A collection of jewellery from Queen Victoria's last daughter, Princess Beatrice

Princess beatric Mary Victoria Theodore of the United Kingdom was born on April 14th 1857 within the walls of Buckingham Palace she was the ninth and youngest offspring of Queen Victoria and of Prince Albert her parents were deeply devoted to their youngest child Albert tenderly referred to Baby considering her the most entertaining of all his children the young girl possessed a keen intellect and an insatiable curiosity however Beatrice's life took a sorrowful turn on December 14th 1861 when her father Prince Albert succumbed to typhoid fever overwhelmed with grief Queen Victoria channeled all her Despair and Dread of solitude onto the little princess following her father's passing the previously joyous and spirited girl became quiet and withdrawn the intense bond between mother and daughter persisted throughout be's developmental years her expected role seemed to be that of a companion and Aid to Queen Victoria making marriage appear improbable when 27-year-old beatric fell for Prince Henry of Battenburg in 1884 Victoria initially responded with reluctance aiming to keep her daughter close after beatric informally declared her intent to Wed Henry the queen did not converse with her for 7 months nonetheless she ultimately consented to the union on the condition that Prince Henry resigned from his duties in the Prussian Army and the couple reside with her the pair were wed on July 23rd 1885 at St Mildred's Church on the Isle of white after their honeymoon the Newly Weds dutifully returned to Queen Victoria's side princess beatric served as Victoria's trusted companion at social events always appearing regally Splendid naturally she had access to the extensive collection of the British Royal Family's Jewels some of these adornments were wedding gifts or presents from her husband or mother beatric had favorite pieces of jewelry that she frequently showcased to the public among these were The Fringe and strawberry Leaf Tiaras these Exquisite crowns often adorned her ensembles accompanied by three Royal Diamond tassel brooches the exact origin of these broaches remains unknown in an official portrait commemorating the coronation of George V in 1911 princess Beatrice's gown is embellished with these brooches nicknamed dumplings this piece of jewelry features floral designs with five cascading strands the broaches were set with Old Mine Cut and Rose cut diamonds at some point after Beatrice's death the diamond pum pillas were sold the owner and whereabouts of the jewelry remained unknown until 2003 two broaches from the set unexpectedly appeared among the Lots at sbe's auction in London in 2003 and were sold for 33850 to socialite Cil zilka who used the diamond pamp piles as earrings another enigmatic piece of Princess Beatrice's jewelry was the diamond star Tiara when Princess beatric married Prince Henry of battenberg in 1885 she received a wedding gift from her mother Queen Victoria consisting of a diamond ciret and Diamond Stars featuring five Diamond Stars on a diamond base princess beatric was depicted wearing the diamond star Tiara in a portrait and a miniature painting created in the late 1880s or early 1890s the Stars could be detached from The Tiara and worn as hairpins the further fate of the diamond star Tiara is unknown as Princess beatric did not wear it after the 1890s however in 1892 princess beatric accidentally set her room on fire at helenberg Castle in Germany her parents' home and lost many of her Jewels another remarkable piece inherited from her mother was a unique strawberry Leaf tiara initially crafted by Joseph kitching in 1844 the piece was altered by gards in 1848 and again in 1860 when Prince Albert added strawberry leaves Scrolls and rubies to the original Ruby and Diamond Bando princess beatric added an extra row of diamond elements at the base and The Tiara was last Modified by Cartier in 1933 when the marchess of carisbrook removed the rubies Queen Victoria was so enamored with the Tiara that the Ruby parua became one of the few colored gemstones she wore during her morning period particularly at her daughter princess Louis's wedding to the Marquis of Laur in 1871 upon her death in 1901 Queen Victoria bequeathed The Tiara and perua to her youngest daughter princess beatric beatric added additional elements at the base and wore the Tiara in a portrait by Spanish artist wakin sorola ibasa as well as at the christenings of some of her grandchildren in the late 1920s princess beatric lent Queen Victoria's strawberry Leaf Tiara to her daughter the then queen of Spain Victoria eugeni who wore the Tiara and perua for a series of portraits by Christian francen yissa at some point in the 1930s princess beatric passed the Tiara to her son and daughter-in-law the Marquis and maress of carisbrook who commissioned Cartier to alter the peace in 1933 removing the rubies after the the late 1930s The Tiara disappeared from public View and its current whereabouts are unknown it is likely that it was either sold or dismantled between 1939 and 1953 one of Princess Beatrice's most cherished pieces of jewelry was the Magnificent Sunray Fringe Tiara also inherited from her mother for most of her life Queen Victoria's jewelry was either created or gifted by Prince Albert members of his family dignitaries and officials this makes the Sun Fringe Tiara particularly unique as it was commissioned by Queen Victoria herself in 1866 this diamond Fringe Tiara was worn at her first state opening of parliament following Prince Albert's death that same year due to its small size and lightweight it was worn by her in old age after other Tiaras were retired notably featuring in her portraits for the Diamond Jubilee upon Queen Victoria's death her Diamond Fringe Tiara was inherited by her youngest daughter princess be who wore it at top a small diamond Meander Tiara she owned princess beatric wore The Fringe Tiara at the coronation of her brother King Edward iith In 1902 and at the coronation of her nephew King George vi5 in 1911 unfortunately the Tiara's whereabouts became unknown after princess Beatrice's time and it has since disappeared from public records another remarkable piece in Beatrice's collection was the andian emerald cross this Exquisite cross originated from the collection of Queen Isabella II and King Francisco of Spain who reportedly sold it to the French Empress Eugene upon their Exile the empress was frequently depicted wearing this cross in various photographs often pairing it with other items from her magnificent and famous jewelry collection notably the emerald Tiara in 1880 Queen Victoria noted in her diary that Empress Eugene who had visited her in England several years after her Exile had given her a small package containing the most magnificent Emerald cross carved from a single Stone without any joints and adorned along the edges with beautiful diamonds with two Splendid large ones on top at some point Queen Victoria gifted the emerald cross to her beloved youngest daughter princess beatric who was rumored to have once been engaged to the empress Eugene's only son who died very young princess beatric wore this cross in several portraits along with Queen Victoria's Tiara and at the christening of her granddaughter infanta Maria Christina in 1911 later princess beatric gave the andian emerald cross from Empress Eugene to her daughter Queen Victoria Eugene of Spain who was named jenei after her Godmother the empress this is how the emerald cross re-entered the Spanish Royal collection in 1937 after the fall of the Spanish monarchy Queen Victoria Eugene sold the cross to Cartier to cover the expenses of of Exile which piece of jewelry did you find Most Fascinating please share your thoughts and comments

Channel: Jewellery Stories

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Length: 8min 36sec (516 seconds)

Published: Wed May 29 2024