year in review

STR/Japan Pool via Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images

We’ve reached the number one spot on our countdown of the best royal jewels of 2020! The best royal jewelry moments of the year came from a pair of glittering gala events in Tokyo.

STR/Japan Pool via Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images

The imperial family of Japan traditionally holds a reception to celebrate the New Year in January. In 2020, the newly-enthroned Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako presided over the first New Year’s reception of their reign in Toyko.

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For her first New Year reception as empress, Masako wore the Meiji Tiara with diamond earrings, a pair of diamond rivieres, and a diamond chrysanthemum brooch.

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The Akishino family stood to the right of the imperial couple during the reception. Crown Princess Kiko wore the Japanese Crown Princely Tiara with its coordinating parure. Princess Mako wore her diamond parure, and Princess Kako wore hers.

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On the left of the imperial couple, the ladies of the Mikasa family were assembled. Princess Nobuko wore her diamond and pearl wedding parure, and her daughters, Princess Akiko and Princess Yoko, wore their usual parures. Princess Hisako wore her wedding parure, also set with diamonds, and her daughter, Princess Tsuguko, wore her suite of diamond jewels.

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In November, the family gathered again for the official proclamation of Crown Prince Fumihito as the heir to the imperial throne. The ceremony had originally been scheduled for April, but it was delayed because of the pandemic. Following a pair of ceremonies in the morning, Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko arrived in the throne room, where they were received by the emperor and empress for the Choken-no-gi ritual.

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Empress Masako again wore the Meiji Tiara, which is reserved for the use of the empress, for the ritual. She paired it with diamond earrings, two diamond rivieres, and a diamond floral brooch.

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The Choken-no-gi ceremony is a first official audience, and it involves the presentation of a symbolic meal. Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko were seated before tables laden with food during the ceremony. None of the food, though, is actually consumed during the ritual.

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Crown Princess Kiko again sparkled in the impressive Japanese Crown Princely Parure for the occasion. She’s worn the diamond suite exclusively since becoming crown princess in 2019.

Happy New Year, everybody! We’ll be back with more sparkle bright and early in the morning. Here’s to a fantastic 2021!

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