Queen Maud’s Diamond Tiara was brought into the Norwegian royal family by Princess Maud of Wales.
Princess Maud married the future King Haakon VII of Norway in 1896. The diamond tiara was a wedding present for the future Queen of Norway.
The tiara’s base is a diamond bandeau, with a level of diamond floral elements. The top is a row of thirteen diamond buttons. Maud sometimes swapped these buttons for turquoises.
The tiara’s most famous outing was for the coronation of Maud’s parents, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, in 1902. Three years later, Maud’s husband was elected King of Norway, making Maud a Queen. She would wear the tiara often during her tenure.
Queen Maud died unexpectedly in London in 1938, and she had brought several jewels for cleaning with her. The jewels weren’t returned with her body, and they were held for safekeeping in Windsor Castle during the Second World War.
The jewels were reclaimed in 1953 after the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. However, Crown Princess Märtha died the following year and never wore the tiara. The jewels were finally divided in 1968 when Maud’s grandson, the future King Harald V, married.
Queen Maud’s Diamond Tiara was chosen by Princess Ragnhild, and she wore the tiara frequently. Upon her death in 2012, it reportedly made its way back to the royal family vault, but it has not made a public appearance yet.1
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