Queen Soraya Tarzi’s Diamond Star Tiara

Post author:Royal Staff
Post published:November 24, 2024
Post category:News

Today marks the 125th Anniversary of the Birth of Queen Soraya Tarzi of Afghanistan, who was born on this day in 1899. The accomplished and influential Afghan Queen for a decade, Queen Soraya Tarzi is more known for her role in the emancipation of Afghan women, but today we are featuring her magnificent Diamond Star Tiara!

But first, leats learn about Queen Soraya Tarzi. The daughter of Sardar Mahmud Beg Tarzi from an ancient Afghan Royal House and Syrian feminist Asma Rasmya Khanum, Suraiya Shahzada Tarzi was born and educated in Damascus, before returning to Afghanistan ahead of her Wedding to Prince Amanullah in 1913, at the age of 13. The couple had four sons and six daughters. Prince Amanullah became Emir in 1919 and the first Afghan King in 1926, making her the first Queen of Afghanistan, and she not only became the first Royal Consort to take an active role in Court and Social life but was also an influential political figure, serving as the Minister of Education, and opening schools, hospitals, theatres and organisations for women, which led to her receiving an honorary degree alongside the King from Oxford University in 1928. However, in 1929, the King abdicated in order to prevent a civil war and went into exile with his family first to India and then to Rome, where the couple remained until their deaths in 1960 and 1968 respectively.

The exact origin of this magnificent Diamond Tiara with seven large Diamond Stars set on top of a base of large diamonds is unknown, and while it may be an old family heirloom, it is quite likely that the Tiara was acquired around the Proclamation of Queen Soraya Tarzi as the first Queen of Afghanistan in 1926.

The Diamond Star Tiara was most notably worn by Queen Soraya Tarzi for her magnificent Official Portrait created in the mid-1920s, which is an iconic image of Queen Soraya and all her accomplishments.

In 1928, King Amanullah and Queen Soraya Tarzi set off for a six-month Tour of Europe and the Mediterranean, with the Queen notably wearing her Diamond Star Tiara for a Banquet hosted by President Hindenburg during the State Visit to Germany.

Later, King Amanullah and Queen Soraya Tarzi made a State Visit to the United Kingdom, where there were State Banquetsat Buckingham Palace, the Guildhall, and the Foreign Office, with Queen described wearing the Diamond Star Tiara:

The Queen of Afghanistan wore a dress of silver tissue oversewn with gleaming sequins, the effect in the brilliant lights of the Banqueting Hall being a moonlight on water. In her brown hair she wore a magnificent diamond tiara and she had ropes of diamonds about her corsage. Her arms were encircled with diamond and sapphire bracelets and numerous orders gleamed upon her breast.

While the Royal Family had a comfortable exile for the first few years, their trials during and after the Second World War led to them living a life of poverty, solely surviving by selling the ‘crates of jewels’ they had taken when leaving for exile, which is probably the fate of the Diamond Star Tiara.

Most recently, activist Malala Yousafzai wore Earrings and a Ring which had once belonged to Queen Soraya Tarzi at the Oscars, which had been loaned by Fred Leighton.