What if? - a huge chunk of speculation Archived Message
Posted by Nellie on February 21, 2012, 11:32 pm, in reply to "Regal Circlets & Maltese tiara - part 1"
Subtitled: Where was the [real] Regal Circlet from 1925 [when Queen Alexandra died] to 1937 [when it was stripped] ? OK. Here goes - because for many years I have struggled over the likelihood of two Regal Circlets. I hope you all get a lot of fun out of this and not take it too seriously. Let's treat it as a jolly good mystery yarn. The following takes no account of the fleurs de lis. I really cannot help with that part. I have often read of Queen Alexandra's "generosity". Her family were concerned that she would give away too much. And family stories often gloss over a detail or two to preserve reputation and for discretion's sake. Why did Queen Alexandra have the Regal Circlet altered in 1902 and in what way? I have never read details. It might or might not have been Queen Adelaide's. [The 2 vol The Crown Jewels refers to it in the 1856 Winterhalter (below) as Queen Adelaide's Grand or Regal Diadem or Circlet.] Say Queen Alexandra gave the Queen Adelaide/Victoria Regal Circlet to Maud in 1905 [on Maud becoming Queen] or earlier, or later. Then say Queen Alexandra found the Diamond Diadem too heavy for all State and Grand occasions, so had a replacement made for the Regal Circlet, to wear herself. [Would suit blog story.] Presumably Queen Alexandra wore Cullinan VI on the/her Regal Circlet from 1908 [cleaving] to 1925 [her death]. Where? On the front cross? Say Queen Mary discovered the Regal Circlet she herself wore for her first State Opening of Parliament in 1911 (below) was not the original, so in 1914 she had her own crown altered [which she did] for the arches to be removable so she could wear her own "regal circlet" from her own crown. [Queen Mary did not ever wear the Regal Circlet again as far as I know.] That could account for Queen Alexandra wearing the Regal Circlet again in her widowhood. That could also account for the Regal Circlet being "sacrificed" in 1937. This speculation does not account for Queen Maud not seen wearing her Malteser until 1929 - only after Queen Alexandra died in 1925. We are told Queen Alexandra died intestate so inheriting cannot enter the scene. The family divided her jewels [Pope-Hennessy]. But the [real] Regal Circlet would not have been her personal property. So, where was the [real] Regal Circlet from 1925 [when Queen Alexandra died] to 1937 [when it was stripped] ? The band of the Queen Victoria Regal Circlet is described as having large diamonds and small crosses. The empty band in the London Museum caters for cushion shaped diamonds in the band, as used in the crown of Queen Elizabeth (QM). Do you think the [real] Regal Circlet had cushion shaped diamonds in the band?
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Message Thread: | This response ↓
- Regal Circlets & Maltese tiara - part 1 - Nellie February 21, 2012, 9:04 am
- Regal Circlets & Maltese tiara - part 1 - Picture - Monica February 21, 2012, 9:13 am
- Re: Regal Circlets & Maltese tiara - part 2 - Nellie February 21, 2012, 9:13 am
- Regal Circlets & Maltese tiara - part 3 - Nellie February 21, 2012, 9:37 am
- possibility - Ayvee February 21, 2012, 12:46 pm
- What if? - a huge chunk of speculation - Nellie February 21, 2012, 11:32 pm
- Does this help? - Dawn February 22, 2012, 10:55 pm
- Queen Alexandra - Nellie February 22, 2012, 11:25 pm
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