Last week, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of the City of London had a prominent role when they hosted a Banquet for the French President at the Guildhall and then earlier this week, we had the delight of being invited to Mansion House by the Lady Mayoress to view her magnificent Pearl and Diamond Tiara.
Florence King is the consort of the 696th Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alastair King, who is the ambassador UK’s financial and professional services and championing the theme of ‘Growth Unleashed’ – a scheme to strengthen financial and technological growth and investment within the UK, during his one-year tenure.
Herself a Lance Bombardier in the Royal Artillery, the Lady Mayoress aims to use her platform to get the Livery Companies and businesses in the City of London to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and is on manoeuvres to find new recruits from the Square Mile for the military reserves. Having worked as a journalist, researcher, and Ambassador for the British Liver Trust, in addition to her PhD studies in epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, the Lady Mayoress is now undertaking a series of ceremonial duties that have the ability to create great impact.
Now, lets learn about this magnificent Pearl and Diamond Tiara which rests in a more recently made case by Collingwood Jewellers, but appears to date from around late Victorian and early Edwardian era, composed of ornate diamond floral loops and swags ornamented with large pearls.
The Tiara seems to have been worn as a necklace by the actress Pauline Tennant at some point in the 1940s or 50s. A granddaughter of the 1st Baron Glenconner, Pauline Tennant married, as her second husband, a grandson of the 5th Duke of Montrose, before she married Sir Anthony Rumbold, 10th Baronet. The picture seems to have been taken before those two marriages, and so the Tiara must be an heirloom of the Tenant Family, possibly originating from the socialite 1st Baroness Glenconner.
The Pearl and Diamond Tiara was passed along to Lady Rumbold’s successor, the current Lady Rumbold, who loaned the Tiara to the Lady Mayoress’ sister, Hannah Bronwen Snow, for her Wedding to host Alexander Armstrong in 2003.
Last year, the Pearl and Diamond Tiara was loaned by Lady Rumbold to Florence Walker for her Wedding to Alastair King at the Guild Church of St Lawrence Jewry.
The Lady Mayoress is loaning the Pearl and Diamond Tiara from her godmother, Lady Rumbold, and debuted it at the annual Lord Mayor’s Banquet with the Prime Minister at Mansion House a few days into their term.
A few weeks later, Lady Rumbold’s Pearl and Diamond Tiara was worn by the Lady Mayoress for the State Banquet held by King Charles III and Queen Camilla for Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, and Sheikha Jawaher Bint Hamad Bin Suhaim Al Thani at Buckingham Palace.
The Lady Mayoress notably wore Lady Rumbold’s Tiara for the Lord and Lady Mayoress’s Children Party at Mansion House and also for the State Banquet held by the British Royal Family for French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron at Windsor Castle last week.
The following evening, Lady Rumbold’s Pearl and Diamond Tiara was worn by the Lady Mayoress for the Banquet hosted by the Lord Mayor and City of London for the French President at the Guildhall in London.
Earlier this week, the Lady Mayoress graciously invited us to Mansion House to view Lady Rumbold’s Pearl and Diamond Tiara, which was a most fascinating experience, especially meeting the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress and learning about the role of a Lord Mayor, in addition to meeting the delightful .Lady Mayoress.
The Lady Mayoress was set to wear Lady Rumbold’s Pearl and Diamond Tiara in the evening after our visit and there is no doubt Tiara will be worn for many occasions to come in the duration of their tenure, including a Banquet for President Trump in Septemner.
A great Thank You to the Lady Mayoress for welcoming us to Mansion House and allowing us to share the story of this stunning heirloom, and Lady Mayoress would also like to thank Lady Rumbold for loaning her this Tiara!
Pearl and Diamond Tiara
Glenconner Tiara
Coke Diamond Necklace
Diamond Bow Brooch
Diamond Earrings
Leicester Tiara
Devonshire Diamond Palmette Tiara
Devonshire Diamond Tiara
Devonshire Diamond Rivière
Devonshire Parure
Ruby Clasp
Craven Brooch
Insect Brooches
