Readers' Ultimate Tiara Collection: The End

It's been a yearlong tiara voting extravaganza, and now it's time to bring it to a close.

Inspired by multiple reader requests for features on groups and types of tiaras, you have voted in different categories throughout the year to assemble something of an "ultimate tiara collection" of your own, consisting of 20 tiaras. The categories were pulled from those reader requests, plus impressions based on famous large tiara collections and general tiara variety.

Here is your collection in full:

Diamond Fringe: Queen Alexandra's Kokoshnik Tiara

Big Gun: The Braganza Tiara
Aquamarine: The Hesse Aquamarine Tiara
Ruby: The Danish Ruby Parure Tiara
Emerald: The Duchess of Angoulême's Emerald Tiara

Pearl Drop and Pearl: The Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara, The Ancona Tiara

Sapphire: The Dutch Sapphire Tiara

Amethyst and Turquoise: Queen Mary's Amethyst Tiara, The Persian Turquoise Tiara

Diamond Floral (Nature) Motif: The Floral Aigrette Tiara

Convertible: The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara

 Small: The Dutch Diamond Bandeau

Diamond Other Motif and Diamond Wildcard: The Girls of Great Britain & Ireland Tiara, The Fife Tiara

Other Material: The Cameo Tiara

Modern: The Midnight Tiara

Wildcards: The Poltimore Tiara, Queen Victoria's Emerald and Diamond Tiara, Queen Victoria's Sapphire Coronet

The category names above are links to each winner announcement, each post containing links to the winning tiara(s), runners up, and to the voting post for that category.

And that's it! My thanks to those that have played along in the spirit in which this was intended: for a simple bit of fun, where who wins and who doesn't isn't really the point. Now, if you've been playing along, allow me to ask:

What's in your personal ultimate collection?

Photos: Getty Images/Corbis/Sotheby's/Royal Household/Scanpix

Readers' Ultimate Tiaras: Your Last Vote Winners!

For the final vote in our little tiara fest, I asked you to pick three tiaras the ultimate collection couldn't live without. The results? Well, some of our permanent bridesmaids finally get to walk down the sparkly aisle:

The Poltimore Tiara and Queen Victoria's Emerald and Diamond Tiara and Queen Victoria's Sapphire Coronet!

Poor Polty took two runner up spots in the diamond other and wildcard categories, and the convertible category; the sapphire was a runner up in the small category and the sapphire category; the emerald nearly stole the emerald competition, but couldn't pull it off. But they've come together to make three last British-flavored entries to your ultimate collection.

And your runners up, for a full list of ten:

4. The Chaumet Blue Enamel Kokoshnik, a near miss from the unusual materials category.

5. The Diamond Daisy Tiara, one last chance for a Norwegian entry and a smaller entry.

6. The Cut Steel Tiara, another unusual material near miss.

7. The Leuchtenberg Sapphire Parure Tiara, with a delectable parure to match.

8. Queen Sophie's Diamond Tiara, another big gun runner up.

9. The Baden Fringe Tiara, a spiky fringe to contrast to the tame one already in your collection.

10. The Portland Sapphire Tiara, because blue seems to have been a bit of a theme here.

Stay tuned - on Friday, we will have a proper wrap up of the whole shebang!

Photos: Getty/Collection/Geoffrey Munn/Royal Court of Norway/Polfoto

Readers' Ultimate Tiara Collection: The Last Vote

We've been voting on different categories of tiaras all year - broad groups, ones commonly seen in today's grand tiara collections - and assembling something of an ultimate tiara collection, just for fun. As I said when we began the tiara voting, the categories would be predetermined by me, but to take care of all those differing opinions, I decided to leave the end slots wide open.

There are 20 total spots, and we've voted on 17 so far. Today's vote is the last one:

Pick three wildcard tiaras!

These can be anything you like. We had a diamond wildcard slot previously, since all-diamond tiaras are so common, but this is open to all materials and shapes.  What three ultimate tiaras does the collection need to round it out?

Ready to vote? (Note we have a slight change here...)
-Vote for three tiaras in the comments. (If you're mentioning multiple tiaras in your comment, indicate which 3 get your vote, or I will just count the first applicable three. One comment vote per person, please.)
-I will not be counting the number of "likes" or up arrows on comments this time. If you wish to vote without leaving a public comment, you may tweet or email me.
-Non-royal tiaras and tiaras that no longer exist are fair game too.
-Voting is open until Wednesday.

