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This Week in Royal Jewels: September 9-15

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September 9-15, 2016
From parliamentary openings to princely christenings, here are some of the best pieces of royal jewelry we saw this week. Don’t forget to vote for your favorites in the poll below!
Photo: Gary Gershoff/Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgerald
10. Sarah, Duchess of York was in New York with her daughter, Princess Beatrice, for Monday’s annual Charity Day, which was hosted by Cantor Fitzgerald. She wore small hoop earrings, a necklace with a gold disc pendant, and stacked bracelets for the occasion; one of her bracelets features the names of her daughters.

Photo: PLS Pool/Getty Images
9. Princess Charlene of Monaco wore Dior bead earrings with a Dior ring and delicate cross jewels for the Pique Nique Monegaseque on Saturday. (See more images, including jewelry close-ups, over here.)
8. On Wednesday, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark wore a striking pair of earrings with bracelets and a large ring for a visit to an activity center in Copenhagen.
Photo: JONAS EKSTROMER/AFP/Getty Images
7. Princess Sofia of Sweden wore a small but glittering pair of hoop earrings for the christening of her son, Prince Alexander, in Stockholm on Friday. (More christening jewel photos over here!)

6. For a charity dinner in Florence on Sunday, Queen Rania of Jordan chose a pair of modern geometric earrings.

5. Queen Letizia of Spain wore a pair of earrings from Coolook at a school in Almeria on Tuesday.

Photo: ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN/AFP/Getty Images

4. While visiting a school in Amsterdam on Tuesday, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wore a statement cuff bracelet that coordinated with her dress.

Photo: CLAUDIO BRESCIANI/AFP/Getty Images

3. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden wore white gold and diamond earrings from Kreuger at the christening of her godson, Prince Alexander, on Friday. (More christening jewels over here!)

2. At the opening of parliament on Thursday, Queen Silvia of Sweden was regal in pearls and a diamond and pearl brooch.

1. Queen Letizia celebrated her birthday on Thursday with a trip to the theater; she wore her lovely diamond wedding earrings for the occasion.

The Top Ten: Meander Tiaras

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Princess Andrew’s Meander Tiara (Photo: Chris Jackson PT/Getty Images)
The Top Ten: Meander Tiaras

When tiaras became popular in the early years of the nineteenth century, neoclassical designs that referenced ancient Greece and Rome were all the rage. It’s no surprise, then, that many tiaras use one Greek design motif in particular: the meander, a horizontal pattern of interlocking spirals. The design is sometimes also called a “Greek key,” and many think that it’s meant to resemble the twists and turns of a labyrinth. Others think the meander is meant to symbolize unity — which is appropriate, as no fewer than seven of the tiaras we’re featuring today have been worn as bridal diadems.

There are still many meander tiaras in royal vaults today, and today, I’m counting down my top ten favorites. Let us know what your top ten list would be in the comments below! (And thanks to reader Alex for suggesting this post!)

Photo: Moroccan Government/Getty Images

10. Princess Lalla Salma’s Meander Tiara: This large, exaggerated meander tiara was worn at a very important royal wedding in Morocco — the first ever public royal wedding. (Previously, royal wives had been kept out of the public eye.) The wearer was Princess Lalla Salma, wife of King Mohammed VI. Not much is known about the provenance of the tiara itself, though I’ve seen speculation that it may have been made by a French jeweler.

Photo: William Thomas Cain/Getty Images

9. The Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara: Many of us (including me) will have seen this tiara in person; it was shown by the Spencer family as a part of the Diana: A Celebration traveling exhibit (although Diana never wore it herself in public). The tiara is a nineteenth-century piece that combines a meander base with another set of Greek-themed diamond pieces: honeysuckle (or anthemion) elements. (Read more about the tiara in our post here!)

Princess Beatrice wears her mother’s meander fringe tiara, ca. 1911

8. Queen Victoria’s Meander Fringe Tiara: Here’s yet another tiara with a meander base — Queen Victoria’s small sunray fringe tiara. (The two sections were originally separate tiaras.) The piece was inherited by her youngest child, Princess Beatrice; unfortunately, its fate is unknown.

Photo: Rogelio Pinate-Pool/Getty Images

7. The Prussian Tiara: Worn by two queens as a bridal diadem, this small tiara features a meander design at its base. For me the combination of the meander with the vertical lines and the laurel wreath border is especially effective. Although it started out in Germany, it’s worn today by the women of the Spanish royal family. (Read more on this tiara in our post here!)

Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

6. The Marichalar Meander Tiara: The Spanish royals also have another meander tiara — the laurel/meander combo owned by Infanta Elena, who wore it on her wedding day. It was a gift from her mother-in-law, but she’s kept (and worn) the tiara even after her divorce.

