Lauren Kiehna shares tales of wonder from the past, connecting today’s readers and listeners with the glittering history of yesterday.
At The Court Jeweller, Lauren showcases the fascinating jewels that witnessed incredible history and illuminates the lives of the intriguing women who wore each gemstone.
From the Hope Diamond to the Queen’s tiaras, Lauren brings the astonishing history of the world’s most famous jewels and collectors to life for audiences across the country.
Lauren’s work has been featured in numerous publications, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, People, and Town & Country.
From bejeweled history to local biography, Lauren approaches every project with the keen skills she developed while earning her doctorate in English at the University of Kansas.
Lauren Kiehna has been writing about history, jewelry, and royals from around the world since 2008. She has been interviewed as an expert by major press outlets, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the BBC, People, Town & Country, Hello!, and Maclean’s Magazine, and she enjoys sharing lectures on royal history and jewelry with audiences all over the United States.
Lauren, who has a Ph.D. in British literature from the University of Kansas, lives with her husband and their daughter in St. Louis, Missouri. She’s also an avid sports fan—a passion that helped her become a Jeopardy! champion in 2018.
Lauren shares daily articles about fabulous royal jewelry, from pieces currently worn by today’s elegant princesses to jewels treasured by generations past.
Lauren is a founding board member of the Randolph Society Foundation, a local non-profit dedicating to highlighting inspiring stories from the history of Randolph County, Illinois.
Lauren describes the first major jewelry purchase by Evalyn Walsh McLean for GWU’s “DC Mondays” series, May 2022
Lauren tells the story of one of Europe’s most romantic royal wedding tiara traditions at the Tuckahoe Women’s Club, October 2021
Lauren highlights the stories of Nance Legins Costley and John Willis Menard for Kaskaskia and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union, 2022
Lauren chats with portrait artist Erica Eriksdotter about the challenges of creative work in a bonus clip from Erica’s art course, 2021
Lauren discusses Queen Elizabeth II’s New Zealand Silver Fern Brooch on Palace Confidential, May 2020
Lauren talks about blogging and royal jewels with Kay Quinn and Brandie Piper on KSDK’s “Royal Dish” podcast, September 2019
Organizations book Lauren as a speaker on a wide range of topics related to royalty, jewelry, and history, both for existing presentations and for new, original talks. Reach out for more information and availability.
Dressed to Impress: Royal Jewels at State Banquets
Learn about the way that royal ladies choose their gowns, jewels, and decorations for sparkling state dinners.
The Hope Diamond:
Mysteries & Legends
Explore the tragic mysteries surrounding one of the world’s most famous gems, the Hope Diamond.
Royal Wedding Tiaras: Sentiment & Splendor
Experience the stories of the most romantic royal wedding tiaras, from the Romanovs to Queen Elizabeth II.
Lauren’s presentations on jewelry history have reached audiences across the nation.
The Tuckahoe Woman’s Club
Our members were blown away by Lauren’s presentation, content and delivery. We hope she’ll return to the Tuckahoe for another talk soon!
Katherine Haskell
Richmond, Virginia
Connetquot Public Library
Hands down one of the best programs we’ve ever been able to show to our library patrons. Lauren’s content and delivery were exceptional!
Karen Kramer
Bohemia, New York
KSDK’s “Royal Dish” Podcast
The episode that Lauren appeared in is one of our most popular to date!
Kay Quinn
St. Louis, Missouri
Have a media request? Looking to book for a speaking engagement? Send Lauren an e-mail.
Lauren Kiehna
PO Box 440159
Saint Louis, MO 63144