Queen Victoria’s sapphire and diamond coronet

Designed by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s sapphire and diamond coronet was one of the most important jewels of the young queen. In 1842 she wore it in a famous portrait by Franz Xaver Winterhalter. In 1866, on the first occasion she felt able to face the ordeal of the Opening of Parliament after Albert’s death, she chose to wear the coronet he had designed for her. The coronet’s permanent display in our Jewellery Galleries marks the bicentenary of the births in 1819 of Albert and Victoria.
Queen Victoria’s coronet has been purchased through the generosity of William and Judith Bollinger, and their sons, Douglas and James, as a gift to the Nation and the Commonwealth.
www.vam.ac.uk/collections/jew...

[@coashddjj2]

Her jewelry makes me swoon. Albert was an incredible designer. This coronet is stunning.

[@bichtunguyenthi4351]

Ppp

[@bichtunguyenthi4351]

Ppp

[@TheOnlyDamien]

My god that thing is gorgeous, and the flexibility in it's design allowing it to be worn so many different ways is fantastic.

[@haydeevega474]

Has the Queen ever wore this piece?

[@yooringonghan]

always I notice pre-War jewelry (specifically the tiaras) were always multifunctional: not just relegated as headwear but either has detachable parts (i.e. brooches or interchangeable accesories à la the Vladimir kokoshnik) or can be worn in other body parts (i.e. necklace, bracelet)

[@tradingpost2472]

@@haydeevega474 Of course she did, she wore all her jewelry at different times as anyone would. She didn't wear lots of jewelry at the same time, as Elizabeth 1st did, but there wasn't any jewelly that she never wore at one ball or another occasion! 👑

[@heonishei]

@@haydeevega474 Queen Elizabeth, has never worn the Coronet. This exquisite piece was gifted to her aunt, Mary Princess Royal.

[@annedavis6090]

@@tradingpost2472 read up☺️

[@vickinoble4744]

I love how Prince Albert was so involved in designing pieces for Queen Victoria. Their love, devotion, and admiration for each other is unsurpassed.

[@mayla1997]

@phyllis brady oh shut the fuck up

[@anacletwilliams8315]

Don't fool yourself, Vicki. It was sheer sex and debaucherie.

[@my_universe1290]

Anaclet Williams stfu

[@felixthecat3n2]

@phyllis brady People always get this wrong! Long before Queen Victoria, a deal was struck between George IV and parliament. The deal was that the proceeds from the Crown Estate (the land and property and businesses owned by the Crown) would ALL go to the government. In return, the government would provide the Royal Family with an annual income from the Treasury. Parliament got the better deal by far. Income from the Crown Estate is more than 5 times the amount given to the Royals, so the Treasury and the Country do very well indeed out of the Crown. So no, HM Queen Elizabeth, like HM Victoria before her does not feed off the taxpayer. They contribute far more than they take.

[@mayla1997]

@phyllis brady I'm not english wtf are you saying

[@rei_cirith]

The design of this coronet is just genius. The attention to detail and ingenuity applied to something he is designing for her. I can see why she loved him so.

[@anacletwilliams8315]

No you can't. The real jewel was hidden somewhere else.

[@mandirark4905]

@@anacletwilliams8315 but why

[@anacletwilliams8315]

@@mandirark4905 Why what Mandrika? Me understand not your question.

[@madamkeme7077]

Prince Albert really had excellent taste in jewelry.

[@hichizarai]

Rightttt. All jewelry that he designed is so beautiful

[@smc130]

Prince Albert was a remarkable man true visionary. His contributions to the progress of England life is and society is often overlooked. Victoria loved him and she couldn’t have chosen a better man to marry.

