A Sparkling Hurrah for the Most Historical Diamonds
Royals from all over the world wore natural diamonds for the historic coronation
The Royal Family of the British Isles, and those from around the world who attended His Majesty the King Charles’s coronation today at Westminster Abbey, were a lot less lavish than the guests who attended the coronation of his mother Queen Elizabeth II seventy years ago in 1953. The dress code stipulated hats rather than tiaras, and even the Princess of Wales wore a headpiece set with rhinestones rather than diamonds—albeit being utterly exquisite.
However, there was still a lot of magnificent diamond jewelry worn at the first coronation of a British monarch this millennium.
Five diamonds from the largest diamond in the world were pride of place today in London at the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
The Cullinan Diamond was discovered in 1905 and given to the King’s great great grandfather in 1907 for his 66th birthday; it was subsequently and painstakingly cut into nine flawless diamonds. The Great Star of Africa—the largest at 530 carats—is set, since 1911, in the Sovereign’s Sceptre, whilst the Cullinan II is in the Imperial State Crown.
Cullinans III and IV were set in Queen Mary’s Crown by Garrard, alongside the Koh-I-Noor, but the latter was removed for today’s coronation and replaced with Cullinan V, which is usually set as a brooch.
HRH Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York both wore Garrard, the Crown Jewelers who in the early 20th century made the crowns that we saw crowning the King and Queen.
HRH Princess Beatrice
HRH Princess Beatrice wore Garrard’s Blaze pink sapphire, rubellite and pink opal earrings.
HRH Princess Eugenie
Her sister HRH Princess Eugenie also wore Garrard, specifically the Albemarle white gold and diamond collar necklace and matching white gold and diamond drop earrings.
Carol Middleton
Carol Middleton (mother of HRH the Princess of Wales) wore a Garrard 1735 sapphire and diamond jeweled vault pendant and drop earrings.
The Princess of Wales
The Princess of Wales wore The George VI Festoon Necklace, which was a gift from King George VI for his daughter, then Princess Elizabeth, and an exquisite pair of Princess Diana’s pearl and diamond earrings that she has worn several times before.
Zara Tindall
Mrs. Zara Tindall, daughter of Princess Anne and niece of the King wore her mother’s diamond bow and tassel brooch, given to the Princess by the king for her wedding in 1973, accompanied by a pair of Calleja Neiva diamond earrings.
Queen Anne-Marie of Greece
Queen Anne-Marie of Greece wore diamond and pearl earrings, a pearl necklace and a diamond brooch in the shape of a swan. Her daughter-in-law, the Crown Princess, wore a diamond brooch designed as a crown and diamond earrings.
Queen Suthida of Thailand
Queen Suthida of Thailand was resplendent in a large diamond and sapphire necklace and earrings.
Queen Letizia of Spain
The Queen of Spain wore a pair of diamond earrings featuring a large central diamond surrounded by 12 smaller round diamonds.
Queen Mathilde of Belgium
Queen Mathilde of Belgium wore an elegant seven strand pearl choker with diamond set bands, a pair of diamond and pearl earrings and a late Victorian (1900) platinum and grey gold diamond set butterfly brooch that she also wore at the funeral of Her late Majesty in September.
The Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani of Qatar
The Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani of Qatar wore large diamond chandelier earrings and diamond rings.
Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah of Malaysia
Her Majesty Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah of Malaysia wore a yellow ochre baju kurung and kain with a head scarf. She wore a superb, deep diamond set festoon necklace with several diamond brooches.
Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco
Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco wore a gorgeous pair of diamond and ruby earrings.
Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan
Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan wore diamond and emerald earrings.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden accompanied her father, King Carl-Gustaf, and wore a beautiful diamond riviere necklace, diamond and sapphire set flower earrings and a family honour set with diamonds.
Lionel Richie
As for the celebrities, Lionel Richie performed on Sunday night at the Coronation Concert, held at Windsor Castle, and wore a spectacular diamond set brooch by Garrard for his early appearance in the Abbey for King Charles’s Coronation.
Pretty Yende
South African soprano Pretty Yende, who was the first African national to sing solo at a coronation, was sumptuously spectacular in 173 carats of Graff yellow and white diamonds during her performance at Westminster Abbey. Francois Graff said, “We are honored to have played a part in this auspicious occasion that will be watched by the world and remembered forever.” Yende wore a spectacular yellow gown by Stephane Rolland.
