Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester | Stunning Royal Jewels & Queen’s Gifts ht

 

Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, was one of the most elegant and stylish women of the British royal family. Born in 1901 as Lady Alice 102 years, becoming a true symbol of refined taste and timeless grace. Her mother-in-law, Queen Mary, the wife of King George V, gifted her many of her most iconic jewels, tiaras, brooches, chokers, and luxurious sets of pearls and precious stones.

 These gifts made Princess Alice a true style icon and laid the foundation for her famous royal jewelry collection. In this video, we’ll dive into the world of Princess Alice’s stunning royal jewels, exploring their history and seeing how she captivated hearts with her elegance and sparkling treasures. Thank you so much for your likes, and make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out.

 There’s more royal stories and dazzling jewels coming up. On 6 November 1935, Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott married Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, the third son of King George V. Their wedding Their wedding became one of the most romantic occasions in the British royal family of the 20th century. Originally, the ceremony was planned for Westminster Abbey with grand pageantry and a large gathering of guests.

 But just weeks before the wedding, Alice’s father passed away, and King George V’s health was fragile. As a result, the ceremony was moved to the private chapel at Buckingham Palace, intimate, yet deeply elegant and solemn. Despite the small number of guests inside, over a million people lined the streets of London to catch a glimpse of the newlyweds, cheering and waving as they appeared on the palace balcony.

 It was cold and rainy, and it was this wintery day that earned Alice the affectionate nickname, the Winter Princess. For her special day, the bride chose a delicate pearl pink gown by Norman Hartnell. Alice also received a remarkable array of wedding gifts from family and close friends.

 Diamond tiaras and parures from Queen Mary, which she could wear at official events. Several precious brooches and gemstone ornaments, elegant and timeless. Gifts from aristocratic and private families, including luxurious jewelry sets and exquisite accessories for balls and receptions. The Gloucester Honeysuckle Tiara was gifted to Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, by Queen Mary, her mother-in-law and the of King George V.

Queen Mary Queen Mary presented the tiara to Alice as a wedding gift, so that the new Duchess could wear it at official royal events. The tiara was crafted between 1913 and 1914 by the jewelers E. Wolfe & Co., using diamonds from Queen Mary’s older pieces, including the Ladies of England and Surrey Fringe Tiaras.

Its delicate design features honeysuckle motifs, and the central stone can be swapped to suit different occasions. Princess Alice wore the tiara on numerous significant occasions, at the coronation of King George VI in 1937, at state banquets in Buckingham Palace, during diplomatic receptions, and for official portraits.

The tiara was often paired with her other treasured jewelry, such as a pink topaz necklace or pearls, highlighting her refined and elegant style. The Gloucester Honeysuckle Tiara remained one of Alice’s favorite pieces for many years. After her passing in 2004, the tiara also passed to her daughter-in-law, Duchess Birgitte, the wife of the current Duke of Gloucester.

Duchess Birgitte continues to wear the tiara at official state occasions, receptions, and ceremonial events. Its versatile design, with a changeable central stone, allows it to complement various outfits and occasions, preserving the heritage and tradition from Queen Mary to the present generation. Apart from the honeysuckle, there was another remarkable piece with a fascinating history.

 This was the Teck Turquoise Tiara with parure, a luxurious set that was originally gifted to Queen Mary on her own wedding. The tiara was created around the mid-19th century, circa 1850, as part of a set of diamonds and turquoise. Queen Mary received it from her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Teck, when she married the Duke of York in 1893.

When Princess May of Teck became Queen Mary, she wore the tiara regularly and even had it modernized in 1912 to suit the fashion and style of the time. Later, Queen Mary passed the Teck Turquoise Tiara to Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, as a wedding gift. Princess Alice often wore this striking turquoise tiara at formal occasions, from gala evenings and grand receptions to important state visits.

After Princess Alice passed away, the Teck Turquoise Tiara also passed to her daughter-in-law, Duchess Birgitte, who continues to wear it at official events, preserving the heritage and tradition that began in the 19th century. Another striking and historic piece in the Gloucester family’s collection is the Gloucester Pearl and Emerald Suite, a stunning set of pearls and emeralds with a rich and fascinating history.

