Archives for 2017

Te Deum Jewels for Prince Gabriel of Sweden

09.04.2017 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment

ANDERS WIKLUND/AFP/Getty Images

The newest little prince in Sweden officially has a name and title! Read on to learn more, and to see the jewels worn by his grandmother and aunts at today’s Te Deum service held in his honor.

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Prime Minister Stefan Lofven joined King Carl XVI Gustaf and Crown Princess Victoria to officially announce the new prince’s name and title. The baby is Prince Gabriel Carl Walther of Sweden, Duke of Dalarna. Although he is the first Swedish prince to bear the name Gabriel, the prince joins other European royals with the name, including Prince Gabriel of Belgium (the younger son of King Philippe) and Prince Gabriel of Nassau (grandson of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg). Carl is a common Swedish royal name, shared by the baby’s father and grandfather. Walther was the first name of Queen Silvia’s father.

Two other Swedish princes have held the Dalarna dukedom: Prince August, the youngest son of King Oscar I, and Count Carl Johan Bernadotte, uncle of the present king. (Carl Johan renounced his royal title and dukedom when he married a commoner in 1946.) Prince Gabriel’s mother, Princess Sofia, spent part of her childhood in Dalarna.

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Gabriel’s aunt, Crown Princess Victoria, wore a delicate dragonfly brooch for her nephew’s name announcement.

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Numerous members of the royal family attended the Te Deum service held on Monday in Gabriel’s honor. His grandmother, Queen Silvia, wore multicolored pearls for the occasion.

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Gabriel’s aunt, Princess Madeleine, wore simple jewelry with her floral dress. Madeleine recently announced that she’s expecting her third child.

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Behind Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, you can spot two more members of the family: Tord Magnuson and his wife, Princess Christina, who is the baby’s great-aunt.

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The mother and the new baby don’t traditionally attend the Te Deum service. Prince Gabriel relaxed at home with his mother, Princess Sofia, and his big brother, Prince Alexander. The royal court released the first photo of Gabriel with his parents (pictured above) last week as he left the hospital.

Royal Jewels at the Braemar Gathering

09.04.2017 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment

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The annual Braemar Gathering was held this weekend, and the royals attended on Saturday. Here’s a look at some of the jewelry on display, plus on very unique royal ensemble!

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As she does every year, the Queen wore her Braemar Feather Brooch to attend the gathering. You can read more about this brooch over here.

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Princess Anne attended with her father, mother, and elder brother. She pinned a brooch at the neck of her red and plaid jacket.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Prince Charles, who is known as the Duke of Rothesay while in Scotland, wore a brand-new tartan for the occasion. In a bit of a surprising move, he chose the Prince Charles Edward Stuart Tartan. The plaid was woven for him by Andrew Elliot Ltd, which is located in Selkirk. Why is it surprising? Charles Edward Stuart is better known to history as “the Young Pretender” and “Bonnie Prince Charlie”; he was one of the instigators of the Jacobite rebellion in 1745. (That’s the uprising that aimed, in part, to restore the Stuarts to the British throne.) Maybe Charles has been digging into his family’s complicated Scottish roots — or perhaps he’s just a big Outlander fan? 😉

Princess Mako’s Engagement Announcement Jewels

09.04.2017 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment

SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI/AFP/Getty Images

As anticipated, Princess Mako of Akishino, the eldest granddaughter of the Emperor and Empress of Japan, officially announced her engagement this weekend. Here’s a look at the jewelry that she wore for the official press conference.

SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI/AFP/Getty Images

Mako sat beside her fiance, Kei Komuro, to answer questions from the press. Komuro works for a law firm in Tokyo, while Mako is a museum researcher. The couple met and began dating while in university. During the press conference, Mako revealed that she was “first attracted to his bright smiles that seemed like the sun,” and Komuro added that he feels Mako “has been quietly watching over me like the moon” during their relationship. They have been unofficially engaged for almost four years.

SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI/AFP/Getty Images

For the press conference, Mako didn’t stray from the usual daytime jewelry uniform worn by ladies of the imperial household. She wore a single stranded pearl necklace with a small floral brooch made of mixed metals. Her earrings featured a silver-toned floral stud and a small round pearl drop.

SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI/AFP/Getty Images

Mako’s engagement has highlighted continuing issues with the dwindling succession of Japan’s monarchy. Only paternal-line men can inherit the throne, and there are currently only four living heirs: Crown Prince Naruhito (Mako’s uncle); his younger brother, Prince Fumihito (Mako’s father); Prince Hisahito of Akishino (Mako’s younger brother); and Prince Masahito (Mako’s great-uncle). Japanese princesses who marry commoners (the only available choice they have currently in Japan) lose their imperial status and their public role. Mako will also leave behind her tiara, as we discussed this weekend. But she is clearly looking forward to the future today, noting that she “would like to have a family that is always calm and peaceful.” The wedding is expected to take place some time after next spring.