The Duchess of Kent passed away last week. The Baronet’s daughter who married the late Queen’s first cousin and was a working royal for over 40 years before retiring from royal duties, the Duchess possessed some spectacular heirloom Jewels, and after Queen Mary’s Diamond Crochet Bandeau and the Cambridge Sapphire Parure, we are featuring a striking Diamond Flower Brooch!
Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara | Cambridge Sapphire Parure | Diamond Crochet Bandeau | Kent Festoon Tiara | Aquamarine Tiara | Diamond Girandole Earrings | Diamond and Pearl Suite | Pearl Earrings | Art Deco Diamond Brooch | Diamond Flower Suite | Queen Victoria’s Gold Brooch | Empress Maria Feodrovna’s Sapphire Brooch | Princess Marina’s Black Pearl Brooch | Diamond Flower Brooch | The Jewels of the Duchess of Kent | 90 Facts about the Duchess of Kent
The striking Diamond Brooch is composed of a cluster of diamonds surrounded by diamond petals. It appears that Princess Marina received this Diamond Brooch when she launched a tanker called World Harmony in February 1954, thanking the shipping company for a ‘magnificent’ Brooch.
Princess Marina first wore the modern Diamond Flower Brooch to celebrate Greek Independence Day at Claridges Hotel the following month, and also when she presented the Wimbledon Trophies that summer as well as the next year.
Princess Marina, the Duchess of Kent continued to wear the modern Diamond Flower Brooch into the 1960s, most notably for Wimbledon in 1962 and a striking portrait taken by Cecil Beaton.
After Princess Marina’s death in 1968, the Diamond Flower Brooch was among the jewels inherited by her elder son, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, along with the Cambridge Sapphire Parure, her Diamond Girandole Earrings and Bow Brooch, while his younger brother, Prince Michael inherited the Kent Festoon Tiara and Fringe Tiara, and Princess Alexandra got the Pearl Bandeau.
The Duchess of Kent notably wore the modern Diamond Flower Brooch to present the Royal Geographical Society Gold Medal to astronaut Mr Neil Armstrong in 1970 and also on her hat for a Service at St Pauls’ Cathedral.
By 1972, the Duchess of Kent began wearing the modern Diamond Flower Brooch attached to a three-strand Pearl Choker, sometimes also worn with Princess Marina’s Black Pearl Brooch, which was paired with Queen Mary’s Diamond Crochet Bandeau and Princess Marina’s Diamond Girandole Earrings on a couple of occasions including a Premiere in New York City and a Gala at the Palace of Versailles in 1972.
The Duchess also wore the Pearl Choker with the modern Diamond Flower Brooch paired with the Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara through the late 70s, including for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Gala in 1977.
By the 1980s, the modern Diamond Flower Brooch had been attached to a five-strand Pearl Choker which was often worn by the Duchess of Kent with the Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara for several Gala events into the 1990s. The Brooch has not been seen since the 90s, but lets hope it does reappear sometime soon!
Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara | Cambridge Sapphire Parure | Diamond Crochet Bandeau | Kent Festoon Tiara | Aquamarine Tiara | Diamond Girandole Earrings | Diamond and Pearl Suite | Pearl Earrings | Art Deco Diamond Brooch | Diamond Flower Suite | Queen Victoria’s Gold Brooch | Empress Maria Feodrovna’s Sapphire Brooch | Princess Marina’s Black Pearl Brooch | Diamond Flower Brooch | The Jewels of the Duchess of Kent | 90 Facts about the Duchess of Kent
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