It’s why we’re all here – tiaras. Let’s dive in and see what we can find about their history, craftsmanship, meaning, and – most importantly – their owners.

View Post

Alexandra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin’s Tiara: Part 2

A putsch, a Reich, a war – and the family drama that went on in spite of and because of it. Find out what happened to Alix and her family when they came home without a job or a position after World War I. (Here’s a hint: It wasn’t smooth sailing.)

View Post

Alexandra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin’s Tiara: Part 1

This is part one of the story of Alexandra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin’s tiara. It was supposed to be a simple story about a tiara – a pretty hat made of diamonds. I didn’t expect it to take me to the darkest places of the 20th century. From war and betrayal to the Third Reich, Soviet prisons, and nuclear war, this story has it all – including a happy ending.

View Post

Tiaras in the News: 2019

It’s not often that tiaras make international headlines. There’s something special about 2019. From the Swedish burial regalia theft to the Portland tiara to the two spectacular Fabergé tiaras up for auction this May, there’s a lot to talk about. Let’s dive in.

View Post

Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria’s Tiara

Meet Maria Anna, the Austrian archduchess who got to wear Marie Antoinette’s jewelry…and had one hell of a collection of her own. Her name came up frequently during the 2018 Sotheby’s auction of the Bourbon-Parma family jewels. It set me on a quest to figure out who she was, and why I’d never heard of her. Turns out, her family’s story is fascinating.

View Post

5 Types of Kokoshnik Tiaras

There’s a surprising variety of design possibilities for kokoshnik tiaras. Here are 5 drool-worthy examples and their stories. Let’s take a look at tiaras belonging to Grand Duchess Hilda of Baden, the Duke of Westminster, Queen Alexandra of Great Britain, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna (Ella), and Crown Princess Cecilie of Prussia.

Vector graphic of a golden tiara with pearls

The Girl in the Tiara: Four Royal Tales of Tragedy & Triumph - Your free PDF, a gift for signing up for my mailing list

Want more awesome royal history content?

Join my mailing list to get Grand Duchess Louise of Baden's meatloaf recipe, the tragic tale of Princess Mafalda of Savoy, research tips, updates, discoveries, and more! Plus get a free PDF with the stories of four amazing tiaras from Russia, Spain, Italy, and Luxembourg. Click or tap here to sign up now!