5. The Queen Mother’s Double Meander Tiara: This tiara is still something of a mystery. It’s a nineteenth-century double-row meander that at one point also included aigrette features. It was owned at one point by the Queen Mother; it’s also thought to be currently in the possession of Princess Anne. It’s almost certainly the mystery tiara that Anne wore at a state banquet in 2005.

Photo: Grand-Ducal Court of Luxembourg via Getty Images

4. The Romanian Greek Key Tiara: Many (including me) prefer this enormous meander in its original form — worn on a fabric kokoshnik backing by Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia. Today, it’s owned by the Romanian royal family, and it’s been worn as a bridal tiara by two successive generations. (Read more about this tiara in our post here!)

Photo: JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images

3. The Nine Provinces Tiara: The base of the tiara worn by Belgium’s queens is a stylized meander designed to look as if it’s curling around the edges of the tiara itself. The meander portion can be worn alone as a bandeau (as Queen Mathilde often does), or as a necklace or bracelet. The entire tiara was worn by Queen Fabiola as a bridal diadem. (Read more about this tiara in our post here!)

Photo: Chris Jackson PT/Getty Images

2. Princess Andrew’s Meander Tiara: This simple, classic meander tiara also features other Greek designs — anthemions and a central laurel wreath. Fittingly, it belonged to Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark; today, it’s owned by her granddaughter, Princess Anne. In 2011, it was worn by Zara Phillips at her wedding to Mike Tindall. (Read more about this tiara in our post here!)

1. The Prussian Meander Kokoshnik: My favorite meander tiara of all is the gorgeous kokoshnik from the former imperial family of Germany. It’s been worn by numerous family brides. I love the geometry of this tiara: the meander borders, the sharp latticework, and the glittering central diamonds. Perfection! (Read more on this tiara in our post here!)

Royal Jewel Rewind: Haakon and Mette-Marit’s Wedding (2001)

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Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway on their wedding day (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

It’s hard to believe, but 2001 was a whole 15 years ago! Fifteen years ago today, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway married Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby in Oslo’s cathedral. Here’s a look at some of the jewels worn by the bride and her royal guests.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit (Photo: All Over Press Norway/Getty Images)

Mette-Marit wore a bandeau of diamond daisies with her wedding ensemble. The tiara — an antique piece that was made around a century ago — was a gift from her new in-laws, King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway. It isn’t a family heirloom, though; it was apparently purchased specifically for Mette-Marit.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit (Photo: All Over Press Norway/Getty Images)

I love when we get these kinds of images of the back of tiaras — this one is a really good view of the way that the tiara is positioned in Mette-Marit’s hair.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Mette-Marit kept the rest of her jewels to a minimum: small diamond stud earrings, silver-toned necklace with a tiny diamond pendant, plus (of course) her engagement and wedding rings.

Queen Sonja (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

For her son’s big day, Queen Sonja of Norway wore one of the most important sets of jewelry in the Norwegian royal vaults: the emerald parure, which dates to the early nineteenth century. (Soapbox moment: it’s really a shame that, when worn with the country’s highest chivalric order, the emeralds look like Christmas decorations. Sign.)

Princess Martha Louise (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Princess Martha Louise, the groom’s elder sister, wore a modern suite of jewelry with her own tiara, which she was given by her grandfather, King Olav V, as an eighteenth-birthday present.

The king’s sisters were both present at the wedding as well. Princess Ragnhild, who has since passed away, wore the tiara of diamond and pearl circles set in platinum, which was made by Boucheron. It was a legacy from her grandmother, Princess Ingeborg of Sweden (who was born a princess of Denmark). Unlike the grand diamond tiara from Queen Maud, which returned to the Norwegian royal family, the Boucheron tiara stayed with Ragnhild’s descendants after her death.

Ragnhild’s younger sister, Princess Astrid, wore her elaborate diamond and turquoise circlet, which originally belonged to Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom. She paired the tiara with other diamond and turquoise gems.

Queen Silvia (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

The Swedish royal family turned out in force for the wedding. Queen Silvia wore the diamond tiara that once belonged to Queen Sofia of Sweden (and which is often called the “nine-prong” tiara). She paired the tiara with other diamond jewels, including a riviere with a pendant and diamond earrings.

Crown Princess Victoria (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden wore a tiara that has since become her signature piece: the Baden Fringe. (You can tell that this was one of Victoria’s early appearances in the tiara, because the base of the piece is still wrapped in gray velvet, as it was often worn by the late Princess Lilian.) Also of note: her diamond earrings, which are the pair taken from the stomacher that belonged to Queen Josefina.

Princess Madeleine of Sweden wore the sparkler that would eventually become her own bridal diadem: the Modern Fringe Tiara. She also used one of the family’s diamond bow brooches to secure her order sash.

