THE CURSE OF THE HESSE TIARA
TIARA TUESDAY – The Hesse Strawberry Leaf Tiara
This beautiful tiara was designed by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband and consort.
The tiara, was made by Garrard, the royal jewellers, to Albert’s specifications and it was described “as a very beautiful tiara of diamonds, composed of a rich bandeau, with foliage, spires, etc..”
It was meant to be a joyous wedding present for his daughter Alice on her sacred wedding day, but tragically Prince Albert died unexpectedly on 14 December 1861.
Despite the Queen's grief, she ordered that the wedding should continue as planned and on 1 July 1862, Alice and Louis were married privately in the dining room of Osborne House.
The tiara is often said to have been worn by Alice on her wedding day, however she actually wore a floral wreath and went straight back into mourning clothes so a diamond tiara would have been inappropriate.