The suite originates from Indian jewelry once owned by Queen Alexandra, which was later reworked and adapted for Queen Mary to wear in a more modern style. On Princess Alice’s wedding, Queen Mary gifted her part of this suite. It included two pearl and emerald necklaces accented with emerald drops that perfectly complemented the elegance of daytime and formal attire of the era.

Princess Alice often wore this suite to daytime engagements and official events, showcasing its timeless beauty and sophistication. In the 1970s, Princess Alice passed the smaller, denser necklace from the suite to her daughter-in-law, Duchess Birgitte, who continued the family tradition of wearing it with pride.

Today, Duchess Birgitte wears the necklaces in various configurations. Some of the emerald drops are worn as earrings, while the others remain on the necklace, often layered with additional pearls to create a versatile and elegant look for formal occasions. Princess Alice inherited another tiara from Queen Mary, this time as a legacy following her passing.

>> [snorts] >> This was the Ivy Tiara, a stunning late Victorian diadem with a fascinating history. The tiara was created around 1893 and was originally gifted on a wedding, with Queen Mary wearing it on many important state occasions and formal events throughout her life. Its kokoshnik style design, adorned with diamond scrolls and foliage, made it both elegant and uniquely distinguished among other royal diadems.

After Queen Mary’s death in 1953, the Ivy Tiara passed to Princess Alice. Later, the tiara became part of the inheritance of Duchess Birgitte, Princess Alice’s daughter-in-law, who continued to wear it at major state and official events during the 1980s and 1990s. She wore it for formal portraits, state banquets, and receptions at Buckingham Palace.

In 2008, the Duchess of Gloucester loaned the Ivy Tiara to her younger daughter, Lady Rose Windsor, for her wedding to George Gilman at the Queen’s Chapel of St. James’s Palace. One of the most elegant and historic pieces in the royal collection is Queen Mary’s 11-row pearl and diamond choker. This stunning piece features 11 rows of delicate pearls, beautifully framed by sparkling diamond floral motifs on either side, a true example of late Edwardian elegance.

Queen Mary received this choker around the time of her wedding in 1893 and wore it gracefully during the early years of her life as Queen. Its classic design made it perfect for official portraits, receptions, and royal events, highlighting the timeless elegance of pearls paired with diamonds. After Queen Mary’s death in 1953, the choker was inherited by her third son, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and was occasionally worn by Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, in the 1950s and 1960s, often paired with Queen Mary’s DV Tiara

and other jewels, adding sparkle and sophistication to every official occasion. In the 1980s, the choker began to be worn by the current Duchess of Gloucester who used it for anniversary portraits and at high-profile state banquets. The diamond knot brooch of the Duchess of Gloucester is a luxurious piece of jewelry in the shape of a delicate knot created around 1860 and set with a large central diamond of approximately 5 carats with pendants of six pear-shaped diamonds and an aristocratic openwork design adorned with round diamonds.

This brooch was purchased by Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, as a wedding gift for his fiance. The Duchess wore it at numerous official events such as balls, receptions, and portrait sittings, pairing it with other royal jewels including a diamond tiara and other significant pieces. As she grew older, the Duchess appeared less frequently in public and eventually the brooch disappeared from official occasions.

At a Sotheby’s auction in 2012, the brooch sold for approximately 151,000 pounds. However, the names of the seller and the buyer were not disclosed. It is only known that it was purchased by a private collector and the exact person who put it up for sale remains publicly unknown. Among other notable brooches that adorned the Duchess of Gloucester, it is worth mentioning the diamond corsage brooch of Princess Helena, the third daughter of Queen Victoria.

It featured a large central diamond surrounded by scrolls and three pendants. The Duchess of Gloucester wore it at important royal events including the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, was one of the most elegant and stylish women of the British royal family. Born in 1901 as Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott, she lived over 102 years becoming a true symbol of refined taste and timeless grace.

Her mother-in-law, Queen Mary, the wife of King George V, gifted her many of her most iconic jewels, tiaras, brooches, chokers, and luxurious sets of pearls and precious stones. These gifts made Princess Alice a true style icon and laid the foundation for her famous royal jewelry collection. In this video, we’ll dive into the world of Princess Alice’s stunning royal jewels, exploring their history and seeing how she captivated hearts with her elegance and sparkling treasures.

Thank you so much for your likes and make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out. There’s more royal stories and dazzling jewels coming up. That’s it for today.