The Koh-i-Noor Diamond, a remarkable gem of considerable size and historical significance, has generated a wealth of folklore and superstition, not least its notorious reputation for bringing misfortune to men who dare to wear it. Currently set in a crown worn by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, the diamond is emblematic of a larger narrative surrounding several British royal tiaras that are widely considered to be cursed.
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Among these royal adornments is the infamous Hesse Strawberry Leaf Tiara, adorned with diamond foliage and designed by Prince Albert in 1861, ostensibly as a wedding gift for his second daughter, Princess Alice. Tragically, Albert passed away shortly before the wedding due to typhoid fever, marking the beginning of a series of unfortunate events associated with the tiara. Princess Alice, too, faced heartache; two of her four children died during childhood, and she ultimately succumbed to the same illness as her daughter at just 35 years old.
The tiara later fell into the possession of Alice’s son, Ernest, who lent it to his wife for the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II in 1896. This moment also ended in tragedy, as a plane crash led to the premature death of the couple and their children. The tiara, which was discovered among the wreckage, now resides in the Foundation of the House of Hesse, perpetuating its reputation as an emblem of sorrow.
Another royal piece with a reshaped destiny is the Oriental Circlet Tiara, an ornate creation gifted to Queen Victoria in 1853. Initially embellished with opals—gems that gradually garnered a reputation for bad fortune—Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII, had them removed. To lessen its ill-fated associations, the opals were replaced with Burmese rubies, thus redesigning the tiara to circumvent the bad luck it had accumulated.
Following a long line of royal wearers, the Oriental Circlet has remained in the royal family and was last on display during a state banquet at Windsor Castle, worn by Catherine, Princess of Wales. The tiara was designated for queens and future queens within the family, showcasing both its beauty and the complex history behind it.
The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara is yet another tiara of note that carries the weight of tragedy. Commissioned by Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia in the early 1900s, it initially celebrated her wedding to Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich. However, following the assassination of Tsar Nicholas II in 1918, Maria fled her homeland, leaving the tiara behind. It was later rescued and smuggled to England by her son and an art dealer, but the Grand Duchess never wore it again, as she passed away shortly thereafter in France.
This tiara eventually became a treasured piece of the British royal collection after being purchased by the Queen Mother, who later passed it on to Queen Elizabeth II. It adorned the late Queen throughout her reign, being the final tiara she donned before her death in September 2022, embodying both regal tradition and a narrative rich with historical turmoil.
At the apex of this pattern of royal misfortune is the Koh-i-Noor Diamond itself, a gemstone steeped in history. Discovered near the Krishna River in southern India, the diamond’s origins trace back over eight centuries, crossing numerous empires, including the Persian and Mughal reigns. Legends speak of a curse that befalls male bearers of the diamond, claiming they will meet untimely and gruesome ends, a fate not shared by the royal women who have worn it.
Queen Victoria acquired the Koh-i-Noor in 1849 as part of a treaty ending the Second Anglo-Sikh War, and it has since been predominantly worn by female members of the royal family. Initially worn as a brooch, it was later transformed into a crown for the Queen Mother, who first wore it during her coronation in 1937. Following her death in 2002, it was displayed atop her coffin and remains part of the Crown Jewels, currently held at the Tower of London, though Queen Camilla notably did not include it in her coronation regalia due to ongoing territorial claims by several nations.
In light of these stories, many royal tiaras, while visually stunning, carry an aura of misfortune. Whether it be a cursed gemstone or the weight of tragic legacy, these ornaments tell tales that extend far beyond mere decoration, reminding us of the complex interplay between beauty, tragedy, and the enduring myths of royal history.