Diamonds in the Desert for Queen Silvia of Sweden

King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan hosted King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden for a state visit last week. On November 15, they were joined by Crown Prince Hussein for a state dinner at the Royal Palace in Amman.

Both Silvia and Rania wore elegant evening gowns for the occasion. Rania’s major accessory was part of her dress—a bejeweled belt—but Silvia added a little extra sparkle with some diamonds. She wore the family’s diamond floral and pear drop earrings, plus a diamond rivière necklace. I also spot a diamond brooch in her hair (though unfortunately photographs from the evening don’t show which one it was. I’d wager it may have been either the Leuchtenberg Pearl and Ruby Brooch or one of the Bernadotte diamond rose brooches.)

The following evening, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia hosted a reciprocal reception at the Ritz-Carlton in Amman. Silvia wore a silvery-gray evening gown with rhinestone embellishments for the reception, plus a matching wrap and accessories.

Along with stacks of gold and diamond bracelets, she also debuted a new-to-her pair of earrings: the Swedish Diamond Epaulette Earrings. As the name suggests, the earrings were made by repurposing a pair of jeweled epaulettes that were formerly worn on the shoulders of a military uniform.

While Silvia had not been photographed wearing the earrings before last week’s state visit, they have been worn on various occasions by both of her daughters. Crown Princess Victoria, for example, made a memorable appearance in the epaulette earrings at her pre-wedding concert in June 2010, paired with the family’s diamond arrow brooch.

And Princess Madeleine recently wore the earrings with the Aquamarine Kokoshnik for the Nobel Prize ceremony and banquet in December 2019. (Speaking of the Nobels: they’re coming up soon! We’re expecting to see Silvia, Victoria, and Sofia there.)

Scheduling note: Today at my house in America, we’re celebrating Thanksgiving. (Happy Thanksgiving to anyone else also celebrating today!) I’m so thankful for all of you who read here on a regular basis! To give me some time to spend with family, this will be the only article posted today. Stay tuned for another jewelry article at the usual time tomorrow morning!