Today marks the 20th Anniversary of the Death of Princess Takamatsu of Japan, who passed away on this day in 2004! The aristocratic bride who became the popular and progressive oldest member of the Imperial Family, the Princess possessed this splendid Mikimoto Diamond Tiara!

Made by Mikimoto around 1930, the Diamond Tiara features a dense diamond design in arches was created for Kikuko Tokugawa when she married Nobuhito, Prince Takamatsu, the third son of Emperor Taishō and Empress Teimei and a younger brother of Emperor Hirohito.

The Mikimoto Tiara was worn by the newlywed Princess Takamatsu for the first time on her Wedding Day in 1930, for ceremonies at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Princess Takamatsu wore her Mikimoto Tiara for a variety of Gala Events over the following decades, including Banquets for Princess Alexandra’s visit to Japan in 1961, the Belgian State Visit to Japan in 1964, the Afghanistan State Visit to Japan in 1969 and.

While Princess Takamatsu had other Tiaras, the Mikimoto Tiara remained a favourite throughout her long life, being worn for the British State Visit to Japan in 1975, the Jordanian State Visit to Japan in 1976, the Spanish State Visit to Japan in 1980, the Danish State Visit to Japan in 1981, the Prince and Princess of Wales’s visit to Japan in 1986, and Emperor Akihito’s Enthronement Banquet 1990.

The Mikimoto Tiara also made annual appearances at the New Year’s Reception, the last of which came in 1996, around which time Princess Takamatsu retired from gala appearances.

After Princess Takamatsu’s death in 2004, as the oldest member of the Imperial Family, the Mikimoto Tiara entered the collection of the Imperial Household Agency, and has not yet been publicly worn by any other lady in the Imperial Family.

Princess Takamatsu’s Mikimoto Diamond Tiara

Meiji Scroll Tiara