One more member of the extended Swedish royal family was present and wearing a tiara: Princess Kristine Bernadotte, wife of Prince Carl Bernadotte, who was the youngest son of Prince Carl and Princess Ingeborg of Sweden. If you’re doing your royal genealogy math, you’ll note that Carl was, therefore, the brother of Crown Princess Martha of Sweden and the uncle of King Harald V of Norway. (He died two years later, in 2003.) His wife, Kristine (who died in 2014), is pictured above on the right (with Flemming and Ruth Rosenborg). She wears a small diamond tiara with arches; you can see a slightly better view of it over here.

Countess Ruth of Rosenborg wore the turquoise star tiara that was given to her mother-in-law, Princess Ingeborg of Sweden, as a wedding present by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. (Ruth has sadly also since died, as has her husband, Count Flemming.)

Queen Margrethe II (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

The only female guest at the wedding from the main line of the Danish royal family was Queen Margrethe II. She wore the Baden Palmette Tiara, pairing it with other diamond jewels. On her right hand, you get a glimpse of her unique diamond engagement ring.

Margrethe’s younger sister, Princess Benedikte of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, was present at the wedding, as was her entire family. Like Margrethe, she wore a tiara that she had recently inherited from her mother, the late Queen Ingrid of Denmark: Queen Sofia’s Star and Pearl Tiara. She also wore diamond earrings that belonged to Ingrid and some of the diamond stars from the collection of Queen Victoria of Sweden (Ingrid’s grandmother). Benedikte’s necklace is a part of the sautoir that belonged to Queen Alexandrine of Denmark.

Benedikte’s elder daughter, Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, borrowed Benedikte’s Floral Birthday Tiara. She wore it with a seed pearl choker necklace. Bjarne Steen Jensen’s book claims that the necklace was one of Queen Ingrid’s christening gifts, given to her by her Swedish grandparents, King Gustaf V and Queen Victoria.

The tiara worn by Princess Nathalie, Benedikte’s younger daughter, is a bit of a mystery. Good close-up photos don’t seem to be available of the piece, so making a certain identification is difficult. I tend to agree with those who think that this is Princess Dagmar’s Floral Tiara, which Nathalie would have borrowed from her aunt, Queen Margrethe.

Queen Anne-Marie (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

The youngest of the trio of Danish royal sisters, Queen Anne-Marie, was also at the wedding. Like her sisters, she also wore a tiara that she had recently inherited from Queen Ingrid: the Khedive of Egypt Tiara, which is also the family’s wedding tiara. Anne-Marie is also wearing an aquamarine pendant that belonged to Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden, plus a square aquamarine and diamond brooch that was a gift from a Greek shipping magnate. Also, note that her bracelets are also taken from the sautoir that belonged to Queen Alexandrine.

Princess Alexia (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Anne-Marie’s elder daughter, Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark, attended the wedding with her new husband, Carlos. Alexia wore the diamond tiara that many believe is her own personal property, possibly a coming-of-age gift from her parents. She wore her diamond drop earrings at her own wedding two years previously.

The Countess of Wessex (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

From Britain, the Countess of Wessex wore her own diamond wedding tiara to this wedding. She’s also wearing a pearl and diamond necklace given to her by her husband, Prince Edward, as a first-anniversary present.

Queen Paola was the female representative from the royal family of Belgium. (Mathilde was expecting a baby and did not make the trip.) Paola wore the diamond art deco bandeau that belonged to Queen Elisabeth, plus her diamond half-moon earrings and her convertible diamond necklace. Her order sash is secured by a crescent-shaped brooch.

Queen Maxima (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

She’s the Queen of the Netherlands today, but in August 2001, Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti was still the fiancee of a prince. However, she did wear a tiara to this wedding: the diamond base of the Antique Pearl Tiara. Also notable among her jewels: the family’s diamond and gray pearl brooch and her engagement ring.

Princess Laurentien (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands wore the family’s Ears of Wheat Tiara with glittering diamond (and ruby?) earrings.

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg (whose husband, Grand Duke Henri, had been enthroned only a year earlier) wore the family’s diamond and pearl choker tiara by Chaumet. She also wore a diamond necklace and diamond and pearl earrings.

Maria Teresa’s mother-in-law, Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte, wore one of the tiaras that she donned during her own wedding celebrations: the Belgian Scroll Tiara.

One more royal lady from Luxembourg was at this wedding: Princess Sibilla, the wife of Prince Guillaume. She wore her beautiful (and convertible!) diamond art deco tiara with other diamond (and ruby?) jewels.

Queen Sofia (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Let’s round out this jewel roundup with one more queen: Queen Sofia of Spain, who attended the wedding in the lovely Spanish Floral Tiara, pairing it with diamond jewels (including a diamond bow brooch).

Note: This is an updated and expanded version of an earlier post.