Today marks the 165th Anniversary of the Birth of Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, who was born on this day in 1860! The Russian Grand Duchess who married the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and became a scandalous figure in her widowhood despite being the mother of the Queen of Denmark and the last Crown Princess of Germany, the Grand Duchess possessed some magnificent jewels, including this Diamond Fringe Tiara!
Diamond Fringe Tiara | Floral Aigrette Tiara | Mecklenburg-Schwerin Amethyst Tiara
Like other Fringe Tiaras, this piece features diamond sunrays, another name for Fringe pieces, but with large spaces in between. Fringe Tiaras were popularized by Russian Grand Duchesses, with the style mimicking the traditional Russian Kokoshnik Headdress. Suitably, this Tiara was a gift from Tsar Alexander II to his niece, Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna, when she married Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1879.
Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin notably wore her magnificent Diamond Fringe Tiara for a series of portraits taken in the 1880s, paired with ropes of pearls.
When Princess Alexandra of Hanover married Grand Duke Frederick Francis IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1904, the bride received several spectacular jewels, including a Fabergé Aquamarine Tiara, a Köchert Diamond Choker/Tiara, and a Bolin Sapphire Necklace.
However, Grand Duchess Alexandra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin notably wore the dense Diamond Fringe Tiara of Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna for some of her Official Portraits until the years leading up to the First World War.
The Grand Duke lost his Throne after the First World War, and after a period of exile in Denmark, the family retained their properties and much of their wealth, but that period of exile and the death of Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna, who had lost several fortunes at the gambling tables in Cannes, necessitated the sale of several jewels, among them her Floral Aigrette Tiara and likely parts of the Diamond Fringe Tiara, as close observation shows missing elements between the diamond spikes.
The remaining portion of the Diamond Fringe Tiara was either bought or inherited by the Grand Duchess’ elder daughter, Queen Alexandrine of Denmark, and was notably worn for a series of iconic portraits that continue to appear on Danish Sardine Tins to this day.
The Diamond Fringe Tiara was a favourite of Queen Alexandrine, being worn for King Haakon VII of Norway’s Silver Jubilee in 1930, the Wedding of Prince Knud and Princess Caroline-Mathilde of Denmark, the Wedding Gala of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Princess Ingrid of Sweden in 1935, King Christian X’s Silver Jubilee Banquet in 1937, and the Wedding of Prince Christian of Schaumburg-Lippe and Princess Feodora of Denmark.
Queen Alexandrine continued to wear the Diamond Fringe Tiara after being widowed, like when it was worn for King Gustav V’s 90th Birthday in 1948 and also King Haakon’s 80th Birthday in 1952, just a few months before her own passing.
After her death in 1952, Queen Alexandrine bequeathed her Fringe Tiara to her younger daughter-in-law, Hereditary Princess Caroline Mathilde, who wore the piece at her most important Gala events for the rest of her life, including the Wedding of Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik of Denmark, the Wedding of Princess Benedikte of Denmark and Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Crown Prince Frederik’s 18th Birthday in 1986, and various New Years Courts.
After Princess Caroline Mathilde’s death in 1995, Queen Alexandrine’s Fringe Tiara was inherited by her elder son Count Ingolf of Rosenborg, but sadly his wife, Countess Inge, passed away a few months later, and was never pictured in the piece. However, he loaned the Fringe Tiara to his sister, Princess Elisabeth, for a Gala in 1996.
When Count Ingolf remarried in 1998, Queen Alexandrine’s Fringe got a new wearer in Countess Susie, who, despite having access to other Tiaras, has made this a favourite of hers, worn for all manner of events, most recently at Crown Prince Frederik’s 50th Birthday and Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee Banquet in 2022. There is no doubt we will continue to see this heirloom Diamond Fringe Tiara worn for many years to come!
Diamond Fringe Tiara | Floral Aigrette Tiara | Mecklenburg-Schwerin Amethyst Tiara
