Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
Today marks the 95th Anniversary of the Birth of Raine, Countess Spencer, who was born on this day in 1929! The ‘Triple Countess’ who was the stepmother of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Countess had access to many splendid jewellery collections, but today’s piece, her Diamond Tiara, was in her personal collection!
Pearl and Diamond Tiara | Diamond Tiara | Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara | Spencer Diamond Rivière | Spencer Diamond Earrings | Jewels on Auction
When Raine Mccorquodale married Gerald Legge, the future 9th Earl of Dartmouth, in 1948, she wore a striking Diamond Lattice Tiara, which is believed to be a Legge Heirloom.
As Mrs Gerald Legge, later Viscountess Lewisham and then the Countess of Dartmouth, she wore a splendid antique Diamond Tiara, which was worn for the Coming Out Ball of Elizabeth Ward at Hutchinson House in 1952.
A few years later, Mrs Gerald Legge wore her Diamond Tiara for the Givenchy Fashion Show at The Dorchester Hotel in London in 1955.
In 1956, the Tiara was worn by Mrs Gerald Legge for a Banquet hosted by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Westminster at the Royal Academy, when she was pictured with her future mother-in-law, Cynthia, Countess Spencer, who wore the famous Spencer Tiara.
A decade later, the now Countess of Dartmouth wore her Diamond Tiara for a Ball hosted by the Duke of Rutland at Belvoir Castle in 1965.
What makes us think that the Diamond Tiara was a personal possession and not a Legge Heirloom was when the now Countess Spencer wore it for a Ball in the 1980s, instead of any of the Spencer Heirlooms.
However, in the years afterwards, Raine, Countess Spencer was only pictured wearing her versatile Pearl and Diamond Tiara, which may mean that her Diamond Tiara may have been sold or quietly disposed of. Its location remains unknown.
Pearl and Diamond Tiara | Diamond Tiara | Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara | Spencer Diamond Rivière | Spencer Diamond Earrings | Jewels on Auction
Duchess of Devonshire’s Tiaras