01/06/2026
History Monday - The Kent Festoon Tiara
With its delicate diamond scrolls, graceful festoons and pearl-topped points, the Kent Festoon Tiara is one of the most recognisable jewels associated with the Kent branch of the British Royal Family.
Believed to date from around 1900, the tiara is a masterpiece of Edwardian elegance. Crafted from diamonds set in intricate scrolling motifs and crowned with luminous pearls, it has an almost lace-like appearance that gives it a wonderfully light and romantic feel. While many jewellery historians have attributed the piece to Cartier, its exact maker remains uncertain, adding an extra layer of intrigue to its story.
The tiara first became closely associated with Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, who married Prince George, Duke of Kent, in 1934. One of the most glamorous royal women of her era, Marina wore the tiara at numerous important royal occasions, including celebrations surrounding Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953.
Its earlier history remains somewhat mysterious. It is widely believed that the tiara may have come to Marina through Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, a daughter of Queen Victoria, but the exact path it took into the Kent family has never been fully documented.
Following Princess Marina’s death, the tiara remained within the Kent family and later became closely associated with Princess Michael of Kent. Over the years, the piece was subtly altered, with the addition of a row of pearls along the base, creating the version most often seen.
Unlike many historic royal tiaras that now reside in museum collections or royal vaults, the Kent Festoon Tiara remains in private family ownership and is still occasionally worn, allowing this beautiful piece of royal history to continue sparkling more than a century after it was created.
A jewel of elegance, mystery and enduring royal glamour and proof that some of the most fascinating tiaras are those whose stories are not yet fully told. ✨👑
