Die Tiara mit den fünf Diamantsternen und jeweils einer Perle, war ein Geschenk von Lord Mountbatten,Vizekönig von Indien,
für seine Frau Edwina anlässlich der Hochzeit.
"The engagement marked the culmination of a romance that began at Polesden Lacy, Mrs. Ronald Greville's country home. Miss Ashley went to India during the winter to visit Lord and Lady Reading, and it was then that her father's sanction to the engagement was obtained."
"The wedding is...a great gathering of Royalties, headed by the King and Queen and Queen Alexandra, who is to be accompanied by Princess Victoria.
The bride's grandfather, Sir Ernest Cassel, was a close friend of King Edward, who was godfather to Edwina Ashley, [from whom she takes her Christian name].
The bridegroom is a close personal friend of the Prince of Wales, whom accompanied him on his Dominions and Indian tours."
The Prince acted as best man to Lord Louis; the wedding was a naval one.
"Princess Mary set the fashion for blue at weddings, and Miss Ashley is carrying it on. St. Margaret's is to be decorated with delphiniums, two tall columns of them, one on either side of the chancel steps. The same flowers will be used on the altar.
The bridesmaids are to carry delphiniums, and their frocks, too, are of delphinium blue georgette, over turquoise blue, the mauve shades that one sometimes finds in the flower being introduced in the sashes of shaded blue, and green and mauve pink taffetas.
Silver net and lace caps, and green shoes complete the toilettes of the bridesmaids, seven in number—Miss Mary Ashley (the bride's sister). Lady Mary Ashley Cooper (daughter of the Earl of Shaftesbury), Miss Joan Pakenham and the four Princesses Theodora, Margaret, Cecilia and Sophia of Greece, daughters Princess Andrew of Greece, the sister of the bridegroom. "
"The bride herself has chosen silver crepe cloth for her straight and very simple long-sleeved bridal gown, the silver Court train of which is veiled with antique Venetian point, old Spanish lace being also introduced across the top. Her veil is of fine silk tulle, and she has elected to carry a single Candidum lily as being most in keeping with the scheme of the toilette."
"The famous house of Revillon was entrusted with the making of the bridal dress, as well as those of the bridesmaids, and several day and evening dresses. The wedding dress of silver cloth and lace is exquisitely beautiful, and is absolutely regal in its magnificence. It has several distinctive and attractive features. The material known as silver tissue has been specially woven and treated in quite a new way, to render it exceptionally soft and supple. To the ordinary onlooker, the material seems very similar to that used for Princess Mary's bridesmaids' frocks."
"The bridal gown is made on absolutely straight simple lines, the low waist being emphasised in an original way, either side, by very long stole ends of silver tissue, richly embroidered in pearls and diamante, that fall lightly the ground. The plain ankle-length skirt turned up with a very fine rolled hem, the same edging finishing the long-pointed sleeves and the round neck."
"The priceless lace, the gift of the bride's aunt, Mrs. Cassel has been very cleverly mounted on silver cloth to form the beautiful manteau de cour. The wonderful Spanish rose point lace forms a square collar, and cascades softly either side to the waist. The exquisite fifteenth century Venetian point lace comes from under the Spanish lace collar, and forms two panels running the whole length of the four-yard train. Silver tissue divides the two panels and the train. The simple tulle veil is an exceptionally long one, and held in place an all-round tiara of orange blossoms."
To each bridesmaid Lord Louis is giving a diamond bar brooch.
When Lady Edwina Ashley married she received three tiaras:
The first was the diamond star with pearl centres tiara which was originally the property of her mother-in-law*, Princess Victoria grandchild of Queen Victoria.
It was given to her by Lord Louis Mountbatten, born a Prince of Battenberg, and according to a contemporary news report was identified as such by a tag "from Dickie to Edwina".
The second was a gift from her father, Col. Wilfrid Ashley described as a diamond bandeau in the form of swallows in the papers.
The third was a diamond tiara "with a large diamond in front and graduated stones all around" from her great-aunt Mrs. Cassel.
