The Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara of Sweden
For the fourth installment of our look at aquamarine tiaras for March courtesy of guest poster Sarah, here’s the Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara of Sweden!
The Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara of Sweden has a long and unique history, and a British origin. The first wearer of the Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara was HRH Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden, born HRH Princess Margaret of Connaught, Queen Victoria’s granddaughter through Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s 3rd son, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, and his wife, Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia. When Princess Margaret married Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden in June 1905 (they were married at Windsor Castle, and then traveled to Sweden after their honeymoon), she brought with her the Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara and a matching brooch. The tiara consists of aquamarines surrounded by large diamonds, in the style of a kokoshnik (a popular Russian headdress that inspired many tiaras).
Crown Princess Margaret (she died suddenly before her husband became King of Sweden) left the Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara to her son, Prince Gustaf Adolf who gave it to his wife Princess Sibylla (born HH Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha, a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, through their fourth son Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany. Sibylla and her husband were 2nd cousins). Princess Sibylla wore the Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara often, and it seems to have been a favourite tiara of hers.
Princess Sibylla in a formal portrait
Princess Sibylla in Court robes
Princess Sibylla
Princess Sibylla then gave it to her daughter Princess Margaretha. Princess Margaretha is the eldest sister of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. She is properly known as Princess Margaretha, Mrs. Ambler (her late husband was Mr. John Ambler). It seems very appropriate that Princess Margaretha was given her grandmother Crown Princess Margaret’s tiara, as she was named after her.
Princess Margaretha wearing the Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara at her niece Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden’s 2010 wedding to Daniel Westling. This photograph also shows off the matching aquamarine brooch. The tiara hadn’t been seen since her daughter wore it at her wedding in 1998, so it was a happy surprise to see it worn by Princess Margaretha! You can really see how beautifully this tiara sparkles from this photograph.
Princess Margaretha’s daughter Sibylla Ambler wearing the Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara at her wedding to Baron Cornelius von Dincklage in 1998
So, what do you think of this one? Next up in aquamarine tiaras, HRH Sophie Countess of Wessex’s aquamarine tiara (it can also be worn as a necklace!)
This is the fourth in our aquamarine tiara feature – first was Queen Elizabeth’s Brazilian Aquamarine and Diamond Parure and the Boucheron Diamond Clips, second The Aquamarine Pine Flower Tiara, and third Queen Juliana of the Netherlands’ Aquamarine Tiara and Parur
Categories: British Royal Family, Royal Family of Sweden, Royal Jewels, Tiaras
The Royal Post 
So interesting to hear the stories of these jewels! Sybilla (the first) wore it best!
Is there any information on this tiara’s origin? It is not mentioned in lists of Margaret of Conaught’s wedding gifts. It looks like it could be an empire style tiara, as well as from early 20’s. Queen Frederica of Sweden (1781-1826) had the same style tiara with blue stones in a portrait http://arrayedingold.blogspot.fi/2012/10/frederica-of-baden-queen-of-sweden.html