Posted by Arthur on July 17, 2014, 7:50 am, in reply to "Re: M "
You are right, Nellie, I have noticed that too! Roberts was sometimes very cautious at using words which give information... but not too much!
For example, when he writes (page 182) that Queen Mary's Lover's Knot Tiara "was worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, following her marriage in 1981", he mentions a fact that everyone knows, but without giving any details about the actual ownership of the tiara (was it given, or only loaned, to Diana? Therefore, is it currently the Queen's or Prince William's belonging?). This is a very diplomatic "half-silence" on a topic which could be a bit tacky...
Or when he mentions (page 166) that the large oval openwork diamond brooch worn by Queen Mary at the 1937 Coronation was "later disposed of", without giving further detail about which way, when, and in favour of whom it was disposed of...
--Previous Message-- : : I believe Roberts was very tactful and : diplomatic in many places in the book. : : : --Previous Message-- : I wish too that Roberts had been sometimes : more precise. He gives more details about : alterations on other jewels (for example, he : reveals that the frame of the Vladimir Tiara : was completely remade by Garrard in 1988), : but not about the Durbar tiara. : : The explanation for this could might be : that, as the Durbar Tiara remained in : Queen-Mother Elizabeth's possession until : her death in 2002, the repairs and : alterations were not registered in the Royal : Collection's database. Just a suggestion. : : : --Previous Message-- : Thank you Nellie. I can see from your photos : that I was totally mistaken. : Arthur, I apologise for my question. It : highlights my ignorance of how the tiara : existed during various periods. : I look forward to seeing if anyone has more : information about when and why the tiara was : initially altered prior to the time of Queen : Elizabeth. Perhaps Queen Mary made the : alterations as the information in Robert's : book shows it was not given to QEQM with the : emeralds, but I wish he had outlined : precisely when other major changes occurred. : : : : :