Aquamarines and Lady Di, the "people's princess

June 25, 2021

Aquamarines and Lady Di, the "people's princess

In 1953, Queen Elisabeth II received a necklace and a pair of aquamarine earrings as a gift from the then Brazilian President Getúlio Vargas.

Later, the British jeweller Garrard created a tiara at the Queen's request. The important detail is that the queen asked for the central gem of the tiara to be the same as the one that was part of her necklace, which she had received from the Brazilian government.

During Queen Elisabeth II's first (and only) visit to Brazil, in 1968, the governor of São Paulo gave her an aquamarine and diamond ornament, which was applied to the making of the jewellery set. Today, the "Brazilian tiara" is among the sovereign's favourite pieces of jewellery. It is worn by the monarch mainly in meetings with heads of state of Brazil.

So far we have talked about the Queen of England's collection of aquamarine jewellery, which was not worn by Princess Diana.

Aquamarines and Lady Di, the "people's princess

When we talk about Princess Diana or Princess of Wales, born Diana Frances Spencer (Sandringham, 1st July from 1961 - Paris, 31 August from 1997) we must not forget that she was born into the British aristocracy, being the third daughter of 8th Earl Spencer.

Diana attracted immense public and media attention with the announcement of her marriage to Charles, Prince of Waleswhich took place in 1981. From that year until 1996 she was a member of the British Royal Family through her marriage to her first-born son and heir apparent queen's Elisabeth II, becoming a member of the British Royal Family in this period.

Lady Di, as she was known, was an influential global personality in the last decades of the twentieth centuryShe is nicknamed the "princess of the people" due to her charisma, sympathy, spontaneity and dedication to social causes.

After their split, she replaced her famous engagement ring with a aquamarine ring with emerald cut and solitaire diamonds and encrusted in 24 carat gold. It is believed to have been commissioned by the princess herself, and is now worn by Meghan Markle, a gift from Prince Harry from her mother's personal collection. The ring is part of a set - there is a matching bracelet that Diana wore in 1996. It is believed to have been ordered from Asprey's.

After his death, a memorial fund which bears her name. In 1997, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, a cause Diana advocated for, received the Nobel Peace Prize. She was considered the "most photographed woman in the world", named as the 3rd greatest British personality of all time and one of the most important people of the century. Diana became a popular icon and had her image mythified by many after her death, which, although pinpointed as the result of a tragic accident after years of investigation, is still shrouded in numerous conspiracy theories. The "people's princess" remains a relevant figure in the British press and, to a lesser extent, worldwide, serving as the subject of many books, newspapers, magazines, documentaries and films, even more than two decades after her death. It is said that the princess influenceboth in life and after death, positively impacted the British monarchyIt has modernised and become closer to the people, especially in the form of its children.