British Royal Jewels

The Belgian Sapphire Tiara

First worn by: Queen Elizabeth II

Last worn by: Queen Camilla

The tiara was bought in 1963 by Queen Elizabeth II in addition to a sapphire necklace and earrings that were given by her Father King George VI as a wedding gift. Before the piece became a tiara it was a necklace. The piece was reportedly made around 1850 and it once belonged to Princess Louise of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (born Princess Louise of Belgium). Because Princess Louise's debts the jewels that were left to her by her mother Queen Henriette were auctioned by her father King Leopold II to pay of those debts. After the necklace was bought by Queen Elizabeth II it was set on a frame to be worn by the Queen as a Tiara. She wore it very frequently between the 60s and the 90s after that it stayed in the royal vaults for a long time until the Queen wore it again at the state banquet for the Chinese president in 2015. After the passing of Queen Elizabeth II it was worn again by Queen Consort Camilla at the State Banquet for the President of South Africa in November 2022 and it was again worn by the Queen Consort at the Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace in December 2022.

The tiara being worn: