Today marks the 75th birthday of Princess Anne, daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II and widely regarded as the hardest-working member of the Royal Family.
Earlier this week, Buckingham Palace commemorated the milestone by sharing an official portrait of the Princess – second of four children of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip – alongside her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence.
Captured by photographer Chris Jackson ahead of the Windsor Castle banquet held in honour of President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte during the French state visit in July, the image shows Princess Anne wearing the dazzling diamond Festoon Tiara.
Jewellery experts at UK retailer Steven Stone have taken a closer look at the magnificent piece, which has been part of the Princess’s collection since 1973.
“The Diamond Festoon Tiara was presented to Princess Anne in 1973 by the World Wide Shipping Group of Hong Kong, in recognition of her role in christening one of their ships. Believed to date back to the early 20th century, it carries not only exquisite craftsmanship but also a rich sense of history.
Renowned for its delicate openwork design, the tiara showcases graceful festoon-style diamond swags and pendants, its perfectly balanced silhouette combining elegance with remarkable lightness. Its refined proportions and comfortable fit have made it one of the Princess Royal’s most cherished choices for formal occasions.
The tiara made its public debut in 1973, when Princess Anne wore it for a series of portraits by Lord Lichfield to mark her 23rd birthday, as well as in pre-wedding photographs with her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips. Since then, it has graced countless high-profile occasions, from Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee Gala to numerous State Banquets.
While placing a monetary value on such a rare and historically significant jewel is challenging, I’d estimate the tiara’s worth to be in the region of $4 million.”
maxwell stone, diamond expert, steven stone
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