SAEDNEWS: Some Royal Jewels May Leave the Family for Reasons Like Theft or Auction
According to Saed News’ society desk, royal jewels sometimes stay within the royal family, but other times they vanish for various reasons. They may be auctioned, stolen, or dismantled and turned into new pieces of jewelry.
The Nizam of Hyderabad’s Crown
This crown, featuring three detachable pieces along with a matching Cartier necklace, was gifted by the Nizam of Hyderabad to Queen Elizabeth II for her wedding. In 1973, the crown was sent to Garrard so its diamonds could be reused in a new crown combining Burmese rubies and diamonds. The necklace, however, remains intact in its original form.
Princess Christina’s Diamond and Pearl Tiara
Last owned by Swedish Princess Christina, this crown has a long history. It originally belonged to her grandmother, Queen Sophia, who likely gave it to her second son, Oscar. After Oscar had to give up his title due to marriage, the tiara passed to Elsa, Oscar’s third daughter and Christina’s godmother, before reaching Christina. Unfortunately, in 2012, the tiara was stolen from Princess Christina’s home. The thief dumped the stolen jewels into a Stockholm river, and despite divers’ efforts, the tiara was never recovered.
Queen Maud of Wales’ Pearl Crown
Queen Maud of Wales, wife of King Haakon VII of Norway, had her jewels cleaned and repaired by Garrard in London in 1995. Many of her pieces were originally made by Garrard since she was English-born. Tragedy struck when thieves broke into Garrard and stole the diamonds and her pearl crown. Although Garrard recreated the stolen items for the royal family, the original crown was never recovered.
Queen Elizabeth of Belgium’s Crown
One of the most exquisite and expensive crowns of the Belgian royal family belonged to Queen Elizabeth. Made of platinum and diamonds by Cartier, the queen initially wore it across her forehead, following the fashion of the time. Later, her daughter-in-law, Princess Liliane, wore it traditionally on top of the head. In 1987, the crown was sold back to Cartier by Liliane’s sister, preserving it for special royal events today.
The Poltimore Tiara
This crown has only ever belonged to one woman: Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II’s sister. She purchased it for herself and wore it at her 1960 wedding. After her death, her children had to sell the crown to pay estate taxes. In 2006, it sold at Christie’s for $1.7 million.
