Queen Maud’s Pearl Tiara belonged to Queen Maud of Norway, who was born Princess Maud of Wales, the youngest daughter of the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom.
She was gifted the tiara by her parents when she married Prince Carl of Denmark in 1896. Maud became Queen when her husband was elected King of Norway in 1905. Maud wore the tiara often.
Maud had taken the tiara to the United Kingdom for cleaning in 1938, when she unexpectedly died. The tiara remained there throughout the Second World War and was eventually reclaimed in 1953 when her son, King Olav V, attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Following the division of Queen Maud’s jewels in 1968, King Harald became the new owner of the tiara. The tiara was then worn by his wife, Queen Sonja. She has worn it with and without the detachable element.
In 1995, the tiara was stolen while it was being cleaned at Garrard in London. The tiara has never been recovered.
Garrad made a replica for Queen Sonja, which she has worn since. Queen Sonja lent the tiara to her daughter, Princess Märtha Louise, who wore it for her wedding to Ari Behn in 2002.1
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