Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World
Today in Luxembourg, Princess Stéphanie celebrates her last birthday as the country’s Hereditary Grand Duchess. In October, her husband will become Grand Duke, and she will likely gain access to an exclusive collection of jewels—including two family tiaras she has not yet worn.
February is the month of amethysts, and there have been a few notes in my inbox recently asking about a necklace worn by Anna Wintour at Buckingham Palace. Is it the same one that was once worn by Queen Mary? The short answer is no—but I’ll give a longer explanation in today’s article, just for fun.
Today’s royal history tale at Hidden Gems focuses on the Connaught family’s visit to Spain in 1905, which did not, surprisingly, include a meeting between the princesses and the eligible King. As bonus reading today, we’ve got a look at the royal jewels worn at the Spanish court during this period, which was marked by the influence of the monarch’s powerful mother, Queen Maria Cristina.