From Ancient Castles to Dreaming Spires: My London Travel Diary 2026 (Part 2)
The author’s second travel diary entry recounts two day trips from London to Windsor and Oxford after a royal‑jewelry‑focused start in the capital. A train ride from Paddington to Windsor & Eton Central leads to a visit of Windsor Castle, where the historic station now houses a modern bar and shops. The narrative reflects on the castle’s unchanged stone façade, its WWII refuge role, and the author’s personal history with the site spanning three decades. The piece blends travel observation with heritage appreciation.
Albion Art Tiaras and Queen Elizabeth II's Fashion: My London Travel Diary 2026 (Part 1)
The author recounts the first two days of a spring 2026 London trip that coincided with the opening of the Royal Collection Trust’s exhibition "Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style" at the King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace. The visit included a...
"Granny's Tiara": The Girls of Great Britain & Ireland Tiara
The post highlights the "Granny's Tiara," a diamond fleur‑de‑lis and festoon tiara Queen Mary gave to her granddaughter Princess Victoria Mary (later Queen Mary) in the early 1890s. The piece was originally intended as a wedding gift for Princess May’s...
The Nizam of Hyderabad’s Dazzling Gift: Queen Elizabeth II's Lost Cartier Tiara
In November 1947, the last Nizam of Hyderabad presented Princess Elizabeth with a Cartier diamond‑rose wreath tiara as part of the royal wedding gifts. The lavish piece, displayed alongside pearls and coronets in St. James’s Palace, highlighted the Nizam’s immense wealth...
A Glücksklee for the Kaiserin: Empress Augusta's Lucky (?) Clover Coronet
A diamond coronet adorned with a four‑leaf clover was created for Empress Augusta Victoria around 1906, marking Prince Eitel Friedrich’s wedding to Duchess Sophie Charlotte and the silver anniversary of the Kaiser’s parents. The piece combined regal opulence with a...