Don’t Miss a Single Sparkling Moment! Sign up for The Court Jeweller Newsletter

The Court Jeweller

Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Royal Bonus: My #WeekendReads at Next Issue

by // Leave a Comment

The lovely people over at Next Issue, my favorite app for reading magazines, asked me to be their Guest Curator this weekend. I genuinely love being able to read my favorite magazines from the US and Canada on this service, especially Hello! Canada and People, which have great royal coverage. As Guest Curator, I’ve chosen a group of stories that highlight the royal content available through the app — be sure to hop over to their blog and check it out! 
(And, FYI: if you’d like to try Next Issue, you can use my referral link to get 60 days free!)

Saturday Sparkler: The Duchess of Braganza’s Bandeau

by // Leave a Comment

Isabel wears the bandeau, 2004

Members of reigning royal houses aren’t the only people these days who need tiaras. With invitations to weddings, investitures, and other white-tie events showing up in the mailboxes of various pretenders to various thrones, members of former reigning houses need to have a diadem at their disposal as well. Today’s tiara is just such a sparkler: the diamond bandeau tiara worn by the current Duchess of Braganza, the wife of the pretender to the throne of Portugal.

Isabel wears the bandeau, 2011


The word pretender sometimes makes the position of these deposed royals sound more sinister than it actually is. The current Duke of Braganza, Dom Duarte Pio, doesn’t swan about Lisbon, pretending to be the king of Portugal. But if the monarchy were to be restored, he’d be the best candidate, and in Portugal, he actually has a degree of status that is recognized by the government. The president came to his wedding, which was royal in all but name; he also performs some official duties on behalf of the government. The Duke and his wife are also frequently invited to events by currently reigning houses.

Isabel wears the tiara, 2011

This tiara that the current duchess often wears to these events was first worn by the duke’s mother, Maria Francisca. She was actually a member of the Brazilian branch of the Portuguese royal family, and her marriage to Duarte Pio’s father reuinted the two lines. She married in 1942, and the design of the tiara suggests that it may also date to the middle of the twentieth century. It’s a small diamond bandeau that features floral elements interspersed with twisted diamond bands. Today, Isabel wears the piece both as a small enclosed circlet and as an open bandeau, the same way that her mother-in-law wore the tiara. It’s a small piece, considerably smaller than the heirloom tiara that Isabel wore to her wedding, but I’ll wager that this one is easier both to wear and to travel with.

Isabel wears the bandeau, 2011


Recently, Isabel gave an interview in which she hinted that family jewels like this one, which the Braganzas own personally, might be passed down to their daughter. That would mean the further dispersal of the collection — something that will no doubt dismay Portuguese monarchists, but unfortunately something that isn’t uncommon when a royal family is no longer reigning.

The Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein

by // Leave a Comment

Prince Hans-Adam wears the order, 2012

Twenty-five years ago today, Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein became the tiny principality’s sovereign prince. To celebrate his silver jubilee, we’re dedicating today’s post to Liechtenstein’s order of chivalry: the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Princess Elisabeth “Elsa” of Liechtenstein

The order was founded on July 22, 1937, by Prince Franz I of Liechtenstein. The date was significant: it was his wedding anniversary. Eight years earlier, he had married Elisabeth von Gutmann, an Austrian noblewoman. He’d had to wait until he became sovereign prince to marry her, even though they’d been in love for more than a decade, because his family didn’t approve of the marriage. Quite romantic to basically dedicate an entire order of chivalry to your wife, no?

Princess Sophie and Prince Alois wear the order, 2013

Hans-Adam, as the current sovereign prince, is the person who has the right to award the order. The order has five classes: Grand Star, Grand Cross (which can also be awarded “with diamonds”), Commander with Star, Commander, and Knight. As you might have guessed, it’s awarded for services to the country. Most of the senior members of the princely family, including Prince Hans-Adam, Princess Marie (his wife), Hereditary Prince Alois (their son), and Hereditary Princess Sophie (Alois’s wife), all have the order. You’ll often see them wearing the order when they attend white-tie events in other countries, like weddings and inaugurations.

Prince Alois wears the order, 2010

The order’s insignia immediately marks it as belonging to the principality. The sash of the order is red and blue, the same colors found in the country’s flag. The order’s star has eight diamond points; in the center, it bears the order’s badge, a blue and red enamel cross with the letter “L” in elaborate script.

Princess Sophie and Prince Alois wear the order, 2013

These days, Hans-Adam has essentially retired, having handed over the everyday duties of running the principality to Hereditary Prince Alois. Because of this, you’re more likely to see Alois and Sophie attending grand events wearing the sash and star of the Order of Merit. The princely family doesn’t participate in many state visits, so they don’t have a huge collection of royal orders. So next time you see them at a white-tie royal wedding, look carefully: you’ll probably find them wearing the order of their home country, the Order of Merit.