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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

This Fortnight in Royal Jewels: November 17-30

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November 17-30, 2017
Time for a supersized, jam-packed royal jewel review, everybody! Enjoy loads of royal sparkle, and don’t forget to vote for your favorites in the poll below!
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25. The Princess Royal wore golden jewels at St. Giles Cathedral for a commemoration service honoring Dr. Elsie Ingles, the pioneering doctor who is credited with saving thousands of lives after setting up seventeen Scottish Woman’s Hospitals across Europe during World War I.

ERIC LALMAND/AFP/Getty Images

24. In Mons, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians wore earrings with an appropriate design motif — apples — for a visit to the Ecole Superieure des Art.

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23. Queen Letizia of Spain wore her pave-set diamond teardrop earrings for a visit to the Royal Basilica-Sanctuary of the Most Holy and Vera Cruz de Caravaca to mark their jubilee year.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

22. Princess Caroline wore pearl earrings and two patriotic pins for National Day in Monaco (you can see the second pin over here).

Mary Turner – WPA Pool/Getty Images

21. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a favorite pair of earrings, her sapphire cluster drops, for a visit to the Foundling Museum in London. (More over here!)

ISSEI KATO/AFP/Getty Images

20. During the state visit from Luxembourg, Crown Princess Masako of Japan wore lovely pearls for both a concert (pictured above) and the official welcome ceremonies (which you can see here).

KIMIMASA MAYAMA/AFP/Getty Images

19. Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg wore lovely pearls for the official welcome ceremonies during the state visit to Japan. (More views over here!)

KIMIMASA MAYAMA/AFP/Getty Images

18. As always, Empress Michiko of Japan was elegant in pearls for the welcome ceremony, including a lovely silver and pearl brooch. (See a close-up over here!)

VICTORIA JONES/AFP/Getty Images

17. For a luncheon with the German president, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom wore her Saskatchewan Tourmaline Brooch with pearls. (More over here!)

SEBASTIEN NOGIER/AFP/Getty Images

16. Beatrice Borromeo Casiraghi wore a gorgeous pair of pearl and diamond earrings for the National Day festivities in Monaco. (More over here!)

SEBASTIEN NOGIER/AFP/Getty Images

15. A lovely diamond brooch was Tatiana Santo Domingo Casiraghi’s choice for Monaco’s National Day. (More over here!)

Jens Schlueter/Getty Images

14. In Germany, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden wore her blue gem-set earrings with a diamond necklace for the Swedish Business Prize 2017 ceremony (More over here!)

PLS Pool/Getty Images

13. Princess Caroline made a statement with her earrings at the National Day gala in Monaco. (More here!)

BERTRAND LANGLOIS/AFP/Getty Images

12. Princess Charlene of Monaco wore diamond stud earrings multiple times over these two weeks: for the World Rugby Awards (pictured above) and for both the day and evening events during National Day (which you can see here).

ISSEI KATO/AFP/Getty Images

11. For the concert hosted by her father during the state visit to Japan, Princess Alexandra wore a lovely diamond horseshoe ornament in her hair.

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10. The Duchess of Cambridge wore the Queen’s diamond chandelier earrings for the annual Royal Variety Performance. (Much more over here!)

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9. Queen Elizabeth II chose a favorite brooch, the Jardine Star, for a visit to the headquarters of the Canine Partners charity in Midhurst. (More about the brooch over here!)

JEROEN JUMELET/AFP/Getty Images

8. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands had several bejeweled appearances of note, including an outing for the earrings from her blue gem and moonstone suite at the Prince Bernhard Culture Foundation Prize 2017 (pictured above) and an appearance in pieces from her citrine collection (see here).

7. During a state dinner in Ghana, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark wore her turquoise bandeau and pieces from her modern turquoise collection. (More on the tiara over here!)

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6. The Duchess of Cambridge attended the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s platinum anniversary party wearing the Queen’s Japanese Pearl Choker Necklace. (Much more over here!)

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5. Empress Michiko of Japan wore a spectacular embellished pearl necklace for the state banquet during the Luxembourg state visit. (See another view of the necklace over here!)

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4. Princess Alexandra wore the Chaumet Choker Tiara with diamonds and pearls for the state banquet. (More over here!)

3. A pair of Swedish tiaras popped up at a diplomatic reception: Queen Silvia in the family’s amethyst circlet, and Princess Sofia in a modified version of her wedding tiara. (More over here!)