[@starthelotus3453]

The fact that she didn’t choose to 👁👄👁

[@silvermorona]

@@starthelotus3453 "as an unmarried young woman Victoria was required by social convention to live with her mother, despite their differences over the Kensington System and her mother's continued reliance on Sir John Conroy. Her mother was consigned to a remote apartment in Buckingham Palace, and Victoria often refused to meet her.When Victoria complained to Lord Melbourne that her mother's close proximity promised "torment for many years", Melbourne sympathised but said it could be avoided by marriage, which Victoria called a "shocking alternative".She showed interest in Albert's education for the future role he would have to play as her husband, but she resisted attempts to rush her into wedlock. Victoria continued to praise Albert following his second visit in October 1839. Albert and Victoria felt mutual affection and the Queen proposed to him on 15 October 1839, just five days after he had arrived at Windsor.They were married on 10 February 1840, in the Chapel Royal of St. James's Palace, London."

[@THEmightyQUINN777]

Oh my gosh, that picture of Princess Mary, now I see who Queen Elizabeth II looks like especially in her youth!

[@coashddjj2]

At first, I thought it was Elizabeth.

[@wagherbert]

@@coashddjj2 me too !!!

[@AmethystDew]

Her family must have seen this too as one of her names is Mary.

[@pedanticradiator1491]

@@AmethystDew she was named Mary after her grandmother

[@hotoneinspai]

Its so true...The genes of Queen Mary really did hold fast in the children...her daughter Princess Mary the then Princess Royal grew to look so like her mother... and more especially in the children and grandchildren of her 2nd son Albert who went on to be King George the VI. The present Queen and to a certain extent, her sister Princess Margaret Rose. But the current Princess Royal is so like her Great Aunt.. and her Great Grandmother Queen Mary...its unreal.

[@eventsperson5465]

I've kept up with the recent history of the coronet and am very happy that it remained in England and was gifted to the V&A. I hope to see it this year or next.

[@bb22602]

Definitely glad to see it come home!

[@baleevet]

Who owned this piece after HRH princess Mary?

[@wandaashley4399]

What is V A ? I really don't know. Please. It is so BEAUTIFUL.... I would love to See Duchess Catherine with PRINCESS DI'S RING, AND CATHERINE'S EARRINGS AND NECKLACE AND THIS BEAUTIFUL HEAD PIECE IN A PORTRAIT OF CATHERINE..... I WOULD LOVE TO GET A COPY OF HER... DC IS A VERY HUMBLE AND KIND PERSON AND SHE LOVES HER COUNTRY THE UK VERY MUCH AND SHE ALSO HOLDS ONTO REAL FAMILY VIRTUES.... AND PRINCE WILLIAM WILL MAKE A GREAT KING, BUT I HOPE HE KEEPS HIS ORIGINAL NAME OF WILLIAM. AND HE AND CATHERINE MAKE A GREAT TEAM TO DO GOOD DEEDS FOR THE UK AND ALL COMMON WEALTH COUNTRIES. PLEASE GIVE THEM A CHANCE AND THE YOUNGER AND GOOD ROYALS. THEY ALL ARE NOT BAD.

[@eventsperson5465]

@@wandaashley4399 The Victoria and Albert Museum in London! I admire Catherine and William too.

[@baleevet]

@@wandaashley4399 I'd rather this coronet kept locked away and only used for our eyes only than to be on anyone's head other than close offerings of the great queen Victoria.

[@Zero-fo3rq]

The way the diamonds glitter when the coronet is not even moving is absolutely gorgeous

[@anacletwilliams8315]

That's just the diamond effect my dear. That's what makes diamonds so precious.

[@JulieWallis1963]

That is a beautiful piece. I’m sat here in my pyjamas but I still thought to myself ‘if I owned that, I’d wear it everyday’ So very, very pretty.

[@wagherbert]

Just stunning. Prince Albert really was a man of extraordinary talents, and the jewelers who worked on this did a brilliant job. What a true treasure !!

[@QueenTJ1991]

The coronet looks like it came straight out of a magical fairy tale! It's so sparkly and gorgeous!

[@msinvincible2000]

This is my absolute favourite tiara ever

[@davidvenkatanarasimharajuv7103]

It's a coronet as in corona

[@malena5026]

That and the lovers knot tiara Diana wore absolutely beautiful

[@derekhudson4484]

It's breathtaking. I have always wondered how the coronet could "open" up in different pictures. Thanks for showing how this is possible.