Photos: Getty Images/Corbis/Sotheby's/Polfoto

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: October 29-November 4, Plus Your Modern Tiara Winner!

Well, At Least You Showed Up

Princess Letizia

Letizia visits a residence for the elderly, attends an awards ceremony and an anniversary party for a newspaper

Err...this is about it for our normal leading ladies for the week (well, Máxima did do some her U.N. stuff). How sad. And the only thing worth commenting on is the one I should probably leave alone - though I can't resist noting that the occasion when those boring-as-toast business suits Letizia loves so much would have been totally appropriate is the one occasion at which she decides to bring Grease back, and that's hilarious. Thanks for playing our game, L.

Honorable Mention for Also Showing Up

Princess Charlene

Charlene attends the Princess Grace Awards Gala

In other news, we've got Charlene, spontaneously beheaded by a ruffle in honor of Halloween. Some of you really liked Charlene's dramatic turn; I'm not sold as such, but I am entertained, and that is saying something.

Who was your best dressed last week?

Since we had a bit of a slow week, let's go ahead and wrap up that modern tiara vote. Using free time in a productive manner is not usually something I encourage, but tiaras are an all-purpose excuse.

Seeing how many different ways you all defined "modern" was fascinating. Some of you differed greatly - and perhaps that gives you a glimpse of one of the reasons why I chose to define the category as simply as possible (by year) and let you sort out the rest. And sure enough, I think you came up with a winner to satisfy most of your definitions...

The Midnight Tiara!

Mary strikes again, her creation of diamonds, moonstones, rose gold, white gold, and black oxidized silver lending a darker note to your ultimate collection. The run away winner, and certainly worthy of carrying the "modern" torch.

Your runners up:

2. The Modern Fringe Tiara. As I noted, this was only a guess and might not even qualify for the time requirement. It doesn't particularly qualify for those of you that went for something modern in design as well. But the fact that it made it so high on the list speaks, I'd say, to the polarizing nature of some of these modern designs.
3. The Boucheron Emerald Ivy Tiara. Queen Rania fared very well in this vote.
4. The Diamond Foam Tiara, or hair ornament or aigrette if you prefer.
5. Queen Rania's Arabic Tiara - not one I thought would do so well, but there you go.

And here's the collection to date:

Photos: Getty Images/Scanpix/Kungahuset/Abaca/Petra/Christie's/Royal Collection

Readers' Ultimate Tiaras: Pick Your Modern Tiara!

Older tiaras are grand - the history of these things is part of the draw, really, at least for me - but we need some recognition for the people that are valiantly doing their best to add to the world's tiara stores. And so today's selection for your ultimate tiara collection is...

Pick your favorite modern tiara!

Modern can refer to style and modern can refer to date of creation, and we are going with date of creation since it's easier to define; specifically, tiaras that were manufactured from 1950 up to today. Dates can be hard to tie down, mind you, but here is a selection that might fit the bill:

• 1. Boucheron Emerald Ivy Tiara, 2. Queen Rania's Arabic Tiara, 3. Queen Rania's Boucheron Bracelet Tiara. The Jordanian collection is ripe for the picking, this is just a taste.
• The Danish ladies each have a modern tiara to their name: 4. Naasut Tiara, 5. Midnight Tiara, 6. Flora Danica Tiara (for Marie, not yet worn)

• Oh yes, who can forget: Margrethe has two. 1. The infamous Golden Poppies.
• Japan's collection has a lot of possibilities too, though they are quiet on tiara history; each lady receives a tiara on her 20th birthday or when she marries into the family, newly made if need be. 2. Princess Mako's Tiara is a recent addition; her mother 3. Princess Akishino also has a lovely one.
• 4. Van Cleef & Arpels Tiara, as worn by Princess Grace.
• 5. Princess Letizia's Ansorena Tiara. Slightly apocryphal as she's only worn the central part as a brooch and never the tiara.
• 6. The Modern Gold Tiara.
• 7. The Modern Fringe Tiara - this is a guess, but likely to have been made in our timeframe.

• 1. Burmese Ruby Tiara and 2. Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara, QEII's additions (also, the Modern Sapphire Tiara, though that was pretty much set long before our timeframe).
• 3. Ogilvy Tiara, one of several possibilities that take older jewels and just place them in tiara form within our timeframe.
• 4. Kent Diamond and Pearl Fringe Tiara - another reconfigured old jewel (we think).
• 5. Belgian Scroll Tiara and 6. Congo Necklace Tiara, just two of Luxembourg's possibilities.

