When Olivia Henson married Hugh Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster on 7 June 2024, she not solely married the love of her life in a picture-perfect ceremony attended by pals, household, and the Prince of Wales, however she took on a significant private first.
Olivia, the now seventh Duchess of Westminster, 32, wore a tiara for the very first time – and it was not solely a visually gorgeous second, however a deeply symbolic one as she was welcomed into the Grosvenor fold, turning into a significant a part of probably the most prosperous households within the nation (the Grosvenor property is now value an estimated £10.6bn and contains 300 acres of land in London’s Mayfair and Belgravia).
Accessorising her bespoke Emma Victoria Payne robe, Olivia wore the Fabergé Myrtle Leaf tiara from the Grosvenor household’s non-public assortment – and was the image of grace and poise.
“That is a kind of items the place worth turns into virtually irrelevant. You’re coping with a Fabergé tiara, one in all solely a handful identified to exist, owned by one in all Britain’s most established households,” diamond professional and Founding father of Abelini jewelry, Nilesh Rakholia tells HELLO!.
“If it ever went to public sale, you’d most likely see a determine upwards of £1.5 million, perhaps extra. Nevertheless, its value lies in what it represents: a century of household custom, distinctive craftsmanship, and the type of romantic legacy you’ll be able to’t put a value on.”
Olivia’s bridal tiara – all the small print
Explaining which metals and stones function within the tiara, Nilesh says that the whole lot in regards to the development of the Fabergé Myrtle Leaf tiara is intentional and beautiful.
“It appears to be like to most definitely use outdated European cuts and probably rose cuts for the finer particulars,” the jewelry professional says. “The leaves are mounted in silver, which might’ve been the steel of selection for enhancing the brightness of diamonds at the moment.
“The stalks are created from engraved purple gold, most likely 14 carat, and formed to imitate the construction of actual myrtle branches,” he provides. “It is not simply jewelry, a bit like that is artwork, like a sculpture. The extent of element, particularly for one thing made in 1906, is outstanding.”
Why is the Fabergé Myrtle Leaf tiara symbolic?
The Grosvenor household tiara (which was additionally worn by Olivia’s sister-in-law Woman Tamara on her and Edward van Cutsem’s wedding ceremony day in 2004) is rivalled by few, apart from the gathering belonging to the royal household.
Nevertheless, Olivia’s bridal diadem has one main distinction. “This tiara wasn’t designed to impress, it was made to imply one thing,” Nilesh tells us. “The myrtle leaf has symbolised love and marriage since historic Greece, so it’s extremely becoming as a bridal tiara. What elevates it even additional is the historical past behind it.
“It has been worn by generations of Grosvenor brides for over 100 years, and it continues to seem at household weddings at this time. There aren’t many items left on the earth that also carry that type of private and historic weight.”
Probably the most iconic royal tiaras – the Cartier Halo worn by the Princess of Wales on her wedding ceremony day in 2011 – is maybe as lovely. Although Nilesh says the 2 actually should not be in contrast.
“They’re each bridal tiaras, however the really feel is totally totally different,” he says. “The Cartier Halo is clear, geometric, and really ‘Nineteen Thirties royal glamour’. It is mild, elegant, and just a little understated.
DISCOVER: Olivia Henson’s breathtaking bridal tiara was an identical to Princess Charlotte’s
“The Fabergé Myrtle Tiara feels much more intimate. It is romantic, it is symbolic, and it has a softness that displays its objective. One was made for public show, the opposite for personal legacy. In relation to symbolism and heritage, the Fabergé piece is in a special league altogether.”