Jewel History: Lady Salisbury and the Tiara (1888)

Queen Alexandra wearing the tiara [1]

There have been endless squabbles and “tracasseries” [2] about the tiara which was presented to the Princess of Wales by her “lady friends” [3]. The amount subscribed was very much smaller than had been anticipated, for the sort of people who consider it expedient to take every opportunity of toadying to royal personages thought, as might have been expected, that  it would “pay” better to present a separate personal gift, rather than to take part in a joint offering of which only the leaders would get the credit.

The final dispute between Lady Salisbury [4] and “Lady A.” [5] was very funny; but, although the Prime Minister’s spouse tries hard to be “très grande dame,” she has hitherto failed dismally in this attempt, and, instead of playing the part of Lady Palmerston [6], her social business has positively damaged her husband, for, with a vast deal of fuss and bustle, she only makes herself ridiculous by her arrogant pretensions.