The Princess Royal's Emeralds - The V.A.D. Tiara

When Princess Mary married Viscount Lascelles on February 22, 1922, she received several wedding presents of emeralds and diamonds. The most significant of these was the diamond and emerald tiara given by 50,000 V.A.D.s' of the Empire.

The Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) was created in 1909 when the War Office issued the Scheme for Organisation of Voluntary Aid. The British Red Cross Society was responsible for providing supplementary aid to the Territorial Forces Medical Service in the event of war. The county branches of the British Red Cross Society organized units called Voluntary Aid Detachments. All Voluntary Aid Detachment members, who became known as V.A.D.'s, were trained in first aid and nursing. Within twelve months, membership was over 6,000 and at the outbreak of World War I, membership grew significantly. V.A.D.'s worked as nurses or orderlies at home and in all major theatres of war. They also worked as ambulance drivers, cooks, kitchen maids, fundraisers, clerks, et cetera.

In 1917, Princess Mary's expressed wish to be a V.A.D. was fulfilled. "Lady Ampthill, Chairman of the Woman's V.A.D., was summoned to consult with the Queen, and as a result of her visit a special Voluntary Aid detachment was formed at Buckingham Palace. This detachment was composed of Princess Mary as Commandant, Lady Grey as Assistant Commandant, and about thirty members, all of whom were known personally to Her Royal Highness." Princess Mary passed her first aid and nursing courses with honours and she and her detachment worked at the British Red Cross Headquarters at Devonshire House. She spent time in each of the departments where she gained a thorough understanding of the organization.

On April 25, 1918, Princess Mary came of age and was given permission by Queen Mary to enter the Hospital for Sick Children in Great Ormond Street, London as a V.A.D. probationary nurse where she began her training in June 1918. Her training continued until April 1920 at the Hospital. When her engagement was announced, the V.A.D.'s began fundraising in order to purchase a suitable wedding present.

The item selected was a tiara of diamonds and emeralds supplied by Hunt and Roskell. The Times described it as ". . . a beautiful tiara in which a large central emerald is surrounded with diamonds, the whole surmounted by a second emerald of a beautiful colour. The ornament is arranged so that when the two small side sections are detached it can be reversed and worn as a brooch." In 1966, the central element was sold at Christie's with the brooch fitting detachable so it could be worn as a pendant. It sold for £5000.
Sources: The British Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org.uk/index.asp?id=3423); Graham, Evelyn. Princess Mary, Viscountess Lascelles; The Graphic, 04 Mar 1922; The Times 11 Feb 1922; Christie's Important Jewels June 29, 1966