Thank you Helen and Franck. What interesting ideas you have given us.
Franck's comment about Queen Alexandra's hair combs made me realise that the diamonds HM wore in front of Queen Victoria's small diamond crown are most likely to be mounted on a comb to secure them. It also made me wonder if some of the hair ornaments worn by Princess Anne years ago may not have originated with Queen Alexandra. For example - Unfortunately, in Queen Alexandra's time photographers did not have the chance to take many photos of the Queen on private occasions or indeed showing the back of her headdress, and I have seen only one image of her with what is probably a hair comb.
Helen's suggestion -that some of the diamonds may have been used in Queen Alexandra's Regal circlet -- has given me hope that we may yet track down other photos showing these diamonds. We know from Roberts that HM had her personal Cullinan and a "large brilliant" set in the jewel and that these were removed prior to it being given to Queen Maud. The stone which dangles onto Queen Alexandra's forehead certainly resembles her personal Cullinan and the large diamond at the top of the arrangement could be the one used in her circlet.
[Note: I think there is a small wisp of hair crossing the diamond I think is QA's Cullinan rather than two diamonds in the lowest diamond in the pendant/drop of the arrangement]
Unfortunately, I have never seen a photo with sufficiently clear detail of QA's Regal circlet to be certain of the size of her "large brillant".
on May 24, 2016, 3:21 am, in reply to "
