Princess Michael of Kent celebrates her 80th Birthday tomorrow! One of the most flamboyant members of the extended Royal Family, Princess Michael possesses a remarkable collection of heirloom royal jewels, which includes the Kent Festoon Tiara!

Kent Festoon Tiara | Kent City of London Fringe Tiara | Diamond Circle Earrings | Vladimir Pearl Earrings | Daisy Brooches | Diamond Pendant | Emerald Brooch | Art Deco Pearl Necklace | Aquamarine Suite | Cartier Sapphire Clips | Cartier Flower Brooch

Composed of a series of elaborate diamond elements (festoons) each topped by a single pearl, the tiara originally had a base of collet diamonds, which were replaced with a base of a row of pearls by Princess Michael. Possibly made by Cartier around 1900, the exact origin of this Tiara is unknown, but it may have been inherited from Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll.

Princess Marina debuted the Festoon Tiara at the Royal Film Performance of ‘Where No Vultures Fly’ in 1951 before it was worn during her Far East Tour in 1952 and a series of portraits by Dorothy Wilding.

In 1953, Princess Marina paired the Festoon Tiara with her Diamond Girandole Earrings and Diamond Bow Brooch for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

The Festoon Tiara was frequently worn by Princess Marina through the 1950s, usually paired with her Diamond Girandole Earrings or the Vladimir Pearl Earrings, worn for the Portuguese State Visit to Britain in 1955, The German State Visit to Britain in 1958, the French State Visit to Britain in 1960, and the Banquet at Nepalese Embassy in 1960.

In 1960, Princess Marina loaned the Festoon Tiara to her daughter, Princess Alexandra, when she represented the Queen during the Independence of Nigeria. Princess Alexandra wore the tiara at one of the main Ceremonies and the first Nigerian Opening of Parliament.

In 1962, Princess Marina again loaned the Festoon Tiara, this time to her daughter-in-law, the current Duchess of Kent, who wore the Tiara when she and the Duke went to represent the Queen at the Independence of Uganda.  The Duchess of Kent again wore the Festoon Tiara at a gala event during the Independence of Gambia in 1965.

After Princess Marina’s death in 1968, the Festoon Tiara was among the Jewels inherited by her younger son, Prince Michael of Kent. The Festoon Tiara has been worn by Princess Michael for numerous Portraits and also for State Banquets during the Dutch State Visit to Britain in 1982, the Spanish State Visit to Britain in 1986, the Polish State Visit to the UK in 1991, the Malaysian State Visit to Britain in 1993, and the Heads of State Banquet at Guildhall in 1995.

In recent years, Princess Michael primarily wore the Festoon Tiara for State Banquets, with notable appearances at Queen Margrethe’s Banquet at the Natural History Museum in 2000, during the French State Visit to Britain in 2008, the Wedding Ball of Crown Prince Leka of Albania in 2016, the Spanish State Visit to Britain in 2017, the Dutch State Visit to Britain in 2018, and the American State Visit to Britain in 2019. Due to illness and a restructured Royal Family, Princess Michael has not attended recent State Banquets, but let’s hope this magnificent heirloom is worn again soon!

Kent Festoon Tiara | Kent City of London Fringe Tiara | Diamond Circle Earrings | Vladimir Pearl Earrings | Daisy Brooches | Diamond Pendant | Emerald Brooch | Art Deco Pearl Necklace | Aquamarine Suite | Cartier Sapphire Clips | Cartier Flower Brooch

Kent Festoon Tiara