess Royal (wearing the Harewood Scroll Tiara) and Princess Alexandra of Kent (wearing Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau).
The Shah also hosted a Return Banquet for the Queen (wearing the Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara) and members of the British Royal Family at the Iranian Embassy in London.
Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara
Vladimir Tiara
Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara
Belgian Sapphire Tiara
Burmese Ruby Tiara
Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara
Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara
Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara
Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara
