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Easter Jewels: British Royals at Windsor

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Jonathan Brady/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Today on the blog, we’ll be covering some of the jewels worn by royals who attended Easter Sunday services this weekend. We’re starting off with the jewels worn by the Windsors at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor yesterday.

Peter Nicholls/WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Queen wore a glittering diamond and pearl brooch from her late mother’s jewelry collection: the Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch. You can see clearer images of the brooch and read about its history in our previous post on the piece.

Peter Nicholls/WPA Pool/Getty Images

We’ll cover the rest of the Windsors in the order they arrived to attend the service. Autumn Phillips wore sparkling drop earrings; Princess Eugenie of York wore delicate drop earrings and a large ring on her left hand. (But not on that finger, regardless of the engagement rumors.) As usual, Princess Beatrice of York didn’t wear any visible jewels.

Jonathan Brady/WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Duchess of Cambridge wore the classic diamond and pearl earrings that are on loan to her from the Queen. Here’s a link to a previous post on this pair, which was worn by the Queen at her Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Jonathan Brady/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Lady Louise Windsor, daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex, wore a necklace, but we only saw a hint of the delicate chain above the collar of her jacket.

Jonathan Brady/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Her mother, Sophie, wore a pair of pearl-look earrings from Dior made of crystals and resin beads.

Peter Nicholls/WPA Pool/Getty Images

And last (but never least), the Princess Royal wore pearls with her diamond-studded gold ribbon brooch.

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.

Resources

Interested in learning more about jewels, royal or otherwise? Here’s a handy section of links to various resources, both in print and online, for furthering your own education. I’ll be adding to this section of the website regularly. If you’ve found a great book or website not listed here, I’d love to hear about it. (I can read English and French, though I prefer to read English translations when available!) Just drop me a note at lauren@thecourtjeweller.com!

(Note: links to books are my Amazon referral links. If you buy a book after clicking one of these links, I get a small percentage of the profits to bolster my own jewel library and produce more content for all of you!)

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BOOKS
 
Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration (Caroline de Guitaut, 2012)
Written by one of the curators of the Royal Collection, this book is a smaller and less expensive companion to Hugh Roberts’s enormous The Queen’s Diamonds. de Guitaut’s book serves as a catalogue for the 2012 exhibition of diamonds at Buckingham Palace, but it is a little gem in its own right. Featuring lovely photographs of a selection of some of the diamond items from the Royal Collection, the book is less comprehensive than Roberts’s but provides a nicely curated look at some of the sparkliest pieces owned by the British royals.
 
Yet another publication related to the recent diamond jubilee, this book covers the clothing and the jewels worn by Elizabeth II during the various celebrations. Kelly is in charge of the queen’s wardrobe, as well as her jewels, and the book is a delightful peek into the process of designing, constructing, and maintaining her clothes, hats, and jewelry.
 
The Queen’s Diamonds (Sir Hugh Roberts, 2012)
Published to coincide with Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee, this enormous tome is the definitive source out there on the diamonds in the British royal collection. The book is organized by queen, beginning with jewels that belonged to Queen Adelaide and moving to the newest pieces, created for the reigning monarch. Roberts, the former director of the Royal Collection, was given unprecedented access to the jewels and to supporting documents, like Queen Mary’s extensive inventories. Featuring astonishingly detailed photographs, Roberts’s book is the best source out there on British royal jewels.
 
The Queen’s Jewels (Leslie Field, 1987)
Field’s book remains one of the main sources on the jewelry owned by the British royals, even though it has been significantly updated and corrected by Roberts’s recent book. Organized by gemstone, the book surveys pieces inherited and acquired by the queen, providing tidbits of information and a variety of photographs. The text has gone through several updated editions, and it is an important and interesting book for those interested in British jewels. The book is currently out of print, but obtaining used copies is fairly easy.
 
The Royal Jewels (Suzy Menkes, 1985)
Written by fashion columnist Suzy Menkes at the height of the Princess Diana era, this book surveys the jewels owned by various members of the British royal family. Pieces from the collections of Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother are here, but Menkes also discusses jewels owned by the Duchess of Windsor, Princess Margaret, the Princess Royal, Princess Diana, and Sarah Ferguson. The book is significantly in need of an update, and its claims about history and provenance should always be cross-checked with newer sources, but the book is an enjoyable addition to the book collection of the serious jewel watcher. As with Field’s book, Menkes’s book is currently out of print, but used copies are generally available.
 
Tiara (Diana Scarisbrick, 2000)
Published to coincide with an exhibition of tiaras at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, this book presents a sharply curated collection of pieces, including several noble tiaras and a number of tiaras produced by Cartier. The book features a large number of photographs, although some of them are smaller and less detailed than the reader might like.
 
Tiaras: A History of Splendour (Geoffrey C. Munn, 2001)
Munn’s book on the history of tiaras is generally considered to be one of the best resources in print about the tiara as an object and an art form; as managing director of Wartski’s, he has access to some rather remarkable sources on these beautiful pieces. Published as a supplement and a companion to the landmark tiara exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum, the book features large, beautiful photographs, some of pieces that are rarely ever seen in public. It also covers an impressive span of time, from ancient jewels to contemporary pieces. While many of the tiaras featured have connections to royal families, the book also features non-royal jewels. Highly researched, highly recommended.
 
Tiaras: Past and Present (Geoffrey C. Munn, 2002)
This smaller version of Munn’s work on tiaras is essentially the catalogue for the 2002 exhibition of tiaras at the Victoria & Albert Museum. It’s smaller and far less comprehensive than its counterpart, but it features lovely photographs, and would serve as an excellent introduction for those interested in tiaras but not yet ready for a weightier tome.
 
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ONLINE RESOURCES
 
 
Although the primary focus of this website and forum is the history of the Romanovs and imperial Russia, the site also features rare photographs and information about a number of royals, including frequent discussion of royal jewels.Artemisia’s Royal Jewels
This blog is chock-full of content about royal jewels from all over the world. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been updated in some time, so perhaps it’s been abandoned, but the content that remains is sparkling.

Diana’s Jewels
Run by Ayvee, this site is the most complete survey online of the jewels worn by the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Recently, Ayvee has also added a supplemental page on the jewels worn by the Duchess of Cambridge.

Dutch Royal Jewels
The best site on the internet about the jewelry collection of the Dutch royal family, hands down. John includes numerous photographic examples of each piece from the vaults, and he’s careful about documenting their history. A must-read for those researching jewels worn by Queen Máxima, Princess Beatrix, and the rest of the Orange-Nassaus.

 
Covering major contemporary royal occasions, as well as reflecting on glittering events from the past, this forum often features photographs and updates on jewel-filled royal celebrations.HRH Countess of Wessex
Featuring updates on appearances made by the Countess of Wessex, this site is new, but is run by Anna, who has long been an authority on the jewelry worn by Sophie. Her Facebook page, My Small Obsessions, also includes content about jewels run by various members of the British royal family.

One of the best resources online about the ruling families of Luxembourg and Liechtenstein, this blog features content about the family’s jewels amid its updates on their engagements and activities. It’s an excellent resource for those intrigued especially by the vast jewel collection of the Nassau family.
 
Classic posts on royal hats and tiara from my blog, written from 2008-2011.
 
If you’re interested in royal coronations, this forum provides intriguing content related to the various coronations of the past. Rare, jewel-heavy photographs are often included in the postings.
 
An online community dedicated to royal jewelry from around the world, this forum is an intriguing read for anyone seriously interested in the study of royal jewels. Updated regularly; posters are knowledgeable, but a warning for those wishing to contribute: the forum does not frequently approve new members.
 
Ursula’s website on royal jewelry features rare photographs and information about pieces owned by numerous royal families. The site is primarily in German, though some pages feature translations into other languages, including English. The main drawback is the difficulty of navigating the site — your best bet may be to use a google search at times to try to find individual pages.
 
Run by Marlene Eilers Koenig, the author of several books on Queen Victoria’s descendants, this blog features general content about European royals past and present. While the blog does not focus on jewels, she occasionally includes information related to various pieces of royal jewelry, and her historical content provides valuable context for understanding the history of various items.Unofficial Royalty
If you’re looking for daily content on both current and historical royal milestones, this website aggregates just that in a handy format. Great for finding jewel-laden photos from glittering appearances by various royal families!

 
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DOCUMENTARIES
 
De Kongelige Juveler (2011)
This Danish documentary, “The Royal Jewels,” is a two-part series covering jewelry from various royal houses. Part one focuses mainly on Scandinavian jewels, while the second part explores jewels owned by the Romanovs. Both episodes feature interviews with the royals themselves, including Queen Silvia of Sweden and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
 
This short documentary discusses the jewels owned by the British royal family, but be warned: it features several major errors, and the jewels that are filmed in close-up appear to be imitation pieces rather than the real thing.