The wedding presents to Lady Edwina:
Diamond tiara of five stars with pearl in centre of each
Diamond and turquoise brooch and earrings, bracelet of precious stones surrounded by diamonds and a brooch showing a naval crest in diamonds - from the groom Lord Louis Mountbatten
Diamond pendant with the royal cipher in diamonds - Queen Alexandra
Diamond and sapphire brooch - Princess Victoria
Diamond and pink enamel hair comb - Marquess and Marchioness of Milford Haven
Necklace of precious stones - Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven
Diamond and platinum brooch - The Aga Khan
Gold bracelet - The Grand Duchess George of Russia
Diamond tiara, large diamond ring, a ruby ring surrounded by diamonds, a heart-shaped crystal ring surrounded by diamonds, a pair of diamond drop earrings - Colonel Wilfrid Ashley
Jewel box - Miss Mary Ashley
Diamond Tiara "with a large diamond in front and graduated stones all around" and the most marvellous real lace Court mantle ever known of point de venise and Spanish lace - great-aunt Mrs Cassel
Ruby and diamond pendant with pearl drop and white fox fur - Mrs A.E. Jenkins
Gold and scarab muff chain- Sarah Wilson and Mr Randolph Wilson
Gold Watch - Lady de Trafford
Turquoise and diamond brooch - Lord Farquhar
Emerald and sapphire ring -Mrs Bischoffsheim
Pearl and diamond ring - Hon. Mrs Bourke
Initial bar brooch, diamonds - Miss Reynolds
Diamond pendant - Eleanor Brougham
Seed pearl brooch - Lady Colefax
Crystal hatpin with diamonds and sapphire - Countess of Mar and Kellie
Pair of diamonds hair ornaments - Hon. Mrs R Greville
Jade cigarette-case with diamonds - Lord Glentanar
Onyx necklace - Lady Rawlinson
Clock with diamond hands in onyx case -Lord and Lady Wavertree
Gold vanity case - Mrs Joshua
Miniature in jade and diamonds - Mr. and Mrs Paul Warburg
Two gold ash trays - Mr and Mrs Corrigan
Gold box - Mrs Lionel de Rothschild
Gold and tortoise shell cigarette case - Marquess and Marchioness Camden
Umbrella jade cock's head top - Countess Cairns
Enamel and gold card case - Sir Carl and Lady Meyer
Spectacle case with name surrounded by diamonds - Mr and Mrs Felix Warburg
Silver box crystal on lid - Maharajah of Bikaner
Clock with diamond hands in agate case - Rajah and Ranee of Pudukota
Marriage gifts to Lord Louis Mountbatten:
Rolls-Royce motor car from his bride Edwina Ashley
Silver globe of the world. On the globe is traced the outward and homeward routes of the Renown on the Prince's Indian and Australian tours in enamel. It was designed and made by the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company, Ltd. - Prince of Wales
Sleeve links oval shaped and "GR" royal cipher in diamonds - King and Queen
Sleeve links - on the one half a diamond and ruby bar and on the other the "A" royal cipher in diamonds - Queen Alexandra
Four gold antique wine coolers George II - Duke of Connaught, Princess Christian, Princess Helena Victoria, Princess Marie Louise, Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles, the Duke of York, Prince Henry, Prince George and Princess Alice and the Earl of Athlone
Clock - Duchess of Argyll
Gold watch - Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven, Prince and Princess Andrew of Greece, Lady Louise Mountbatten and the Marquess and Marchioness of Milford Haven
Diamond and emerald sleeve links - Queen of Spain
Onyx and Diamond buttons - Lady Cunard
Source: The Times, 18 July 1922;Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer; Illustrated London News; The Scotsman; Western Morning News; Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail;
*In Scarisbrick, Tiaras the provenance of the tiara indicates that it was given by HRH Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll to Princess Victoria, Marchioness of Milford Haven to replace jewels which the Marchioness, who was in Russia at the start of the first World War, left in Russia for safekeeping. The Marchioness in turn passed the tiara on to Edwina, who had it redesigned in the 1930s.
Thanks again to Laura for her generous help!