2. Several more members of the Japanese imperial family sported tiaras at the state banquet, including Crown Princess Masako in the Pearl Sunburst Tiara, Princess Kiko in her wedding tiara, and Princess Mako in her diamond tiara. (More on the banquet here.)

DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images

1. My top vote couldn’t go to anything other than the most talked-about piece of royal jewelry we saw this fortnight: the diamond engagement ring presented by Prince Harry to Meghan Markle. (Read all about the ring over here!)

Jewels of Monaco’s National Day

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VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images

On Sunday, the Monegasque princely family celebrated the principality’s national day with patriotic day and evening festivities.

VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images

As usual, the day began with a mass and an appearance on the palace balcony. Prince Albert II dressed in military uniform for the day events. The decorations on his uniform include the collar and star of the Order of Saint-Charles and the stars of the Order of the Crown and the Order of Grimaldi.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Princess Charlene wore sparkling stud earrings with the small ribbon of the Order of Saint-Charles.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Princess Caroline wore pearl stud earrings with the ribbons of the Order of Saint-Charles and the Order of Cultural Merit.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

She also wore a patriotic pin at the collar of her dress.

VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images

Here’s a closer look at the pin, which features Monegasque lozenges and a pair of firearms. A military badge, perhaps?

VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images

Later, on the balcony, she removed the pin from her collar and placed an entirely different one on her dress.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Princess Stephanie wore several stud earrings with the ribbon of the Order of Grimaldi.

SEBASTIEN NOGIER/AFP/Getty Images

The Casiraghis were also in attendance for the morning events. (Between Albert and Pierre, the Grimaldis are really going all-in for Movember, huh?)

SEBASTIEN NOGIER/AFP/Getty Images

Tatiana Santo Domingo, wife of Andrea Casiraghi, wore drop earrings with a lovely sparkling star brooch.

SEBASTIEN NOGIER/AFP/Getty Images

Charlotte Casiraghi, as she so often does, apparently eschewed jewelry entirely. How would you accessorize this outfit?

VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images

But Beatrice Borromeo, wife of Pierre Casiraghi, wore a pair of classic diamond and pearl earrings.

VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images

The Ducruets made an appearance on the balcony, too. Pauline wore hoop earrings, a pair of bracelets, and rings; from this angle, you can see the Princess Stephanie also wore several bracelets, and even Louis wore what appears to be a Cartier Love Bracelet.

VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images

Even more members of the extended family were present as well, including Princess Antoinette’s daughter, Elisabeth-Anne de Massy (on the far right, wearing navy and pearls), and her daughter, Melanie (on the far left, wearing a white jacket).

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

But, of course, the Grimaldi kids stole the show during the balcony apperance. Albert and Charlene showed off Prince Jacques, the future sovereign prince of Monaco, and his twin sister, Princess Gabriella.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Charlotte Casiraghi brought along her adorable son, Raphael.

VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images

And Andrea Casiraghi stood on the balcony with his own adorable son, Sacha.

PLS Pool/Getty Images

Later that night, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene were joined by Princess Caroline and Andrea Casiraghi for the annual National Day Gala.

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Charlene appears to have worn the same large diamond stud earrings that she wore for the daytime events — a rare moment when a classic day earring can transition well to night.

PLS Pool/Getty Images

Princess Caroline’s jewels were a bit more obscured in the photos, but we can see a pair of playful statement earrings and a diamond brooch securing her order sash.

Jewels in Motion: Van Cleef & Arpels in Paris

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FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images
In 2012, the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris hosted an exhibition of iconic jewels made by Van Cleef and Arpels, including several royal pieces. Today, we’ve got a front-row seat to the show — in motion!

A general view of the exhibition’s displays
A view of a turquoise and diamond “Panka” necklace, ca. 1973
Curators set a necklace on a display frame
A necklace set with carved emeralds is placed in position
Diamond ribbon ornaments are displayed in a clear viewing cylinder
A close-up view of an elaborate diamond bangle and ruby and diamond earrings
A replica of Farah Pahlavi’s ornate coronation crown is displayed
The firm’s elaborate “Phoenix” necklace (ca. 2012) in close-up view
A new royal tiara was also on display: the “Ocean” tiara made by the firm for Princess Charlene of Monaco. (More on that tiara over here!)
Appropriately, Princess Charlene previewed the exhibition, wearing the earrings made to coordinate with the tiara. In the GIF above, you see her admiring her tiara; she appears to say, “ah, it’s beautiful!”