Today marks the 120th Anniversary of the Birth of the late Kathleen Hamilton, the 4th Duchess of Abercorn, who was born on this day in 1905! The Aristocrat and Courtier who was the Mistress of the Robes to the Queen Mother from 1964 to 1990, usually wearing this magnificent Diamond Star Tiara!
But first let’s learn about the Duchess. The daughter of Viscount Crichton, heir of the Earl Erne, and Lady Mary Cavendish Grosvenor, daughter of the 1st Duke of Westminster, Lady Kathleen Crichton married the then Marquess of Hamilton in 1928, who became the 4th Duke of Abercorn in 1953. The couple had three children; the 5th Duke of Abercorn, Lady Moyra and Lord Claud, and resided at the magnificent Baronscourt Estate in Northern Ireland. In 1964, the Duchess of Abercorn replaced the Dowager Duchess of Northumberland as the Mistress of the Robes to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, serving alongside her sister-in-law, Countess Spencer, until her death in 1990.
Composed of seven detachable Diamond Stars atop a base of Diamond Scrolls, the exact origin of this Diamond Star Tiara is unknown, but it may be one of the many heirlooms of the Dukes of Abercorn, whose collection included the La Pellegrina Pearl until 1969, when it was sold to Elizabeth Taylor. Interestingly, this Tiara shares similarities with the Diamond Star Tiara belonging to the 4th Duchess’ maternal aunt, the Marchioness of Cambridge.
The Duchess of Abercorn was glimpsed wearing the Diamond Star Tiara on in photographs behind the Queen Mother on numerous occasions over her 36-year tenure as the Mistress of the Robes.
The Duchess of Abercorn was notably seen wearing the Diamond Star Tiara during the Commonwealth Leaders’ Banquet at Buckingham Palace in 1969.
In 1960, the Diamond Star Tiara had been worn by Lady Moyra, the daughter of the 4th Duke and Duchess of Abercorn and a Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Alexandra, when she joined the Princess at the Ceremonies to mark Nigerian Independence.
Lady Moyra seems to have also worn just the base of the Tiara, without any Diamond Stars, on numerous occasions when she joined Princess Alexandra.
The Diamond Star Tiara seems to have been loaned to one of the Queen’s Ladies-in-Waiting for the British State Visit to Belgium in 1966, who appears to be Woman of the Bedchamber Lady Rose Baring.
The Duchess of Abercorn also seems to have worn some of the Diamond Stars as Brooches for the Investiture of the Prince of Wales in 1969.
The Dowager Duchess of Abercorn continued to wear the Diamond Star Tiara for State Banquets into the final years of her life, with another notable appearance at the Malawi State Banquet at Windsor Castle in 1985.
Sacha Hamilton, the 5th Duchess of Abercorn had family links to the Duke of Edinburgh and was a frequent presence at State Banquets, but always wearing the grand Diamond Floral Tiara she wore at her own Wedding instead of the Diamond Star Tiara, whose fate remains unknown.
Duchess of Abercorn’s Diamond Star Tiara
Devonshire Diamond Palmette Tiara
Devonshire Diamond Tiara
Devonshire Diamond Rivière
Devonshire Parure
Ruby Clasp
Craven Brooch
Insect Brooches
