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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Royal Jewel News: Princesses, Tiaras, and More

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We’re still on hiatus from our normal weekly roundup of royal jewel news — events are due to slowly start ramping up again next week, so fingers crossed that we’ll have lots of sparkle and glitter to discuss then! In the meantime, I thought you’d all enjoy a collection of stories about royal jewels that have been making the rounds this week. Happy reading!

New Info on Máxima’s Tiara

Dutch writer Eric Schoonhoven has posted new information about the magnificent sapphire and diamond tiara worn by Queen Máxima at her husband’s inauguration in 2013. Although the piece was often attributed to Mellerio, maker of one of the family’s ruby sets, Schoonhoven writes that gemologist George Hamel believes it was actually made by the Dutch jeweler Maison van der Stichel.

Modern Jewels from a German Princess

The Huffington Post ran a profile of Cécile of Hohenlohe-Langenburg this week. Cécile is a descendant of numerous royal families; her ancestors include Princess Margarita of Greece and Denmark (pictured above; one of the Duke of Edinburgh’s sisters) and Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria and of Tsar Alexander II. In the interview, Cécile reminisces about her family’s ancestral jewels and her own new collection of modern rings.

A Bulgarian Wedding Tiara

Over at Luxarazzi, Sydney recently posted about the wedding tiara of one of Liechtenstein’s royal brides. She’s managed to trace the small diamond fringe tiara worn by Princess Marie on her wedding day in 1989 back to its previous royal owner: Princess Maria Luisa, a Parmese princess who married a Bulgarian tsar.

Duchess of Braganza Talks Jewels

While in Brazil for the wedding of Princess Amélia of Orléans-Braganza, the Duchess of Braganza (wife of the pretender to the Portuguese throne) gave an interview in which she discusses her use of the family’s heirloom jewels. Isabel wore a grand diamond tiara from the collection of the last queen of Portugal, Amélie of Orléans, on her wedding day in 1995 and in a few official portraits; she reveals that she hasn’t worn it more often because of its size and historical importance. She also hints that some of her mother-in-law’s jewels (possibly including the diamond bandeau worn by Isabel in the picture above) will eventually be inherited by her daughter, Maria Francisca.

A TNT Bridal Diadem?

Posters at the Royal Jewels of the World Message Board have been speculating about the tiara that might be worn by Maria Theresia of Thurn and Taxis (pictured above with her mother, Gloria) at her wedding in September. The thread includes great pictures of the tiaras that the family still owns, along with images of the sparklers that have been sold at auction.

Upcoming Bejeweled Royal Events

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With the royals still hibernating during their annual holidays, the weekly jewel news is on hiatus for another week. But while we wait, let’s look at some of the big events that are already on the calendar for this autumn. There are jewels in the wings, everyone! (This is a quick list of events — feel free to add additional ones in the comments!)

United Kingdom

The event scheduled so far that will undoubtedly get the most press is the Duchess of Cambridge’s upcoming visit to Malta. Kate’s visit, on September 20th and 21st, will be part of the celebrations of the nation’s 50th anniversary of independence. But other British royals will also be making international trips. The Earl and Countess of Wessex will be in Canada for an extended tour from September 12-20, and Princess Anne will head to Africa at the end of September, with scheduled trips to Ethiopia and Tanzania. No word yet on whether any foreign heads of state will be visiting Britain this fall, though usually there is an incoming state visit held in October or November.


The Netherlands

The annual state opening of the Dutch parliament will be held on September 16; the event has an unusual gowns-and-hats daytime dress code, so get excited for that. There are also two state visits on the books for the Dutch royals this fall. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima will visit the Japanese imperial family from October 27-31, and then they will move on to Korea for a second state visit from November 2-4.

Denmark

Edward and Sophie aren’t the only royals who will be in Canada in September: Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark will make an official visit to Ottawa and Toronto on September 17-19. There are also two big events scheduled so far for October: the opening of Parliament, and a state visit to Croatia by Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik on October 21-24.

Sweden

The Swedish royal family will be attending the Polar Music Prize ceremony in Stockholm on August 26; except for Carl Philip and Sofia, the entire family is scheduled to be there. The opening of the Swedish parliament takes place the following month, on September 30. Looking further ahead, you can also mark down December 10, the date of the annual Nobel Prize ceremony.

Norway

The Norwegian royals are kicking off state visit season early this year, welcoming the president of Estonia to Oslo from September 2-4. And like the Swedes, the Norwegians already have an annual Nobel event on the schedule: the Peace Prize will be awarded on December 10.



Monaco

November 19 is Monaco’s National Day, and the event is generally celebrated with both day and evening events, including a gala. As Princess Charlene is apparently due to give birth at the end of the year, we’ll see whether she attends this year’s celebrations.

Which upcoming royal event are you most looking forward to? And which royal jewels do you hope will be worn?

This Week in Royal Jewels: July 18-24

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July 18-24, 2014
This week’s jewelry recap sees our favorite royals in full summertime mode: gathering with their families, opening athletic competitions, and making trips to Paris. Ooh-la-la!



10. A match made in heaven: elegant Queen Letizia of Spain and the City of Light. Felipe and Letizia made an introductory visit to France this week, and Letizia accessorized her dress with a pair of gorgeous earrings. (See more pictures of the visit at The Royal Roundup!)

9. In a new family portrait released to mark the first birthday of her son, the Duchess of Cambridge wears a pair of familiar earrings: pearl drops by Annoushka, suspended from a pair of diamond hoop earrings by Kiki McDonough.

8. The tragic crash of a commercial airplane carrying nearly 200 Dutch citizens led to a week of mournful remembrance in the Netherlands. Queen Maxima wore white, a traditional color of mourning for the Dutch royals, to sign a book of condolence on Friday. Although her jewelry was still to a normal Maxima-esque scale, its dark colors also reflected the nation’s somber mood.

7. In Denmark, the royals posed on Thursday during their annual summer photosession at Grasten Palace. Queen Margrethe’s jewelry included a large floral brooch.

6. Crown Princess Mary went a bit simpler with her summer jewels for the photocall, wearing a delicate gold necklace. (Also appearing in front of the photographers were the other senior Danish royal ladies, Princess Marie and Princess Benedikte. More photographs at The Royal Roundup!)

5. Queen Letizia was also out and about in Spain this week, donning her headband with small sparkling stars and coordinating stud earrings for a reception at El Pardo Palace on Monday.

4. Wednesday was the opening ceremonies for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and the British royals were out in force. The Countess of Wessex wore a necklace and earrings from one of her favorite jewelry companies, Heavenly Necklaces.

3. The Duchess of Cornwall — who is the Duchess of Rothesay when she’s in Scotland — chose the earrings from her turquoise and diamond set for the opening of the Games. The earrings have an elaborate matching necklace, and the set is said to be one of her family heirlooms.

2. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Games wearing a floral brooch that we’ve seen her wear recently, during her state visit to France in June. (More photos of the royals at the opening ceremonies here!)

1. The Queen’s time at the Games didn’t end with the opening ceremonies. She made several appearances on Thursday, watching a swimming competition, meeting athletes, and even photobombing a Australian selfie! All the while, she was wearing very Scottish brooch: a diamond and yellow gold piece that features thistle flowers in its design.