Queen Victoria's Small Diamond Crown (1870)
Despite it's small size, this miniature contains over 40 sparkling Austrian crystals.

On the death of her beloved husband, Prince Albert, in 1861, the grief stricken Queen Victoria retreated into mourning and for a time withdrew from public life. In 1870, soon after she resumed some of her public duties, she commissioned this tiny diamond crown from Garrard & Co. to wear on top of her widow's veil. The silver frame is set with 1187 diamonds which, unlike coloured stones, were acceptable during the period of mourning. Being of small stature, she found the Imperial State Crown too heavy and too large for her. She broke diamonds out of a necklace to create this small head ornament, which measures just 9cm (31/2 inches) across, 10 cm high and weighs just 6 ounces.

Queen Victoria first wore her small diamond crown at the State Opening of Parliament on 9th February 1871, with the Imperial State Crown being carried on a cushion before her. The small crown, which she wore frequently for the rest of her reign, came to symbolise her. Queen Victoria left the small diamond crown to the Crown. It was occasionally worn by Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary.

Victoria was born at Kensington Palace, London, on 24th May 1819. She was the only daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of George III. Her father died shortly after her birth and she became heir to the throne because the three uncles who were ahead of her in succession - George IV, Frederick Duke of York, and William IV - had no legitimate children who survived. On William IV's death in 1837, she became Queen at the age of 18.

She married Prince Albert, to whom she was devoted, in 1840 and sank into deep depression on his death in 1861 at the age of 42.

For the remaining 40 years of her reign she wore black. Victoria continued her duties to the end at the age of 82 and on her death in 1901 the small diamond crown was placed on her coffin at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight before being conveyed to London for the State Funeral