• 1. Noor-ol-Ain Tiara and 2. Farah's Seven Emeralds Tiara, additions from the active spending days of the Iranian monarchy.
• 3. Bains de Mer Tiara, one of Princess Grace's additions...
• And her daughter-in-law Charlene's, 4. Diamond Foam Tiara and 5. Ocean Tiara.

And again, as always - there are more out there, happy hunting.

Ready to vote for your favorite?
-Vote for one tiara in the comments. (If you're mentioning multiple tiaras in your comment, indicate which one gets your vote, or I will just count the first applicable one. One comment vote per person, please.)
-I will also count the number of "likes" or up arrows on those comments, so you can vote that way too.
-Non-royal tiaras and tiaras that no longer exist are fair game too.

Photos: Boucheron/Vanity Fair/Getty Images/Kongehuset/Charlotte Lynggaard/Flora Danica/Bodilbinner/Van Cleef & Arpels/Ansorena/Kungahuset/Geoffrey Munn/Royal Collection

Readers' Ultimate Tiaras: Your Other Material Winner!

This might not come as a surprise, but the winner of your vote for a tiara of "other" materials is...

The Cameo Tiara!

Or perhaps it is a surprise? I'm always surprised that despite many of you piping up that you think it's ugly, this one always does well overall. And indeed, this is an "other" material tiara - not a diamond in sight.

The Cameo didn't run away with the victory, though. In fact, it had some pretty hefty competition from your top runner up:

2. The Chaumet Blue Enamel Kokoshnik. This is part of the Westminster collection, a design made to mimic traditional silk Russian kokoshniks but with blue enamel and a delicate diamond forget-me-not design on top. It was originally bought by a previous Duke of Westminster, and left the family before being purchased once again by the current Duke. It's an extraordinary piece of artwork, but sadly I don't think any depiction of it in use is publicly available.
3. The Midnight Tiara, Mary's "other" option.
4. The Cut Steel Tiara. Love it or hate it, it's become a favorite with the Swedish ladies, and it certainly is a different material.
5. Archduchess Isabella's Peridot and Diamond Tiara.

And here's the winner's circle so far:

Photos: AllOverPress/Geoffrey Munn/Scanpix/Getty Images

Readers' Ultimate Tiara Collection: Pick Your Other Material!

All the standard tiara stones, the gems you see most frequently represented (according to me) in big collections, have been covered in our little voting round ups: diamonds (in many forms), pearls, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, aquamarines, amethysts, turquoise. But there's more! Unusual materials, other colors and types of stones, and so on. They aren't as common, so one category will take care of it:

Pick your favorite "other material" tiara!

This is a fun category, I think. Well, I had fun putting it together, at least! We've got classic sparkly gemstones just not covered yet, metals that take a central decorative role, and unique opaque materials on display. And I included colored diamonds as well, since only white diamonds have received any love so far. Here's a brief selection, but as always the field is open for more:

Note: Yes, we will have a category for tiaras made in the past few decades. (I tell you this because there is some overlap.) Also, don't forget that many of these names are links to see more info or the tiara in use.

1. The Rosenborg Kokoshnik, garnets with diamonds and pearls
2. A coral wreath tiara
3. Citrine and diamond tiara, by Cartier in advance of the coronation of George VI
4. The Naasut Tiara, primarily gold with diamonds
5. The Cameo Tiara
6. The Cut Steel Tiara
7. A Cartier rock crystal tiara, with platinum and diamonds
8. The Linley Beechwood Tiara, made of carved beechwood
9. The Golden Poppies, made primarily of gold with pearl and diamond accents
10. The Cut Steel Bandeau, also of cut steel
11. Princess Astrid's Gold Bandeau, gold with a variety of other stones
12. Queen Victoria's Orange Blossom Tiara, given to her by Prince Albert and made of white porcelain blossoms, green enamel oranges, and frosted gold leaves
13. The Citrine or Topaz and Pearl Tiara
14. The Noor-ol-Ain Tiara, of white and colored diamonds
15. The Modern Gold Tiara, primarily of gold with diamonds and potential center sections of topaz and tourmaline

