Princess Marina’s Art Deco Diamond Brooch

Post author:Royal Staff
Post published:February 22, 2025
Post category:News

Happy Birthday to the the Duchess of Kent, who is celebrating her 92nd Birthday today! The Baronet’s daughter who married the late Queen’s first cousin and was a working royal for over 40 years before retiring from royal duties, the Duchess possessed some spectacular heirloom Jewels, which includes Princess Marina’s Art Deco Diamond Brooch!

Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark received a Tiara from the groom, a Diamond Rivière from King George V, the Cambridge Sapphires from Queen Mary, a Tiara and Bow Brooch from her mother, Grand Duchess Elena, and a Tiara from the City of London among a thousand Gifts for her Wedding to Prince George, Duke of Kent in 1934. As discovered by the wonderful Beth on RJWMB and HFJC, Queen Mary also presented the Bride with an:

oblong diamond brooch with a square cluster centre and link ends’.

Princess Marina wore the Art Deco Diamond Brooch with her mother’s Diamond Fringe Tiara, as well as a Diamond Rivière gifted by King George V, for her Wedding to Prince George, Duke of Kent at Westminster Abbey in 1934.

The Duchess of Kent also wore the Brooch on her hat when departing for her honeymoon, a well as for a portrait with Queen Mary and her children in the summer of 1943, after the death of the Duke of Kent.

In later years, the Duchess of Kent most notably wore the Art Deco Diamond Brooch at her hip to fasten the Sashes of the Royal Victorian Order and the Order of Saints Olga and Sophia.

After Princess Marina’s death in 1968, the Art Deco Diamond Brooch was among the jewels inherited by her daughter-in-law, the Duchess of Kent along with the Cambridge Sapphire Parure and Princess Marina’s Diamond Girandole Earrings, who wore the Brooch with Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau from the late 1960s.

After the sale of the Cambridge Sapphire Parure, the Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara became the primary jewel of the Duchess of Kent, who paired it with Princess Marina’s Art Deco Diamond Brooch for State Openings of Parliament, the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Gala in 1977, the Spanish State Banquet at Windsor Castle in 1986, the State Opening of Parliament in 1987, Crown Prince Harald’s 50th Birthday at the Royal Palace of Oslo in 1987, and a Banquet at Claridge’s Hotel in 1989.

The Duchess of Kent continued to wear the Art Deco Diamond Brooch with the Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara through the 1990s, including for the Polish State Banquet at Windsor Castle in 1991, several State Openings of Parliament, the Brunei State Visit to Britain in 1992, and the Malaysian State Visit to Britain in 1993, but appearances stopped when the Duchess retired from public duties around 2000. Hopefully, the Art Deco Diamond Brooch is among the heirlooms still in the possession of the Duke and Duchess of Ken, awaiting another appearance!