Margaret Greville is not a household name. Outside royal circles
and National Trust devotees, her story is often overlooked. Yet her
influence sparkles (quite literally) from the brows, necks and
wrists of the British Royal Family to this day. Many of the most
recognisable royal tiaras, necklaces and brooches originate not in
the royal vaults, but in the private jewel boxes of The Hon. Mrs
Ronald Greville, a woman whose life was as glittering as the
gemstones she treasured.
Born Margaret Helen Anderson in December 1863, she was the
daughter of William McEwan, the wealthy brewery magnate, and his
mistress, Helen Anderson. Although her parents married when she was
21, whispers around her legitimacy lingered for years. Yet McEwan’s
fortune made her a highly desirable match, and in 1891 she married
Captain Ronald Greville, heir to a baronetcy and a prominent figure
within the Marlborough Set.
Their world was glamorous and intensely social, but Margaret’s
life changed dramatically when Ronald died in 1908. Childless yet
enormously wealthy, she poured her energy into Polesden Lacey, the
Surrey estate the couple had bought two years earlier. It was there
she cemented her reputation as one of the great society hostesses
of the age.
Her parties were famously lavish. Edward VII attended her
inaugural gathering in 1909, and she formed close friendships with
the highest echelons of royalty, particularly Queen Mary. Her
connection to the Royal Family deepened further in 1923, when she
hosted the two-week honeymoon of the Duke and Duchess of York,
later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
That friendship would ultimately shape the royal jewel
collection in ways that endure to this day.
When Margaret died in September 1942, she left behind no
heirs—but she did leave one of the most remarkable private
jewellery collections in Britain. Her will included several notable
bequests, such as £20,000 to Princess Margaret and £12,500 to Queen
Victoria Eugenie of Spain. But her most extraordinary gift was
reserved for Queen Elizabeth, the future Queen Mother:
All of Margaret Greville’s jewels were bequeathed to her “to be
worn by Queens.”
The full extent of the Greville collection remains a closely
guarded royal secret. It is said to have included a necklace once
belonging to Marie Antoinette, and its pieces span some of the
finest craftsmanship of the early 20th century.
Several items, however, have become modern icons.
The Greville Tiara, often called the Honeycomb Tiara, was a
signature piece of the Queen Mother and is now regularly worn by
Queen Camilla. And the striking Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara,
made by Boucheron in 1921 with its dramatic 93-carat central
emerald, became instantly world-famous when Princess Eugenie wore
it on her wedding day in 2018.
This week, it made a rare and unexpected return.
At the Diplomatic Reception on Tuesday evening, Queen Camilla
surprised royal watchers by wearing the very same emerald tiara
once worn by Eugenie—a nod not only to her daughter-in-law’s
elegant bridal moment, but also to the enduring legacy of the
Greville bequest. It was a quiet but powerful reminder that
Margaret Greville’s jewels were designed to be passed through
generations, adapting to new royal eras while retaining their
original grandeur.
Other pieces from her treasure trove include the Greville
Festoon Necklace, the Greville Ivy Clips, the Greville Chandelier
Earrings, the Ruby and Diamond Floral Bandeau Necklace, and the
Greville Pearl Drop Earrings.
Each gem tells part of Margaret Greville’s extraordinary story—a
tale of fortune, scandal, impeccable taste and an unshakeable
desire for her beloved jewels to be worn by queens. And though her
name may not be widely known, her legacy continues to shimmer at
state banquets, diplomatic receptions and royal weddings, ensuring
that her influence endures with every flash of royal diamonds.