[@1171]

It’s absolutely beautiful and she and Albert were soul mates! She missed him until she rejoined him in death. Bless her.

[@JulieWallis1963]

Do you have any proof that “she rejoined him”. *I’d love to see a link to your shit* or are you just happy to spout crap?

[@bethpanfile3341]

I saw it last week at the V&A Museum. It’s breathtaking!!! It was humbling to see such a gorgeous sparking piece of history and something that Victoria wore. ❤️

[@killan001]

Victoria needed an amazing crown to keep attention off of her giant underpants

[@Sisterfifi]

Pity it’s stuck in a museum, they look best when they are worn even if by somebody else.

[@aircastles1013]

I volunteer to wear it!

[@vickinoeske1711]

Love the mechanism of this beautiful piece of jewelry.

[@1630vincent]

I was lucky enough to see this beautiful piece of jewellery this week and its just stunning. What a special man Albert must have been and no wonder his death devastated Victoria. We were lucky to have his input into British life.

[@achanwahn]

That is an insanely versatile piece of jewelry. The designer & creator was an extraordinary talent

[@joebloggs619]

Very delicate and tastefully designed piece. Saphires and diamonds look so good together.

[@racheljoyfairy]

It was amazing to see this piece in person! I didn't realize it was so flexible at the time. Thanks for sharing this close up look!

[@jackthelad612]

In 2016, the coronet was sold to a foreign buyer for $6.5 million. When the buyer applied for an export license, uproar ensued, and an export ban was imposed. A search began for a UK buyer that could match the asking price. It took a year for an Irish American hedge fund billionaire to appear. His name was William Bollinger. The new V&A jewelry gallery is named in his honor.

[@victoriadiesattheend.8478]

They tried to sell it?!?

[@hlondon2408]

Absolutely gorgeous coronet. What is better than diamonds and sapphires??? Such a great design in that it can be worn in different ways. Victoria and Albert had a beautiful love story they shared. They are iconic in the history of the British Royal Family.

[@xp2944]

@Robert Anthony Carroll Victoria was the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

[@janebeatty9472]

Albert has exquisite taste in jewelry design.

[@anacletwilliams8315]

Well I fear you mean "had" as he is no longer among us.

[@PamelaTaylor]

yes

[@fabchn6340]

It's so beautiful it's actually heartbreaking.

[@Dog.soldier1950]

Another example of Alberts genius

[@Lisalisa2022_]

Beautiful ....it would look stunning on Catherine.

[@maryh4650]

Enginering, imagination, craftmanship and love stunning

[@RanalynnNaipo]

Wow 😯 the sapphires are beautiful. It’s stunning.

[@anacletwilliams8315]

You don't know what huge means, darling.

[@clearezhong818]

shinning like stars

[@ellywinterquist7665]

Beautiful, just B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!!!!! What a lovely story behind third Coronet

[@seanliamgo]

Stunning piece of art!

[@mdavis9288]

I would ❤ to see Catherine wear this at some point if it could or would ever become possible. ( would match Diana's ring that Kate wears so beautifully). Maybe when she becomes Princess of Wales or the Queen consort? ! Just once...it would seem a shame for this beautiful, history filled piece to just " sit" in a museum... ( this is a smart little 3 minute video )

[@anacletwilliams8315]

What a silly, first grade school girl comment!

[@jcsgodmother]

Yes, that would be special.

[@mscott3918]

@@anacletwilliams8315 Totally agree with you. Some people just don't want to grow up

[@princesslisamarie7860]

Anaclet Williams ??

[@princesslisamarie7860]

M Scott ??

[@RoseSharon7777]

I was shocked to hear that in her casket she was holding a picture of John Brown close to her heart (or she asked for this happen), and she also stated that he was the great love of her life. Amazing!

[@t.grimes9973]

What a beautiful video and piece of jewelry! Thanks for posting.

