Posted by Nellie on February 27, 2015, 11:28 pm, in reply to "The Hanoverian Claim"
I think I had better paste in this sequence of events from my notes.
Some more from Bury's 6 pages. Extracts have been chosen by me to show there were many records that the Commissioners could draw on later to help establish just what was what.
First, a relevant snippet from the will of George II written in German in 1751 - All our jewels, which have been bought with our money, or which have been inherited by us from our ancestors [or predecessors], shall remain as a perpetual heirloom [fidei commis], for ever in our family, and devolve upon our successors in the Electorate.
1752 - George II had an inventory made of items stored in Hanover, forming one album of the King's jewels and one of Queen Caroline's.
1760 - George II died and was succeeded by his grandson George III who sent for the jewels in Hanover. George III also got those listings of his grandparents' jewels plus sheets of receipts with weights and values of principal stones. His Uncle William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, claimed some was his. The upshot was Cumberland accepted payment of ₤54,000 for his entitlement. Those jewels were then re-set for George III's bride Charlotte. [Have checked that figure and we have a discrepancy of 900 between the two sources.]
It was thought by those investigating the Hanoverian claim later that some pieces owned by Queen Charlotte such as a stomacher and earrings were simply re-worked in a more fashionable style in 1761, as the size and weights of certain stones in the jewellery made prior to 1737 were found to correspond closely to those adorning Queen Charlotte's pieces.
1804 - Queen Charlotte had brass plates, engraved with her details of contents, attached to the fitted cases made for her jewels given by George III in 1761.
1818 - Queen Charlotte died. The Prince Regent (later George IV) refused to accept his mother's right to dispose of the jewels as she wished, asserting they were inalienable to the English Crown. The excutors did not just accept that but the Prince Regent got the jewels.
1820 - George III died and his jewels passed to his successor now George IV. A few months later the new King had some of his mother's pieces dismantled. A set of three diamond and and pearl bows were broken up.... [My underlining.]
1830 - George IV died and was succeeded by his brother William IV.
1831 - The new King's consort, Queen Adelaide, required Rundell's to remove brilliants from Queen Charlotte's great stomacher to embellish her coronation Crown. After the ceremony the diamonds were transferred to her new circlet, the Grand or Regal Diadem with a crest of alternating crosses-pattée and fleur-de-lis. The point of the stomacher, untouched, was retained with the dismantled setting in the original case.
1837 - William IV died. The dual monarchy ended. Mentioned in previous message how Victoria's uncle became King of Hanover and planned to claim the jewels and how Queen Adelaide separated the jewels.
1839-1841 - A bill was filed in Chancery on behalf of the King of Hanover against William IV's executors making a claim under two heads the 'Antient Hanoverian Jewels' bequeathed by George II to the Electorate, and jewellery bequeathed by Queen Caroline to Hanover. Matters proceeded with various people providing depostions and statements. The remark by Queen Adelaide about some pieces missing when the cases reached her comes in here.
Among these were the briiliant and pearl bows and a pearl necklace and earrings. Evidence from Rundell's made it clear they kept record of the most important stones when transferred from one piece to another.
1843 - King of Hanover pressed his claim. Three Commissioners were appointed to look into it.
1846 - One Commissioner died as they were nearing the end.
Exchanges continued between Hanover's representative in London, Count Kielmansegge, and the English government.
1857 - Lord Palmerston proposed to Victoria that she issue a new Commission. In December the three new Commissioners the claim had to be allowed for jewels bequeathed by George II and by Queen Charlotte. etc etc
I have formed the impression that Victoria had been encouraged or advised to expect a result in her favour and was thus "devastated".
on February 27, 2015, 11:28 pm, in reply to "