1. Farah's Seven Emerald Tiara, with emeralds and white and colored diamonds
2. A Russian floral bandeau of diamonds, colored diamonds, and enamel leaves
3. An Iranian tiara of emeralds, diamonds, pearls and a central pink spinel
4. Queen Desideria's Malachite Parure, with carved malachite
5. A tiara of gold and chrysoprase
6. Archduchess Isabella of Austria's Peridot and Diamond Parure (top peridot drops are removable)
7. Jetsun Pema's tiara, of unknown material (gold and possibly jade?)
8. Ivy leaf tiara, made of gold, green enamel and chrysoberyls
9. Lalique Dragonfly Tiara, with enamel dragonflies and a central aquamarine
10. The Devonshire Parure Tiara, of gold with enamel and intaglio and cameo work, from a parure of multiple materials

1. The Queen of Kilimanjaro Tiara, featuring a 242 carat tanzanite stone (the world's largest faceted tanzanite) on white gold with diamonds and tsavorite garnets
2. The Chaumet Blue Enamel Kokoshnik, of blue enamel and diamonds
3. A Fabergé diamond tiara with a bottom strip of blue enamel representing a ribbon
4. The Midnight Tiara, including rose and white gold, black oxidized silver, moonstones, and diamonds
5. The Bagration Parure Tiara, of pink spinels and diamonds
6. The Russian Nuptial Tiara, with a central pink diamond
7. The Württemberg Pink Topaz Tiara, with pink topaz and diamonds
8. The Chaumet Bowknot Tiara, with pink topaz and diamonds
9. The Savoy Pink Tourmaline Tiara, pink tourmaline and diamonds
10. Princess Viggo's Opal Tiara
11. The Floral Danica Tiara, primarily silver with diamond and amethyst

Ready to vote for your favorite?
-Vote for one tiara in the comments. (If you're mentioning multiple tiaras in your comment, indicate which one gets your vote, or I will just count the first applicable one. One comment vote per person, please.)
-I will also count the number of "likes" or up arrows on those comments, so you can vote that way too.
-Non-royal tiaras and tiaras that no longer exist are fair game too.

UPDATE: Thanks for your contributions, voting is now closed!

Photos: Sotheby's/Cartier/Christie's/Getty Images/Kongehuset/Geoffrey Munn/Bodilbinner/Harry Winston/Chaumet

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: August 27-September 7, Plus Your Diamond Winners!

Hello again, lovelies. It's that glorious time of year when the deadly slow month of August is over and our royals have returned to the fashion playing field! Rejoice. A hodgepodge of some of what we've missed:

Best in Brights

Princess Letizia

Mary and Victoria at separate awards ceremonies; Letizia with Felipe in Argentina for the IOC meeting; Mathilde and Philippe in Leuven and at the Hanswijk Cavalcade; Máxima on an engagement with Willem-Alexander and at a university

Yes, I think you truly know summer is over when the Natan twins return to greet you with their dueling Slimer green ensembles. Elsewhere, Victoria keeps trying with that statement necklace but isn't quite there yet, and Letizia made a valiant attempt to win the 2020 Olympics for Madrid by the sheer power of lookin' good - didn't work for her (Tokyo won the Games), but it works for me.

Best in Casual

The Duchess of Cambridge

Video: Kate and William on an engagement in Anglesey

Not so much a sartorial thing, but here you go anyway. 

Best in Black and White

Crown Princess Mary

Mette-Marit opening a sculpture park; Mary in Morocco; Letizia in Argentina

Mary's been busy, squeezing another trip in, but I can't concentrate on anything but this skirt right here. I need it, you see. NEED. Alas, it isn't a new one, but an older model from By Malene Birger. Sigh. Mette-Marit looked ab fab, but not even the power of a well placed puppy can distract me.

And an Honorable Mention to...

Princess Madeleine

At a memorial service for Princess Lilian

Jumpy claps to Madeleine, who has recently announced that she and her new husband are expecting a baby! Maternity wear ahoy.

Who's been your best dressed lately?

And now for the winners of your recent double pick for your ultimate tiara collection...

The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara and the Fife Tiara!

Inevitable that these would make the cut at some point, really. As for your runners up, let's have a moment of silence for Poor Polty - it took the #2 spot in both categories, but even combining its votes, it wouldn't have pulled out a win. The remainder were all over the place.

