A Long-Lost Royal Tiara Was Found After Vanishing Almost 60 Years Ago

Queen Mary's Diamond Lozenge Bandeau hasn't been seen since 1965.

A royal mystery is finally getting a happy ending. Queen Mary's Diamond Lozenge Bandeau has been considered missing since the '60s, but thanks to a royal wedding, the tiara is back in the spotlight. According to diamond experts at U.K. retailer Steven Stone, the tiara features "geometric diamond patterns" and bears maker's marks from Cartier. It was last seen on Princess Margaret in 1965 and ever since, it's been considered to be lost to history. However, at the wedding of Prince Muhammad of Pahang, Tengku Arif Bendahara, the piece was seen again, ending a years-long search.

"The Diamond Lozenge Bandeau is an exquisite piece featuring intricate diamond 'lozenges' set within elegant diamond and pearl motifs. Likely commissioned by Queen Mary in the early 1910s, it made appearances in the 1930s and was worn by Princess Margaret as her first tiara in 1948," Maxwell Stone explains. "The unique bandeau vanished from public view following Princess Margaret's passing, with its last known appearance in a 1965 portrait of her. However, thanks to royal enthusiast Saad Salman and HM Queen Azizah of Pahang, this captivating piece is now lost no more."

According to the Royal Watcher (which also published images of the tiara), the Art Deco design includes diamond "lozenges" set between diamond-and-pearl motifs on a diamond and seed pearl base. The blog notes that the tiara could date back to the 1910s. Notably, Queen Mary wore it to the premiere of The Ghost Goes West in London in 1935 and to a gala performance of the Comedie Française in 1939. Princess Margaret would go on to wear the piece in the '40s and '50s and many royal fans believe that Queen Mary gifted her the tiara for her 18th birthday.

Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand explained that she saw the tiara at an auction in 1988 and suggested that Tengku Puan (Crown Princess) Azizah purchase it, which is how it ended up in Malaysia. The Royal Watcher notes that this week, Tengku Natasya Puteri Tengku Adnan wore the tiara (which was enhanced with four brooches) for her Istiadat Berinai Ceremony at the Istana Abdul Aziz.

"While placing a price on such a historic and exquisite piece is nearly impossible, after a careful examination of the tiara, I would estimate its value to be approximately $5 million," Stone added.