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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

This Week in Royal Jewels: November 21-27

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November 21-27, 2014
We’re officially in the holiday season now, and it’s time to marvel at the lovely jewels worn by royals this week!
10. On Tuesday, the Duchess of Cornwall visited Birmingham University’s School of Jewellery. She kept her own jewels simple — pearl earrings and a few bracelets — but the visit provided a glimpse into the work of Britain’s up-and-coming jewel designers.

9. Queen Letizia of Spain wore her oval pendant earrings, plus a bright red lip, to attend an event on volunteerism in Palma de Mallorca on Thursday.

8. Letizia wore another pair of pendant earrings — this time in gold and rubies — at an event on Monday celebrating the 75th anniversary of the CSIC in Madrid.

7. The Duchess of Cambridge supported one of her patronages, the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, at the launch of their new charity appeal on Tuesday. She accessorized with her Kiki McDonough green amethyst earrings and Mappin and Webb’s Fortune necklace.

6. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wore dramatic earrings and a diamond bracelet to an event at the orchestra in The Hague on Friday.

5. Wearing simple earrings, a diamond pendant, and a large cuff bracelet, Infanta Elena of Spain represented her brother, King Felipe, at the funeral of the Duchess of Alba in Seville on Friday.

4. Queen Mathilde of the Belgians chose gold jewelry, including earrings, a watch, and a bracelet, for her visit to a retirement home on Friday.

3. Queen Sofia of Spain wore dramatic jewels at an awards ceremony in Valencia on Tuesday.

2. On Tuesday, Queen Silvia of Sweden wore her multicolored pearls, a large brooch, and several bracelets from her charity, the World Childhood Foundation, to accept the Martin Buber Plaque in the Netherlands.

1. The British royal jewel collection got a little bit larger this week! In her role as president of the International Equestrian Foundation, Princess Haya of Jordan presented Queen Elizabeth II with the organization’s inaugural lifetime achievement award. The award included a white gold and diamond brooch designed as a series of interlocking horseshoes:

I have a feeling we’ll see HM debut this one at Epsom or Ascot this year!

Saturday Sparkler: The Duchess of Alba’s Pearl Tiara

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Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, 18th Duchess of Alba (GIF source)

There are royals, there are nobles, and then there was Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, the 18th Duchess of Alba. The duchess died this week at the grand old age of 88. During her lifetime, she might have been more famous for her appearance and her marriages, but she also had more legitimately recognized noble titles than anyone else on earth and a diamond and pearl tiara with a serious pedigree. So there!

Empress Eugénie, previous owner of the pearl tiara

Cayetana’s pearl tiara had an illustrious previous owner: Eugénie, the last Empress of France. Eugénie was born in Spain, the daughter of an aristocratic Spanish family. Her sister María Francisca married Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, the Duke of Alba. (Can you tell that Jacobo had a significant royal connection? That surname means that he was descended from the 1st Duke of Berwick, who was the illegitimate son of James II of England and Arabella Churchill.)

Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, 18th Duchess of Alba (GIF source)

Jacobo and Maria Francisca were the great-grandparents of the late duchess, which means that the French empress was her great-grand-aunt. The tiara traveled through the Alba family tree from Eugénie to Cayetana, whose family still owns it today.

For her first wedding in 1947 (pictured above), Cayetana chose to wear Eugénie’s tiara, which features laurel wreath motifs and alternating upright pearls and square-cut diamonds. The marriage ended with her husband’s death, but the tiara stayed with the family. In 1998, Cayetana’s daughter, Eugenia, wore her namesake’s tiara at her own wedding. That marriage ultimately failed, but I’m loath to declare such a lovely piece to be bad luck! Hopefully, the next Alba bride to sport this sparkler will prove that the third time really is a charm.