Here's the full thing so far:

That's the end of the August voting extravaganza (as stated previously, just something to do while we're summer bored). The next one will be at the end of September.

Photos: Abaca/Getty Images/Belga/DutchPhotoPress/NTBScanpix/BilledBladet-Kongehuset/Stella Pictures

Readers' Ultimate Tiaras: Pick Two Diamonds!

Two choices for you today. Choice #1 (read to the end for #2):

Pick your other diamond motif!

So far, we've had two categories specially devoted to diamond-only tiaras: florals and leafy stuff, and fringes. (And though they weren't all diamond categories, your big gun and small tiara winners are also purely diamond.) Your first choice today is another big one, and it includes whatever's left after the nature and the fringes. That'll be scrolls, festoons, diamond drops, Greek keys, stars, and so on. Some of these include floral elements or could be called a floral tiara instead - just as some of those in our floral category included other elements too. Crossover is unavoidable, so make your own call. A selection:

1. Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara

2. Poltimore Tiara

3. Rundell Tiara

4. Festoon Tiara

5. Brunswick Tiara

6. Meiji Scroll Tiara

7. York Wedding Tiara

8. Cartier Essex Tiara

9. Manchester Tiara

1. Delhi Durbar Tiara

2. Halo Scroll Tiara

3. Mary's Wedding Tiara

4. Stuart Tiara

5. Belgian Scroll Tiara

6. Fleur de Lys Tiara

7. Japanese Crown Princess Scroll Tiara

8. Northumberland Tiara

9. Queen Elisabeth's Cartier Bandeau Tiara

10. Princess Olga of Yugoslavia's Tiara

11. Mike Todd Tiara

12. Londonderry Tiara

1. Fife Tiara

2. Alexandrine Drop Tiara

3. Russian Nuptial Tiara

4. Chaumet Bourbon-Parma Tiara

5. Portland Diamond Tiara

6. Alexandra Feodorovna's Diamond Drop Tiara

7. Empress Joséphine's Fabergé Tiara

1. Meander Tiara

2. Nine Provinces Tiara

3. Prussian Diamond Tiara

4. Romanian Greek Key Tiara

5. Marichalar Tiara

6. Crown Princess Cecile's Meander Tiara

7. Lalla Salma's Wedding Meander Tiara

8. Queen Elisabeth's Diamond Bandeau

1. Greville Tiara

2. Congo Necklace Tiara

3. Grace's Van Cleef & Arpels Tiara

4. Wolfers Necklace Tiara

5. Noor-ol-Ain Tiara

6. Queen Alia's Cartier Tiara

7. Sibilla's Art Deco Tiara

8. An auctioned Liechtenstein tiara

9. Vasa Tiara

10. Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Spike Tiara

1. Pearl Button Tiara, with stars

2. Gandik Diraja

3. Nine Prong Tiara

4. Queen Maria Pia's Star Tiara

5. Bavarian Sunburst Tiara

6. A Victorian star tiara

Remember you are not limited to what I show here.


Next: Choice #2.

Pick your diamond wildcard!

The second category today is also diamond-only but beyond that, it's up to you. So: another floral, another fringe, or another from today's batch. A good collection needs plenty of diamonds, methinks.

Ready to vote for your favorite?
-Vote for two tiaras in the comments, one for each category. (If you're mentioning multiple tiaras in your comment, indicate which two get your vote, or I will just count the first applicable two. One comment vote per person, please.)
-I will also count the number of "likes" or up arrows on those comments, so you can vote that way too.
-Non-royal tiaras and tiaras that no longer exist are fair game too.

UPDATE: Thanks for all our contributions! Voting is now closed.

Photos: Rex/Getty Images/Cartier/Sotheby's/Munn/Albion Art/Christie's

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: August 18-26, Plus Your Small Tiara Winner!

Best in Anything

Crown Princess Victoria

An engagement on the ship Götheborg, and attending the Polar Music Prize in a dress from Swedish brand Acne

Crown Princess Mary was visiting Syrian refugees in Jordan - click here for a bit on that - and Victoria was pretty much the rest of the game in these late summer slim pickings. She always makes interesting choices for the music awards, including the awkward length of this floral dress.

Who was your favorite last week?

And now for the winner of your ultimate small tiara competition. I know. The suspense is killing you.

The Dutch (a.k.a. Rose Cut) Diamond Bandeau!