[@jcrossan1351]

It’s such a beautiful piece of jewellery

[@damienabsalon]

Incredibly beautiful piece

[@mshindiwataji]

Abolutely beautiful. And the history behind it, is beautiful as well. 👑❤

[@nancydavies9901]

That is a beautifully under-stated piece of art, and so wearable as well.

[@edemontfort9482]

Exquisite and delicate.

[@pinkvelvet3865]

I love the color and it is so regal! The design is so amazing.

[@ItsJustLisa]

Absolutely stunning!

[@MDeLorien]

What an mind blowing piece of jewelery 💙💙💙💙💙💙

[@coopsevy5664]

Omg amazing! Breath taking!!!

[@maryh4650]

THANK YOU. A lovely fascinating film

[@scouser2010ify]

What a beautiful piece Albert had a great eye for design

[@designit7123]

The way it glistens and sparkles is so beautiful

[@beatrizmorales3986]

I actually saw this and took pictures at the V&A museum but pictures and film do not do it justice when you see it in person it’s just amazingly overwhelming it’s beautiful

[@elrea-lynnpeach6640]

That is Unbelievable Beautiful. If there's anything that makes you think Royal or Princess then that Masterpieces, will do exactly that. A Antique Diamond & Sapphire Tiara, Absolutely Magnificent!!

[@Sunshine_2394]

How lucky to touch and hold something with so much history. Just breathtaking

[@hellofromUSA062]

Wow. Beautiful!

[@italoluder]

I saw it in april. Soooo precious

[@gingerpickld1827]

Wow that thing is absolutely gorgeous, and it’s so flexible. Best crown ever and I’d wear

[@scottpenaluna5330]

THIS IS TRULY A AWESOME AND MARVELOUS CREATION BY TWO THAT LOVED EACH OF SO VERY MUCH Signing off Scott's wife Vickie

[@cynthiabroyles4890]

Absolutely breathtaking. I'm interested in where the sapphires come from too. Thank you for a lovely explanation on why this pc is extrordinary other than just how beautiful it is.

[@rosemariemckinley7326]

Very beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

[@bettym5148]

I saw this in person in the summer of 2019 and it is absolutely stunning 😍

[@kristiet9371]

This is the most beautiful tiara I have ever seen.

[@vima8680]

Too bad they he didn't mention the craftsman that made this beautiful piece.

[@thekingsdaughter4233]

He didn't (or I couldn't hear right), but it's in the credits at the end- Joseph Kitching. London-based. 1840-42.

[@hannahbradshaw2186]

Vi Ma it was made by Joseph Kitching, who also made many of the Queen’s jewels designed by Albert.

[@kurtisburtis]

They did, at the end of the video ...

[@anacletwilliams8315]

Watch the full video before you rush for a comment, Vi Ma. That would spare you some embarrassment.

[@PamelaTaylor]

I would've love to know that one for sure

[@AmaterDance]

Thr most beautiful piece of jewel put there. I'm sorry we're not going to see it worn anymore 😔

[@bridbrennan8123]

So beautiful.

[@lynnblack6493]

What a grand piece.

[@wendynicholss6886]

It is so beautiful!!

[@bobbynicole10]

Man in 1800s: designs coronet for his love Man in 2019: d pic 😤😤😤

[@Sunshine-zm1fx]

I am pretty sure no prince or king is sending dick pics. It's not a time period thing. It's a class thing.

[@rodd22]

❤❤❤❤ I would love to see HRH Catherine, Princess of Wales, wear either this Tiara OR Queen Alexandra's Kokoshnik Tiara, to the coronation of HM King Charles III !!!!!

[@anacletwilliams8315]

It is such a beautiful piece of jewelry. It would fit perfectly on my head.

[@caseyhill636]

Albert had amazing taste in jewels ❤

[@joansavage1857]

How beautiful.

[@susenjarvis8281]

It's absolutely beautiful

[@moiaddy1]

This is my favorite coronet/tiara....I would love to see it in person and just once to see Princess Catherine wear it...just once...even just for a portrait.

[@dakotakl6729]

my victorian heart is going crazy omg its so pretty and has my birthstone!

