Princess Anne’s Diamond Festoon Tiara

Happy Birthday to the Princess Royal, who turns 73 today! The only daughter of the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, and one of the most hardworking members of the family, Princess Anne has amassed quite a large jewellery collection, the highlight of which is her Diamond Festoon Tiara, which made its public debut 50 years ago today!

When Princess Anne launched the tanker ‘World Unicorn’ in May 1973, she was presented with this spectacular Diamond Festoon Tiara from the World Wide Shipping Group, which came at an opportune time as she announced her Engagement to Mark Phillips that month. The antique Tiara was likely created at the turn of the century and acquired by the World Wide Shipping Group ahead of being given to the Princess.

The Diamond Festoon Tiara made its public debut on this day 50 years ago, when Princess Anne wore it for a series of portraits by Lord Lichfield, which were released on her 23rd Birthday. The Tiara was initially worn with Princess Anne’s Modern Diamond Necklace and Diamond Cluster Earrings.

Princess Anne also wore the Diamond Festoon Tiara, which made a more natural pairing with her Festoon Necklace, for a series of spectacular portraits taken by Norman Parkinson of her and Mark Phillips at Windsor Castle, released in the weeks leading up to their Wedding in November 1973, and also on the cover of their Wedding Service. Ahead of her Wedding, Princess Anne primarily wore Princess Andrew’s Meander Tiara and the Cartier Halo Tiara, and after being given the Cartier Aquamarine Pineflower Tiara as a wedding gift and the Diamond Festoon Tiara a few months earlier, her personal collection had expanded to three Tiaras, with the Cartier Halo returning to the Royal Vaults.

In the early years after her marriage, Princess Anne notably wore the Diamond Festoon Tiara for the Danish State Visit to Britain in 1974, at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto in 1974, during a massive Commonwealth Tour, at a Banquet during the Swedish State Visit to Britain in 1975, and for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Gala at Covent Garden in 1977.

Princess Anne also wore her Diamond Festoon Tiara with her Festoon Necklace and Diamond Bow Brooch for the Oman State Visit to Britain and the Dutch State Visit to Britain in 1982 as well as during the Spanish State Visit to Britain in 1986.

The Diamond Festoon Tiara was also worn for the Polish State Visit to Britain in 1991, the Brunei State Visit to Britain in 1992, and for King Harald and Queen Sonja’s Silver Wedding Anniversary Banquet at the Royal Palace of Oslo in 1993.

Princess Anne notably wore her Diamond Festoon Tiara for the Jordanian State Visit to Britain in 2001 and during the French State Visit to Britain in 2008, as well as for an Official Portrait.

In 2009, Princess Anne loaned the Diamond Festoon Tiara to Autumn Kelly for her Wedding to Princess Anne’s son, Peter Phillips, at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

More recently, Princess Anne has worn her Diamond Festoon Tiara with the Festoon Necklace and the Diamond Bow Brooch for the Guildhall Banquet held during the Spanish State Visit to Britain in 2017 and the Queen’s Commonwealth Dinner at Buckingham Palace held the following year. There is no doubt we will continue to see this spectacular heirloom worn for years to come!