The Royalty Nerd

A few years ago now, I posted a TikTok about my least favourite tiaras and for some reason I still don’t really understand, the algorithm caught it and the next time I opened my app, my inbox was filled with likes, follows, comments, questions, and everything in between. Everything kicked off from there, and all of that led me to eventually creating this site.

So I wanted to go back and look at each tiara I mentioned in that video just to see if I still feel as strongly:

Queen Margrethe’s Golden Poppies:

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Calling this one a tiara is honestly a bit questionable; it might be more appropriate to call it a hairpiece. For the purposes of this piece as well as the TikTok, we’re calling it a tiara, and it is one that I definitely still dislike.

The poppies are a fairly modern creation from the 1970’s and they probably should’ve stayed in that decade. They can be worn in different configurations but that doesn’t make them any better. I will say though, that if they were to be worn perhaps as brooches or even as a singular poppy behind the ear (on Mary’s dark hair? Yes please), I could see it working. However Margrethe happens to wear them in the worst possible placements although thankfully, she doesn’t wear them often.

Do I still dislike the poppies? Yes. Holy moly, yes.

Queen Rania’s Ivy Wreath Tiara:

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Now the good thing about this one is that it’s most likely a loan. It’s not the worst one on the list by far and I definitely like it more than the poppies, but there’s just something…not great about it. I think it’s a lovely design and I’m always here for floral-esque tiaras but all emeralds? Eh.

I said in the TikTok that I wish there was another stone in there to break it up and I stand by that. If there were less emeralds (can’t believe I’m even saying that) or perhaps some diamonds in there to break up all that green I wouldn’t have so much of a problem with it. The fact that it’s only a loan works in it’s favour too; the chances are slim to nil that we’ll ever see it again.

Do I still dislike Rania’s ivy wreath? Yup.

Queen Sonja’s Modern Gold Suite:

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This one is a triple whammy because it comes with three settings, the topaz above, tourmaline, and and diamond, but one is enough for you to get the picture.

In the video, I said that the tiara reminded me of an old man’s watch, and this is what I was picturing:

Now, the comments had other anatomical analogies to make and I don’t disagree! Looking back at it now though, I do think the gold tiara is a bold choice but Sonja weirdly pulls it off. It’s the different settings that really push this one into the dislike category. I’m not sure what setting could possibly be put in there to make it not look so…human, but hopefully Sonja finds one.

Do I still dislike the modern gold suite? Mostly.

The Empire Tiara:

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Luxembourg has a giant collection for such a tiny place, and the Empire tiara is the biggest of all (in fact one of the biggest tiaras in Europe). I said in the TikTok that this makes Maria Teresa look like a fancy pope and I still think that, but mostly I think it’s because of how she styled it here. A big tiara requires big volume in the hair department. For example, I don’t think it looks as gaudy here, on Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte:

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Because even if she has shorter hair, the volume of it supports the giant tiara which she also wore with a wider base.

I still think this is one that should probably be in a museum for all of us to marvel at, because it’s just too big.

Do I still dislike the Empire tiara? Kind of. Put it behind glass instead.

The Floral Danica Tiara:

This is another loan, but a loan specifically for Princess Marie of Denmark. It was made with her input and if I’m being honest, it’s not completely terrible. It’s the row of round amethysts on the base that I really dislike, mostly because they’ve been so rounded and are so matte, that they don’t even look like amethysts anymore. It just looks bleh.

It’s also super hard to find a decent photo of them, so just for the sheer frustration of trying to find a picture of Marie wearing the damn thing, it definitely remains one of my least favourite pieces.

Do I still dislike the Flora Danica tiara? Begrudgingly yes.