Historic Diamonds / Royal Stories
Inside Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House: The Bejeweled Miniature Fit for a Queen
By Josie Goodbody, Updated September 18, 2025
The mini Crown Jewels are a must-see!
The Queen’s Bedroom inside Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House at Windsor Castle (Courtesy of Royal Collection Trust)
Queen Mary (of the United Kingdom), the grandmother of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, was renowned for her love of all things small and decorative.
In 1920, Princess Marie Louise, Queen Mary’s friend and a cousin of her husband, George V, decided to commission Sir Edwin Lutyens to design what became known as Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House for Her Majesty. The year 2024 marked the centenary of when the impeccably presented scaled-down Edwardian townhouse was completed and given to Queen Mary.
Ahead, step inside the miniature royal residence and discover its most astonishing details—including the real natural diamonds set into its miniature Crown Jewels.
Meet the Expert
- Josie Goodbody is a jewelry historian, novelist, and communications specialist with a passion for storytelling and the world of high jewelry.
- Goodbody is the author of the Jemima Fox mystery series, blending intrigue with dazzling jewels, and her work has appeared in the Daily Mail and Rapaport.
The Exquisite Details of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House
The life-like four-story townhouse was built between 1921 and 1924 and given to Her Majesty as a gift from the people of the United Kingdom. It was decorated and filled with contributions from over 1500 of the well-known ‘brands’ of the day, including Singer Sewing Machines and Hoover Vacuums. Artists such as Dorothy Cohen painted paintings and murals, displayed on the walls. There is a well-stocked wine cellar, a garage full of contemporary cars, and a library of books from the important authors of the day, including Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, plus a grand piano with functioning ivory keys.
The Miniature Crown Jewels of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House
But it is the miniature Crown Jewels, sitting securely in the miniature Strong Room, that we’re here for, which are set with natural diamonds – as only toy Crowns created for a Queen and Empress should be. To include natural diamonds in a dolls’ house might seem extravagant, but let’s not forget that this was a gift to the Queen of England, who at that time was also Empress of India and Queen of England’s dominions, which included much of Africa, the diamond-rich countries.
The collection, made by silversmith Henry George Murphy, comprises most of the jewels and regalia we saw last May for the Coronation of Charles III, Queen Mary’s great-grandson.
Fabergé, Cartier, and More: Royal Makers Behind Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House
Garrard’s role as Crown Jeweller is replicated by Murphy in the 3cm high Imperial State Crown, made in silver and set with diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and seed pearls; Queen Mary’s Crown, also in silver, with diamonds – taller than the King’s at 3.6cm and with more diamonds too (well it is HER dolls’ house after all!).
An 8cm long Sceptre set with a miniature pear-shaped diamond, rubies, an emerald, and an amethyst; and two 2cm Orbs, which represent those that belong to the Sovereign and the Queen Consort, are in silver gilt and include an amethyst, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, seed pearls and diamonds. Two tiny thrones, matching those designed by Lutyens for the Imperial Durbar, when King George V and Queen Mary were crowned Emperor and Empress of India in Delhi in December 1911, also take pride of place in the incredible architectural objet d’art.
There are several exquisite desk and wall clocks, and a painted screen, by Cartier. The fine jeweler Faberge created a miniature Pine tree, with diamond blooms, sitting in a pot made of rhodolite, as well as a tiny nephrite mouse with rose cut diamonds as its eyes.” This latter objèt was donated by Grand Duchess Xenia of Russia, another cousin-in-law of Queen Mary, who was Queen Victoria’s granddaughter.
Where to See Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House Today
Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House remains on permanent display at Windsor Castle and continues to enchant visitors with its astonishing detail and craftsmanship. While the 100-year anniversary special exhibits have concluded, the Dolls’ House itself is still very much accessible — a living artifact of royal history. If you plan to visit, be sure to book your Windsor Castle tickets in advance and take time to explore the miniature marvels that still spark wonder a century after their creation.
