In May 1960, a royal wedding quietly upended centuries of tradition. When Princess Margaret married Antony Armstrong-Jones, she did not wear a tiara borrowed from the royal collection, as was customary. Instead, she chose a piece she had purchased herself—a bold declaration of independence that set her apart from the established norms of the monarchy.
The tiara, known as the Poltimore, was acquired by the Princess at auction the previous year for what was then a significant sum. This was not merely a fashion choice but a symbolic gesture, establishing her public image on her own terms. The act was considered quietly radical at the time, foreshadowing a more personal approach to royal style that would be echoed in later decades.
Originally crafted in the Victorian era, the ornate diamond piece had historical connections to the court but entered the royal sphere solely through Margaret’s personal acquisition. Notably versatile, it could be worn as a grand tiara or broken down into a necklace and several brooches—a feature the Princess was known to enjoy.
Her use of the tiara before the wedding further underscored her unconventional approach. She debuted it as a necklace at a public event, only revealing its full, dramatic form as a headpiece on her wedding day at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony itself was historic, becoming the first royal wedding broadcast on television to a global audience.
The Poltimore Tiara became intertwined with Margaret’s reputation as a glamorous and somewhat rebellious figure. This perception was cemented by an intimate, later-famous photograph taken by her husband, which showed her wearing the tiara in a casual, private setting—a stark contrast to formal royal portraiture.
Following Princess Margaret’s passing, the tiara was sold at auction by her estate and entered a private collection. Its current whereabouts are unknown, and it is believed to be held securely away from public view. Unlike the official Crown Jewels on permanent display, this personal symbol of a royal maverick has effectively vanished, its story now complete.