Sparkling Gala Tiaras (and Royal Heirloom Earrings!) in Oslo

King Harald V and Queen Sonja led the royal procession at Stortingsmiddagen, a dinner held for members of the Norwegian legislature and government. Sonja wore a bright blue evening gown for the occasion. The bright scarlet red sash of the Order of St. Olav, Norway’s highest chivalric decoration, was seen on all of the members of the royal family in attendance. Several members of the family wore additional decorations as well, and all of the ladies wore King Harald’s Royal Family Order.

Queen Sonja wore diamonds and pearls with her gala ensemble. We recently talked at length about this particular tiara. It’s the diamond and pearl replica of Queen Maud’s Pearl Tiara, which was stolen in broad daylight from Garrard in London in 1995. Sonja paired it with diamond and pearl earrings for the gala.

Sonja also wore a pearl choker necklace and a multi-stranded pearl bracelet, as well as the Drapers’ Company Brooch. The diamond and pearl bauble, with its distinctive scroll pattern, also belonged to Queen Maud.

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit arrived at the dinner with his aunt, Princess Astrid.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore a vibrant red evening gown for the occasion, also accessorized with diamonds and pearls.

Along with her wedding tiara, the Diamond Daisy Bandeau, Mette-Marit made her debut in a pair of earrings that originally belonged to Haakon’s grandmother, Crown Princess Märtha of Norway.

Here’s Märtha wearing the earrings with several other jewels, including the Vasa Tiara. The earrings (which could also be converted to be worn with sapphires in place of the pearls) were one of Märtha’s wedding gifts, presented to her by an aunt, Princess Thyra of Denmark. They were later worn by both of Märtha’s daughters, especially Princess Ragnhild, who wore them for her wedding in 1953. Ragnhild often paired the earrings with the diamond and pearl tiara now worn by Princess Ingrid Alexandra.

Speaking of Crown Princess Märtha’s daughters, Princess Astrid was also sparkling at the dinner. She wore her playful diamond and ruby aigrette for the occasion. The unusual antique ornament has a floral design, but even Astrid recognizes that it looks very much like a pair of antenna. (This is the tiara that she reportedly jokes can receive radio signals from both London and Moscow when she wears it!)