This was a sweep like no other for the spot that we will hilariously label "small". Well, it is ultimate in every way, so there's that.

The runners up: Listen, this one was such a sweep, I don't think you could call anything a runner up. The Diamond Daisy and Queen V's Sapphire Coronet, if you must.

Here's where you stand to date:

Stay tuned for the next category!

Photos: TV4/Expressen/Acne/Getty Images

Readers' Ultimate Tiaras: Pick Your Small Tiara!

(The blog returns on Wednesday!)

There are some pretty big tiaras in your ultimate tiara collection so far. Obviously! I mean, these are ultimate tiaras. But we need some size variety, right? So here we go:

Pick your favorite small tiara!

Hard to define "small" in precise terms. Sometimes a tiara only looks small because of the hairdo of its current wearer. But unless one of you wants to dash out and collect these, line 'em up nice and orderly, and let us review, we'll just have to deal (and deal we will, since we don't want you in jail).

So we have tiaras that are genuinely small (an aigrette, for example) and tiaras that are small in one way and no others (such as the Rose Cut Diamond Bandeau - short, but otherwise enormous). The decision is yours, and as always you needn't feel bound by what I choose to display below.

1. The Halo Scroll Tiara

2. Queen Victoria's Sapphire Coronet

3. A diamond bandeau that belonged to Queen Mary

4. Queen Victoria's Small Diamond Crown

5. Princess Claire's Wedding Tiara

6. The Cartier Bracelet Bandeau, from the Queen Mother

7. The Wolfers Necklace Tiara

8. The Turquoise Daisy Bandeau

9. Mary's Wedding Tiara

1. Crown Princess Victoria's 18th Birthday Tiara

2. The Swedish Aquamarine Bandeau

3. The Four Button Tiara

4. Queen Sofia's Pearl and Diamond Tiara

5. The Cut Steel Bandeau

6. The Swedish Diamond Bandeau

7. The Antique Pearl Tiara, with no pearls

8. The Rose Cut Diamond Bandeau

9. The Dutch Ears of Wheat Tiara

10. Queen Wilhelmina's Diamond Haircomb

1, 2. Two amethyst tiaras from Luxembourg (on Stéphanie, appearing to include pearls)

3. The Sapphire Bracelet Bandeau

4. The Small Luxembourg Floral Tiara

5. The Congo Necklace Tiara

6. Sibilla's Art Deco Tiara, small setting

7. The Citrine/Topaz and Pearl Tiara

8. The Art Deco Aquamarine Bandeau

9.  The Van Cleef and Arpels Emerald Necklace Tiara

1. King Olav's Gift Tiara

2. The Vifte Tiara (close up shows necklace format)

3. The Malteser Tiara, bandeau base only

4. The Boucheron Bracelet Tiara

5, 6, 7. A selection from the collection of Princess Astrid

8. The Diamond Daisy Tiara

9. The Braganza Bandeau Tiara

10. The Niarchos Rubies

11. The Diamond Foam Tiara

12. Grace's Small Diamond Tiara

And many more.

Ready to vote for your favorite?
-Vote for one tiara in the comments. (If you're mentioning multiple tiaras in your comment, indicate which one gets your vote, or I will just count the first applicable one. One comment vote per person, please.)
-I will also count the number of "likes" or up arrows on those comments, so you can vote that way too.
-Non-royal tiaras and tiaras that no longer exist are fair game too.

UPDATE: Thanks for your contributions, voting is now closed! The blog returns on Wednesday.

Photos: Getty Images/Royal Collection/AOP/ANP/Corbis/Life

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: August 11-17, Plus Your Convertible Tiara Winner!

Best in Back to School

Princess Isabella

Video: Princess Isabella poses with her parents before heading to her first day of school

It is always a good week when Isabella's involved, giving her little interview and sporting matching bracelets with mom. (Loving what Mary's wearing, too - loved that Isabel Marant blouse since Jennifer Aniston sported it a while back!)

Best in Birthday

Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Video: Click here for a full video of the outdoor church service celebrating Mette-Marit's 40th birthday

Haakon celebrated his 40th, now it's Mette-Marit's turn - and she did it in a very Mette-Marit way, with an outdoor church service. Wellies for everybody!

Best in Baby

Prince George

Video: Pictures of Prince George of Cambridge are released

Slightly more current news: George! Prince William's been talking about him (click here for his CNN interview), and his first pictures have been released, and that's the story of this week so far because babies will do that to you.

