This December 3, 2024, King Charles III organized a state banquet in honor of his prestigious guests, Emir Tamim of Qatar and his wife, Sheikha Jawahir. For this exceptional evening, Queen Camilla chose to wear an imposing piece of jewelry for the very first time: Queen Alexandra's kokoshnik tiara.
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Queen Camilla wears Queen Alexandra's kokoshnik tiara for the first time
Since Tuesday, December 3, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, has been making a state visit to the United Kingdom, at the invitation of King Charles III. The Qatari sovereign knows England well, having followed his university studies and military training there. Emir Tamim, 44, also has many personal interests in the country where he frequently visits. However, this is only his ninth stay in an official setting and his only trip in the form of a state visit.
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A state visit can only be organized once between two heads of state. King Charles III, on the throne for two years, was quick to invite his Qatari counterpart to his home, wishing to cherish his important diplomatic relations with this small Gulf state. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, organized a state visit in 2010 for Emir Hamad, father of the current Emir. Emir Hamad abdicated in 2013 in favor of his son Tamim. At the state banquet held in the evening of the first day of the state visit, Queen Camilla, 77, wore a new piece of jewelry on her head to signify the importance of the event.
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A tiara inspired by traditional Russian headdresses
Queen Camilla was unable to attend the open-air welcome ceremony on Horse Guards Parade in the morning, due to her lung infection which she is having difficulty getting rid of. In the evening, Queen Camilla was present at the banquet, with the kokoshnik tiara on her head. This tiara was given to Alexandra of Denmark, the wife of Prince Edward, Prince of Wales, son and heir of Queen Victoria, on the occasion of their silver wedding anniversary. The tiara was therefore presented by the “Ladies of Society” to the Princess of Wales in 1888. This society was a group of four ladies who clubbed together for their queen: the Marchioness of Salisbury, who was the wife of the Prime Minister of at the time, the Marchioness of Ailesbury, Countess Spencer and Countess of Cork.
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Princess Alexandra, whose mother-in-law Victoria had a record longevity, knew that one day her turn would come. It was not until 1901 that her husband ascended the throne and became King Edward VII. Alexandra, who became queen, fortunately had this prestigious kokoshnik tiara of which she was so proud. Alexandra was involved in the creation of her tiara, requiring the group of four Ladies to make her a piece of jewelry that could rival her sister's. His sister Dagmar of Denmark had married Tsar Alexander III of Russia, herself henceforth known as Tsarina Maria Feodorovna. As Empress of Russia, Mary Feodorovna wore a tiara in the shape of a kokoshnik, a traditional Russian headdress.
The kokoshnik tiara, as its name suggests, is shaped like a traditional Russian headdress. It is made up of 61 bars set with nearly 500 diamonds, assembled against each other, forming an ogive. This tiara designed by Garrard, British court jeweler, can also be worn as a necklace once removed from its structure. The future Queen Alexandra, still Princess of Wales, first wore this tiara in public to attend the wedding of her son, the Duke of York, future King George V, in 1893. The jewel was passed down from generation to generation. generation, until Queen Elizabeth II and now King Charles is making it available to his wife. Queen Elizabeth II had worn this tiara on numerous occasions, notably during her first years of reign, during her first tour of Commonwealth countries in 1953.
Nicolas Fontaine
Editor-in-chief
Nicolas Fontaine has been a designer-editor and author for numerous Belgian and French brands and media. A specialist in royal family news, Nicolas founded the site Histoires royales of which he is the editor-in-chief. [email protected]