[@TheGabygael]

I lovr how those high end really expensive statement jewelries would have so many usage

[@bridgetcooper6331]

Queen Elizabeth looks a lot like Princess Mary.

[@artsed08]

The Queen is Mary's niece.

[@scouser2010ify]

Their relationship was a love for the ages they were so devoted to each other

[@lia8302]

It’s so beautiful omg

[@alisoncooper1421]

What craftsmanship

[@mariadasilva8743]

So beautiful

[@alwaysconfused0204]

I want it-no, I NEED IT

[@isisheggs8065]

It's beautiful I like that you can wear in different ways

[@lindaclark8146]

Oh my stunning

[@marylouise2207]

Prince Albert was a polymath. If he hadn't been born royal he could have contributed to the world in many fields.

[@sjwilloughby-greene8214]

Stunning.💫 💝💫

[@monic004]

That's a lovely tiara, I could totally see me in that, having brunch and running errands. Tfs

[@tatianaallen913]

Beautiful

[@bpucci4769]

Beautiful ❤

[@sirichaithongyim7944]

Wow​ so​ beautiful​

[@miaomiaochan]

This coronet is so dainty and pretty. In so many ways, Prince Albert was a man ahead of his time. It's a pity that he died so young.

[@LanakilaMiller]

And the craftsmen who made it (not design it) but spent weeks making it, who are they? That’s the real history of the piece that someone was able to make this physically from a thought, that’s the person who should be remembered more than the husband who paid for it.

[@DonnyDunne]

The man who made it is literally named in the end of the video.

[@amandadassonville4043]

Indeed. A fleeting afterthought at the end of the video. It would be great to know more about that man and other pieces he might have made. 🐝

[@PamelaTaylor]

its flexibility is sheer genius

[@jspud10]

Wonder if there’ll be anything called the E&P one day.

[@oneileo66]

Brother Albert had fine taste

[@julie9155]

I have an evening gown would match perfectly

[@jcsgodmother]

beautiful

[@wj435]

So beautifull crown

[@MariaFiorellaBorrini8]

Bellissima!

[@susanyates4233]

It is beautiful.

[@amandastringer3035]

This and the Green one would look stunning on Catherine Princess of Wales

[@trojanette8345]

How much Princess Ma(r)y looked like her famous grandmother in her youth!! If the coronet passed down through the family why did the V&A have to 'purchase' it from anyone? Why or how did it 'escape' ownership of the family.

[@PLuMUK54]

@@kathleengust6878 thank you for the link.

[@mscott3918]

Queen Victoria had 9 children, all of whom inherited jewellery and other items from her. Their families inherited in turn, and because tax levels on deceased estates are high, 40 percent, items have to be either sold or given in lieu of tax, because not everyone has millions sitting around in cash to pay the tax. The only exempt items are those left to the Sovereign as sovereign, rather than as an individual. In recent years Princess Margaret's family sold some of her collection, as did the Duke of Gloucester, both to pay inheritance tax.

[@trojanette8345]

@@mscott3918 Sad to hear that happened.Those were huge (social / historical) losses -- for all.

[@rodittis]

I must say I'm a little surprised King George and Queen Mary gave it to her daughter and didn't save it for the next monarch ( private though it was). Queen Mary was famous for accumulating scattered royal treasures, not dispensing them. I'm glad it's still in the UK but I think it would have been better if they had bought Princess Mary her own tiara like George VI did for Princess Margaret. As other people have said, I like to see jewelry worn. Imagine how great it would be to see Catherine wearing Diana's sapphire ring, this tiara and Queen Victoria's sapphire brooch all together!

[@mscott3918]

@@rodittis Actually Queen Mary was quite well known for giving gifts of jewellery to her family and Godchildren, one of whom was my mother, and to whom she gave 3 pieces of jewellery on her marriage in 1940.

[@Blessings.429]

I have a ring in my possession, it really a seal. On it is written Victoria Empress of India. I do not remember when I received it. I love it and take it out to look at it a lot and wore it and another gold necklace with Elizabeth on while the world was in mourning for Queen Elisabeth..