Who was your favorite last week?

P.S.: In sadder news last week, Prince Friso was laid to rest. Click here for a video report from the BBC. We will not cover this event here, for reasons I hope you can understand.


Next up: the winner of your convertible tiara competition...

The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara!

You might say this is the most famous case of multiple tiara personalities out there? A worthy addition to the collection, to be sure. Pearls, emeralds, or neither, your choice. 

Your runners up, an interesting mix of popular pieces and those that aren't that popular but sure can change it up:

2. The Connaught Tiara

3. Queen Fabiola's Spanish Wedding Gift Tiara

4. The Poltimore Tiara

5. Queen Margherita's Musy Tiara

And here are all your winners so far:

Stay tuned for your next vote!

Photos: NRK/British Monarchy/Corbis/Getty Images

Readers' Ultimate Tiaras: Pick Your Convertible Tiara!

Here's a category many of you have been asking for, since long before we started playing this game:

Pick your ultimate convertible tiara!

Convertible. Capable of change in one way or another. More than just a stationary tiara. With magic tricks up its wee tiara sleeves, this is what we're after. These are the tiaras that can change colors, that can change shape, that can be both tiaras and necklaces or brooches or bracelets or whatever. I wonder if those of you that requested this category are aware how enormous it is? Yes, from the "common" changes - there are many, many tiaras out there that can be removed from their frame and used as a necklace, for example - to the tiaras that can totally shapeshift, here's a partial selection for you. (Do note that among those not represented here are the Floral Aigrette Tiara and the Mellerio Sapphire Tiara, convertible diadems already elected to your ultimate tiara collection.)

We'll start with the popular necklace conversion, from tiaras that can be necklaces to necklaces that can do tiara duty. All the following fit here, plus many of the tiaras that fell into our diamond fringe category if you're so inclined.

1. The Chaumet Necklace Tiara

2. The Vifte Tiara

3. Princess Caroline's Sapphire Necklace/Tiara

4. The Connaught Tiara

5. Queen Josephine's Amethyst Tiara

6. The Luxembourg Sapphire Necklace Tiara

7. Queen Elisabeth's Diamond Bandeau

8. The Countess of Wessex's Aquamarine Necklace Tiara

9. The Van Cleef and Arpels Emerald Necklace Tiara

10. The Congo Necklace Tiara

11. The Teck Circle Necklace Tiara

12. The Greek Emerald Parure Tiara

13. Lilian's Laurel Wreath Tiara

14. Mathilde's Laurel Wreath Tiara

15. The Edward VII Ruby Tiara

16. The Amethyst Necklace Tiara

17. The Sapphire Art Deco Necklace Tiara

18. The Fabergé Cyclamen Tiara

Bracelets work as tiaras, too, in these cases and more:

1. The Luxembourg Sapphire Bracelet Tiara
2. The Cartier Bracelet Bandeau, which uses three of a set of four bracelets (diamond/ruby/emerald/sapphire) that belonged to the Queen Mother.
3. The Boucheron Bracelet Tiara

These tiaras convert to brooches, and sometimes other things:

1. The Naasut Tiara
2. The Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara (the uprights are, or at least were, detachable)
3. The Gandik Diraja converts to brooches and a locket
4. The Teck Circlet Tiara
5. The Bains de Mer Tiara
6. The late Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara
7. The Belgian Scroll Tiara, with a brooch for a center section and a ring from the largest diamond
8. The Snowdon Floral Tiara
9. The Mellerio Floral Tiara, convertible to a necklace and brooches
10. The Khedive of Egypt Tiara, convertible to a dress ornament
11. The Poltimore Tiara, convertible to a necklace and series of brooches
12. The Ocean Tiara, convertible to a necklace and ornaments
13. The Diamond Foam Tiara, convertible to a large or small brooch

These tiaras have a convertible shape, in one way or another:

1. The Nine Provinces Tiara can be used without the biggest diamonds and as just the bandeau.

2. The Niarchos Rubies can be a double or single row tiara, or necklaces of varying lengths.

3. The Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara varies shape by using different quantities of pearls on top.

4. Queen Maud's Pearl and Diamond Tiara has a smaller version too.

5. The Malteaser Tiara has four crosses for the top which can be worn in varying quantities and positions (or as brooches). It can also be worn as a bandeau without the crosses.

