Edwardian tiara belonging to Princess Diana's family to be auctioned

An Edwardian tiara, owned by Lady Delia Spencer, the eldest child of the 6th Earl Spencer is set to go under the hammer at Cheffins Fine Art Auctioneers later this month.

Lady Delia Spencer was the great aunt of Lady Diana Spencer who married Prince Charles in 1981 and was the lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother.

The tiara was given to Lady Delia by her father on the occasion of her marriage to the Hon. Sidney Peel, younger son of the 1st Lord Peel, Speaker of the House of Commons and grandson of the Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel in February 1914.

There is a photograph attached of Lady Delia's wedding showing her wearing the tiara, as well as a report from the Times on the wedding day which lists the gifts received by Lady Delia.

These included a brooch from Queen Alexandra, a diamond pendant from Princess Victoria and 'From Earl Spencer: a diamond tiara, a moonstone and diamond pendant, a nova mina and diamond brooch, a ruby guard ring...'

Lady Delia was known to have been a close confidant of the Queen Mother, and she died the month before her niece Diana's marriage to Prince Charles.

The tiara itself is set with more than 800 old round brilliant cushion cut diamonds with a total estimated weight of 48cts.

Jonathan Law, Director, Cheffins Fine Art Auctioneers comments:

"Stylistically, the tiara is a rarity and is reminiscent of Neo-Classical and French Empire styles. The diamonds were most likely to have been cut in the 19th century and are of the highest quality. Lady Delia Spencer was a great friend to the royal family and this item is of the utmost importance to our royal heritage."

A hardback copy of the biography 'A Memoir of the Lady Delia Peel, born Spencer, 1889-1981'  by Priscilla Napier, is offered with this lot, together with a photocopied reproduction of the Times report of the wedding.

The tiara has a guide price of £30,000-40,000. The sale will take place on the 30th November, from 10am at Cheffins Auctioneers, 1-2 Clifton House, Clifton Road, Cambridge, CB1 7EA.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.