The Lotus Flower Tiara: A Necklace Turned Diadem

Queen Elizabeth wearing the Lotus Flower tiara on the publicity for the 1937 coronation. Image from Wikimedia Commons

In 1923, Prince Albert, Duke of York (the future King George VI)  bought a diamond and pearl necklace with meander and festoon designs from Garrard and gave it to his wife, the former Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, as a wedding present.  The young duchess had better plans for it: six months after receiving it, she turned it into a sparkler.

The Duchess of York took pride in wearing the tiara, featuring it prominently in illustration portraits used in publicity for the 1937 coronation. She even loaned it to her older sister, Lady Elphinstone, who donned it during the coronation.

As queen consort, Elizabeth had access to the  grander diadems at the royal vault. The Lotus Flower was kept away from the public eyes but she later loaned it to her younger daughter, Princess Margaret, who was seen wearing it in 1959 shortly before her wedding to Anthony Armstrong-Jngones.

The Lotus Flower Tiara was a favorite of Margaret’s who frequently donned it when she had the chance. She later loaned it to her daughter-in-law, Serena Stanhope, when she married her son, Viscount Linley, in 1993. Interestingly, Viscountess Linley chose a 1960s style wedding dress identical to Margaret’s own. 

It was believed that Princess Margaret owned the tiara but it seemed that it was only loaned to her by her mother who passed it on, instead to Queen Elizabeth II, when she died in 2002. After decades in oblivion, the Lotus Flower tiara made a surprise appearance when Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wore it at the annual diplomatic reception in 2013. The duchess donned it again in 2015 when she attended the state banquet in honour of the President of China - although it has not been seen since. For the event, Queen Elizabeth II wore another seldom-seen tiara in her collection, the Belgian Sapphire Tiara.