6. The Antique Pearl Tiara can be worn as a small diamond tiara by removing the pearls.

7. Queen Margherita's Musy Tiara has no fewer than 8 or 9 potential versions.

8. The Stuart Tiara has a lower setting.

9. The late Rundell Tiara can be used with scrolls only, or with stars.

10. The Pearl Button Tiara can be used with diamond stars instead of the buttons.

11. The Delhi Durbar Tiara, in Queen Mary's time, could include various Cullinan diamonds and a top row of emeralds.

12. Sibilla's Art Deco Tiara has a small version.

These tiaras can change colors/stones, and sometimes more:

1. The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara can have pearls, emeralds, or no pendants.
2. The Gloucester Honeysuckle Tiara has multiple center options: diamond, pink topaz, and emerald. In Queen Mary's day, she also used the Cullinan V Brooch and a sapphire brooch.
3. The Savoy Pink Tourmaline Tiara, originally interchangeable with garnets.
4. Queen Fabiola's Spanish Wedding Gift Tiara has aquamarine, green, and red stone options and has two tiara forms plus a necklace form.
5. The Ogilvy Tiara can be pearl, turquoise, or sapphire.
6. The Dutch Emerald Tiara can be modified to a pearl tiara.

More of the same:

1. Mary's Wedding Tiara has added pearls, and the diamond version can be used as a necklace.
2. Queen Emma's Diamond Tiara can be used with rubies.
3. The Modern Gold Tiara has a centerpiece that can be swapped for topaz or tourmaline in addition to diamonds.
4. The Strathmore Rose Tiara has (or had) a sapphire option (that to my knowledge hasn't been seen), and can break into brooches.
5. Princess Benedikte's Floral Tiara has a diamond, pearl, or emerald center, and three separate brooch pieces.
6. Queen Victoria Eugenia's Aquamarine Tiara can be worn without the aquamarines.

There you go. Remember, you can vote for tiaras not shown here, so don't fret if I've left your favorite out.

Ready to vote for your favorite?
-Vote for one tiara in the comments. (If you're mentioning multiple tiaras in your comment, indicate which one gets your vote, or I will just count the first applicable one. One comment vote per person, please.)
-I will also count the number of "likes" or up arrows on those comments, so you can vote that way too.
-Non-royal tiaras and tiaras that no longer exist are fair game too.

UPDATE: Thanks for your contributions, voting is now closed!

Photos: Corbis/Getty Images/Scanpix/Geoffrey Munn/Kongehuset/Malaysian Monarchy/Cartier/Palais Princier/Van Cleef & Arpels/Gahetna/Marianne Dulong/People

Weekly Royal Fashion Awards: August 4-10, Plus Your Diamond Nature Motif Winner!

Best in Business

Crown Princess Mary

Video: At CIFF

Mary was back in action last week for one of her standard royal engagements: opening the Copenhagen International Fashion Fair. She kept it summery in Signe Bøgelund-Jensen (above), and later in Baum und Pferdgarten.

Best in Vacation/Work

The Spanish Royal Family

Video: The Spanish royals host a dinner

In other flowy clothing news, down in Palma de Mallorca, the Spanish holiday continues on. They even got in a little more family photo call action:

Who was your best dressed last week?

And now it's time for the winner of your latest tiara competition. (By the way, this little game will wrap up by the end of the year - that's why we're not voting on 27 different kinds of floral tiaras separately, or however you'd rather it be done.)

The Floral Aigrette Tiara!

An excellent choice. As Queen Margrethe has shown us time and again, this is an incredibly flexible piece: wear it on the frame, off the frame, with one, two, or three parts. You can even get more of a wreath/leafy feel if you omit the central section. Useful and beautiful, a winning combo.

And your runners up, none of which came anywhere near competing with the winner:

2. The Strathmore Rose Tiara, always a favorite.

3. The Diamond Daisy Tiara, a petite option.
4. The Strawberry Leaf Tiara, another close-but-not-enough try for a Prince Albert design.
5. The Faberge Cyclamen Tiara, something that's always struck me as more of a museum piece, probably because I haven't seen it in use.

And here's the full collection so far:

The Floral Aigrette joins the floral Braganza, the Danish Ruby wreath, the Persian Turquoise laurel wreaths, and the garlands of the Hesse Aquamarine in bringing touches of nature motifs to the party.

Photos: BT/Getty Images/Corbis