Princess Anne stepped out in a sparkling royal heirloom at September’s State Banquet held to welcome the US President and First Lady to the UK for a historic second state visit. In doing so, she paid a subtle but powerful tribute to her late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.
Known as the monarchy’s hardest-working royal, the Princess Royal, 75, arrived in a pale gold gown and long white gloves, her look was crowned by one of the most iconic pieces in the royal vault: the Aquamarine Pineflower Tiara. For jewellery watchers, the sight was especially poignant.
The tiara had been removed from its display at the V&A Museum just days earlier, fuelling whispers it might be about to make a dramatic reappearance on the world stage – and it did.
The tiara itself carries a lineage as sparkling as its stones – commissioned by King George VI as an anniversary gift for his wife, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.
With sprays of diamond “pine flowers” radiating around a spectacular cool-blue aquamarine gem, the piece is incredibly eye-catching. On Anne’s first wedding day to Captain Mark Phillips in 1973, the Queen Mother passed it to her granddaughter, making it one of the most personal heirlooms in Anne’s collection.
Its airy Art Deco silhouette and icy palette gave a modern lift to the Princess’s classic ensemble, standing in contrast to the heavier, more traditional tiaras usually seen at court occasions.
Choosing this particular jewel for a diplomatic evening was more than a style decision; it was a thoughtful gesture that linked three generations of royal women together.
The tiara’s centrepiece, which was once remodelled into a brooch, symbolises Anne’s talent for refreshing historic pieces without stripping them of meaning.
In a room filled with global power players, the Princess Royal managed to tell a story without saying a word – using one dazzling heirloom to keep Queen Elizabeth’s legacy glittering on.
