Today marks the 190th Anniversary of the Birth of Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, the Duchess of Teck, who was born on this day in 1833! The granddaughter of King George III, who married a cousin of the King of Württemberg, and became the mother of Queen Mary, Princess Mary Adelaide possessed a spectacular Jewellery Collection of old family heirlooms!
Click on the highlighted links/images below to see the article on each piece, and the highlighted terms above to get to each jewel category!
The Teck Crescent Tiara
Origin: Inherited by Princess Mary Adelaide from her aunt, Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester
Notable Appearances: The Wedding of Victoria, Princess Royal and Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia in 1858, The Wedding of her daughter, Princess May, to the Duke of York, later King George V, in 1893, and the Wedding of Prince Carl of Denmark and Princess Maud of Wales in 1896.
Current Location: Inherited by her son, Prince Adolphus, the 2nd Duke of Teck and later the Marquess of Cambridge, before being acquired by Queen Mary and worn by the Queen Mother. Now in the collection of Queen Camilla
The Teck Ears of Wheat Tiara
Origin: Originating from Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge and then inherited by her daughter, Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck
Notable Appearances: Portrait by Hermann Schmiechen in 1882
Current Location: Inherited by her son, Prince Alexander of Teck, worn by Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone and now with their grandchildren
The Teck Diamond Hoop Necklace
Origin: A Wedding Gift when Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge married Prince Francis of Teck in 1866
Notable Appearances: The Wedding of her daughter, Princess May, to the Duke of York, later King George V, in 1893, the Wedding of Prince Carl of Denmark and Princess Maud of Wales in 1896, and the Devonshire House Ball in 1897
Current Location: Inherited by her son Prince Adolphus, the 2nd Duke of Teck and later the Marquess of Cambridge, before being acquired by Queen Mary and worn by the Queen Mother. Last worn by Princess Margaret
The Cambridge Emerald Parure
Origin: Won by Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge in a charity lottery in Frankfurt
Notable Appearances: Official Portraits
Current Location: Left to her son Prince Francis of Teck, who in turn left them to his mistress, the Countess of Kilmorey, in 1910, before being acquired by Queen Mary, who left them to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953
The Cambridge Pearl Pendant Brooch
Origin: Acquired by Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge before 1877
Notable Appearances: Portrait in 1885
Current Location: Inherited by Queen Mary who left it to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953
The Teck Sapphire Stomacher
Origin: Possibly inherited from her aunt, Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester
Notable Appearances: Official Portraits and the Devonshire House Ball in 1897
Current Location: Inherited by her son, Prince Alexander of Teck, worn by Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone and now with their grandchildren
The Teck Flower Brooch
Origin: Possibly inherited from her aunt, Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester
Notable Appearances: Portrait Session in 1893
Current Location: Inherited by her son, Prince Adolphus, the 2nd Duke of Teck and later the Marquess of Cambridge, before being acquired by Queen Mary in the early 1920s, when it was given to the Queen Mother.
The Duchess of Gloucester’s Pendant Earrings
Origin: Inherited from her aunt, Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester
Notable Appearances: The Wedding of Victoria, Princess Royal and Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia in 1858 and Official Portraits
Current Location: Inherited by Queen Mary who gave them a Wedding Gift to the future Queen Elizabeth II in 1947
The Teck Corsage Brooch
Origin: Given to Princess Mary Adelaide from Emperor Franz Josef of Austria to mark the birth of Prince Francis of Teck
Notable Appearances: Official Portraits
Current Location: Left to her son Prince Francis of Teck, who in turn left it to his mistress, the Countess of Kilmorey, in 1910, before being acquired by Queen Mary, who left it to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953
