christmas jewels

Royal Christmas Celebrations

12.26.2020 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment

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Happy Boxing Day, everyone! We’ve talked a lot about how Christmas celebrations, including royal Christmases, are a little different this year. But royals all over Europe have indeed been celebrating the season, and today we’ve got a look at some of the jewels they’ve been wearing for their holiday festivities.

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In Britain, the Queen made an appearance at Windsor Castle with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Princess Royal, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex on December 8. The occasion was a thank-you to local volunteers and key workers for their work in helping others during the pandemic and lockdown periods. For the appearance, the Queen wore a floral brooch made of gold and set with diamonds and rubies. (See a good close-up of the brooch over here!)

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The Duchess of Cornwall wore her lovely purple and yellow pansy brooches for the occasion.

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The Duchess of Cambridge brought some sparkle to the outfit courtesy of the Queen’s Diamond Frame Earrings, which Kate wears as a long-term loan.

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The Princess Royal kept things simple with a pair of pearl stud earrings.

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And the Countess of Wessex wore a pair of sparkling earrings with disc-shaped drops.

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The Norwegian royals gathered at the Royal Palace in Oslo on December 15 to take their usual Christmas portraits this year. King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway were joined by Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and Prince Sverre Magnus.

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Queen Sonja wore a suite of teal jewelry, plus a charming little Christmas tree brooch.

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And Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore a festive pair of pearl hoop earrings for the pictures.

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Crown Princess Mary of Denmark joined in the holiday spirit at the unveiling of this year’s Christmas stamp at Julemaerkehjemmet Liljeborg in Roskilde. The Christmas stamp raises money for the children who find help at one of Denmark’s Christmas Stamp Homes.

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For the unveiling, which happened back in October, Mary wore sparkling floral stud earrings and a charming little Christmas stamp pin.

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The annual distribution of Christmas gifts took place at the Palais Princier in Monaco on December 16 this year. Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene were joined by Princess Gabriella and Hereditary Prince Jacques for the event.

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Princess Charlene wore a pair of gold hoop earrings for the occasion.

Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Princess Estelle, and Prince Oscar of Sweden celebrated Christmas with a visit to Stockholm’s City Mission this year. The royal court released a video (with English subtitles!) documenting their holiday visit.

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The annual Christmas concert was held in the throne room at the Royal Palace in Brussels on December 18, and the event was broadcast to the nation on December 20. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians were in attendance, along with their four children, the Duchess of Brabant, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel, and Princess Eleonore.

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Queen Mathilde wore a pair of festive statement earrings for the concert.

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Princess Elisabeth chose a pair of fringey statement earrings, too.

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And Princess Eleonore participated in the concert this year, posing for an official photograph with her violin.

Which royal Christmas traditions are your favorites each year?

The Queen’s Christmas Day Brooches

12.24.2020 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment

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Christmas is going to look a little different for everyone this year, and the British royals are no exception. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will remain at Windsor Castle for the holiday instead of spending it at Sandringham, and we won’t see the royals going to church on Christmas Day. To help the holiday feel a little more like usual, I’ve got a roundup of some of the brooches worn by the Queen over the past few decades on Christmas Day. Enjoy!

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2003: The Jewellers and Silversmiths Brooch, made of diamonds, rubies, and gold, was given to the Queen as a wedding gift in 1947

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2004: The Centenary Rose Brooch, a rock crystal and diamond brooch that had been given by the Queen to the Queen Mother as a 100th birthday present in 2000, and which was inherited by the Queen in 2002

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2005: The Golden Dahlia Brooch, one of the Queen’s most worn pieces, made of gold and set with diamonds

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2006: The Jardine Star Brooch, a classic diamond star brooch that was bequeathed to the Queen by Lady Jardine in the 1980s

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2008: The Queen Mother’s Palm Leaf Brooch, commissioned by the Queen Mother from Cartier in the 1930s, and made to resemble a traditional paisley or palm leaf design

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2009: The Queen Mother’s Ruby Floral Clip Brooch, one of a pair made for the Queen Mother by Cartier in the 1940s

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2010: Another outing for the Golden Dahlia Brooch

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2011: The Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch, another legacy from the Queen Mother, was designed in part by the son of a famous Scottish inventor

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2012: The Eternal Dove Brooch, gifted to the Queen by the British Jewellers’ Association to mark her Diamond Jubilee

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2013: Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bow Brooch, one of a set of three made for Victoria to replace jewels lost in the Hanoverian Claim in 1858

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2014: The Tudor Rose Brooch, which many believe was a Diamond Jubilee gift

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2015: The Australian Wattle Brooch, which the Queen received during her 1954 Commonwealth Tour

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2018: Queen Mary’s Pink Cluster Brooch, which many believe contains a vibrant pink sapphire

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2019: The Queen Mother’s Ruby Bouquet Brooch, a large diamond and ruby floral brooch inherited by the Queen in 2002

British Royal Christmas Jewels 2019

12.26.2019 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment

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On Christmas Day, the royals made their official trek to St. Mary Magdalene’s near the Sandringham estate for church. Here’s a look at some of the jewels worn by the senior royal ladies for the occasion!

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The Queen chose a festive red ensemble for Christmas this year.

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She accessorized with a large, rarely-worn diamond and ruby floral spray brooch, which she inherited from the late Queen Mother. No further provenance information about the brooch appears to be known.

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The Duchess of Cornwall wore vibrant purple with one of her pearl and diamond choker necklaces, plus a diamond brooch in the shape of a knot.

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No brooch this year for the Duchess of Cambridge, who wore diamond and green amethyst earrings from one of her favorite designers, Kiki McDonough. She debuted the earrings earlier this year in Northern Ireland.