When Lady Alice Montagu-Douglas-Scott married Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester in 1935, she received two Tiaras from Queen Mary, two Tiaras and several Jewels from the groom, and two Parures from King George V among a thousand wedding gifts, many of which were displayed at St. James’s Palace 90 years ago.
Pictures of some of the wedding gifts which have been showered upon the Duke of Gloucester, and his bride, Lady Alice Scot. Sets of jewels form a very attractive and exceedingly valuable part of the tokens of affection and esteem.
This galleon was made by the toes of an armless boy cripple. The cards on these lighters tell their own charming little story. Their Majesties the King and Queen have given magnificent examples of the jewellers art.
The presents are on view at St. James’s Palace.
Not on display at St James’ Palace was the most magnificent gift of the Gloucester Honeysuckle Tiara, which Queen Mary had commissioned in 1914 and remains the most magnificent heirloom the continues to be worn by the current Duchess of Gloucester.
Queen Mary’s more notable Wedding Gift was the magnificent Teck Turquoise Tiara and Parure which she herself had received as a Wedding Gift from her parents in 1893, the Parure consisted of:
A diamond and turquoise tiara with clusters and scrolls
A pair of turquoise and fancy cluster earrings
A necklace of 26 turquoise and diamond clusters
Two diamond and turquoise bow-brooches
A smaller diamond and turquoise bow-brooch with diamond and turquoise tassel
Two alternate diamond and turquoise collet four-row chain bracelets with diamond wheat-ear on turquoise background snaps
A turquoise and diamond ring
A diamond & turquoise and gold bangle
Prince Henry gave many magnificent Wedding Gifts, which included a Art Deco Diamond Bandeau Tiara which could be worn with a separate Art Deco Emerald and Diamond Brooch, complimented by a set of diamond and emerald clips presented by the groom’s siblings.
Prince Henry also gave another Diamond Tiara ‘formed by a band of leafage design and scrolls and surmounted with a graduation of round and drop shaped diamond collets’, which was often worn by the Duchess in the late 1930s but hasn’t been seen ever since.
Lady Alice also got a Diamond Knot Brooch from Prince Henry, in addition to diamond bracelets, a Regimental brooch in diamonds, and a pair of diamond and emerald earrings. The Brooch is one of the few jewels from Princess Alice that has been sold off since her passing.
King George and Queen Mary gave Lady Alice a large selection of Pearl and Diamond Jewels, which included a Diamond Rivière and Princess Helena’s Diamond Corsage Brooch:
A diamond collect necklace (56 diamond collets)
A large diamond scroll brooch, detachable cluster centre with three drop shaped diamond cluster drops
A five stone diamond ring A fancy pearl & diamond ring
A pair of diamond collet and pearl drop earrings
A large baroque pearl and oval diamond cluster brooch
A diamond ribbon bow top brooch pendant with and diamond and pearl swinging ornament and a diamond and pearl cluster ornament containing a watch suspended from a bow by a double diamond collet chain
Another of King George and Queen Mary’s Wedding Gifts was a suite of Pearl and Emerald Jewels, which included two strings of pearls and emeralds given as a Wedding Gift to Queen Alexandra.
two pearl and emerald bead necklaces with large emerald drops
a cabochon emerald and diamond scroll brooch with 3 diamond and emerald drops
two diamond and emerald bracelets of differing designs
From her late father, who had just passed away a few weeks earlier, Lady Alice received a string of Pearls.
From her mother, the Duchess of Buccleuch, the bride received a pair of Diamond Earrings which are believed to be the spectacular antique Diamond Earrings which continue be worn, alongside a painting and a needlework box.
The City of London gave a Diamond Fringe Tiara to Princess Marina in 1934, and a Pearl Sautoir to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923, while Lady Alice got a striking Diamond Sautoir and a large Art Deco Diamond Bracelet. The Sautoir can be worn as a shorter necklace or four bracelets, which is how it was often worn.
The groom’s nieces and nephews, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret of York and Viscount Lascelles and the Hon. Gerald Lascelles, gave a pair of grenade-shaped table cigarette lighters.
Wedding Gifts of Prince Albert, Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Wedding Gifts of Prince George, Duke of Kent and Princess Marina of Greece
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