Tiaragate: The Saga Begins (Part 1)

Tiaras and tears and tantrums, oh my! The rumors about various tiara-related Sussex ructions have been flying thick and fast since Spring 2018. We don't know exactly what happened, beyond the fact that Harry and Meghan definitely pitched a fit over some tiara. However, I think we know enough to piece together the broad contours of the story.

'Twas I that caused the ructions!

The first version of the story surfaced in the tabloid press in the context of various leaks about Meghan's shocking bridezilla behavior. In this telling, Meghan had set her heart on a particular tiara, which was not identified but was said to have emeralds. Courtiers politely explained that the tiara was of uncertain Russian provenance (read: obtained via questionable means from desperate aristocrats fleeing the Russian Revolution) and might cause controversy. Keep in mind the Mueller investigation was in full swing at this time, and the GOP had not yet succeeded in burying their collective treason. It was perfectly reasonable for the courtiers to be concerned about the potential for scandal if Harry's American bride were to drape herself in shady Russian jewels.

At this point, any sane human being would take no for an answer, and gratefully accept whatever the Queen (the Queen! of the whole damn United Kingdom!) put on offer. But sane and grateful? Our Megsy? Ha! This audacious tacky Z-lister went full narc rage mode, roping in then-fiancée Harry to do her dirty work. Big Man Harry set to work making a slew of rage-y phone calls, eventually crowning his crescendo of aggression with the line that lives in royal infamy: "What Meghan wants, Meghan gets."

"Meghan gets what she's given by me."

Well, there wasn't an emerald in sight on the day of the wedding, so it appears that Meghan did not in fact get what Meghan wanted. But speculation continued to run rampant on Mr. Gore's Good Internet: which tiara had been the focus of all the ructions? Royal-watching opinion was split between three options.

The first suggestion was the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara, a dramatic ring of interlocking diamond-and-pearl ovals with exchangeable pendants. One set of pendants consists of emeralds, and the provenance is indeed Russian. However, it's a stretch to characterize the provenance as questionable. The tiara was smuggled out of Russia during the Revolution on the orders of the Grand Duchess herself, and remained in her possession until her death. It was later auctioned by her heirs and thus came into the possession of the British royal family.

DRIP, bitch!

The Grand Duchess Vladimir is one of the Queen's favorites, and is frequently worn by her. Moreover, the British royal women tend to be assigned a tiara, which they wear repeatedly to various functions, and they do not wear each other's assigned tiaras. So demanding the Queen's favorite tiara would have been an audacious effrontery, but then again audacious effrontery is 100% on-brand for Megsy Dearest.

The second heirloom suggested to be at the heart of Tiaragate was the Greville Kokoshnik Tiara, also containing emeralds and of potential Russian provenance. Officially, the GK was commissioned for society hostess and heiress Margaret Greville and was modeled after a Russian tiara. However, rumors persist that the Greville Kokoshnik is no mere knock off but rather the real deal, smuggled out of Russia around the time of the Russian Revolution and perhaps sold by or stolen from its original Russian owners. Those rumors were certainly not abated by the fact that the GK hadn't been seen in public for the better part of a century until Princess Eugenie wore it to her 2018 wedding. Until then, royal watchers weren't even certain that the tiara still existed.

Emeralds? Check! Shady Russia connection? Check!

Certainly, it's easy to understand why the courtiers wouldn't want the world's attention on this piece. Featuring it atop the head of Harry's bride would only invite speculation as to the origins of the tiara - English or Russian? Commissioned, sold, or stolen? - and might also invite lurid speculation as to the fate of previous owners. For my money, this was far and away the strongest candidate.

Finally, in distant third place was the Queen Victoria emerald tiara. I consider this option implausible. Yes, it has emeralds, but that's the only part of the story that fits. The provenance is neither Russian nor questionable; in fact, it was commissioned by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria. Moreover, this tiara is currently owned by the Fife branch of the family, so Her Madge couldn't lend it to Meghan even if she had the inclination to do so. I suppose that wouldn't stop our Megs from launching into histrionics fit to shake the Devil from his slumber, but the details just don't fit the original rumor.

I'm not big on jewelry, but I would literally slit throats for a chance to wear this.

Speculation eventually petered out as no new information emerged. Interest briefly revived in June/July 2020 after Lady Colin Campbell's biography was published, in which she claimed the tiara at the center of it all was the Greville Kokoshnik. However opinion on Mr. Gore's Good Internet remained divided. Moreover, a new wrinkle was soon to be introduced by Our Lady of Perpetual Clapbacks via her lapdog/press mouthpiece/human waxwork Omid Scobie. The saga continues in Part 2!

___________________