Diana's Butterflies for Meghan in Sydney

PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images

It's been a big week already for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex: they've kicked off their first royal tour and announced that they're expecting a baby next spring! And, perhaps most exciting of all, they've dug deep into the family jewelry vaults to bring out an heirloom surprise in Sydney.

The Daily Diadem: The Ruby Dragonfly Tiara

FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images

Camilla of Bourbon-Two Sicilies wears the Ruby Dragonfly Tiara at the reception following the princely wedding in Monaco, July 2011; see another view of the tiara here!

Liechtenstein's Tiarapedia Has Landed!

Hereditary Princess Sophie wears the Habsburg Fringe Tiara in Amsterdam, April 2003 (Michel Porro/Getty Images)

Our Tiarapedia renovation process has arrived at one of the tiniest principalities in the world: Liechtenstein, a nation with only a few tiaras -- but they're good ones!

The Daily Diadem: The Bavarian Lover's Knot Tiara

Princess Antonia of Luxembourg, the last Crown Princess of Bavaria, wears the Bavarian Lover's Knot Tiara in a portrait, ca. 1921; learn more about the tiara here!

The Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch

The Queen wears the brooch at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, June 2010 (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

You know you have a serious amount of charisma when multiple people who are not family members leave you glittering jewels in their wills. Such was the luck of the Queen Mum, who famously received the gigantic Greville jewel bequest from a family friend; even better, she also inherited today's piece, the Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch, from a loyal subject.

The Daily Diadem: Princess Rupprecht's Floral Tiara

Wikimedia Commons

Duchess Marie Gabrielle in Bavaria, first wife of Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria, wears a classic diamond floral tiara in a portrait taken at Atelier Elvira in Munich, ca. 1906; I do not have additional information about the whereabouts of this tiara

The Cartier Diamond Loop Tiara

Queen Sofia wears the tiara for a gala dinner in honor of the King of Saudi Arabia, June 2007 (Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

For a royal family that has faced serious upheaval over the last century, the Borbons of Spain have managed to hang on to some serious heirloom tiaras. That's been possible in part because the family has largely maintained personal possession of their jewels rather than consigning them to an official collection of crown jewels. It also means that many tiaras, like the Cartier Diamond Loop Tiara we're discussing today, meandered a bit through the family before arriving in the hands of its current owners.

The Daily Diadem: The Bavarian Pearl and Diamond Floral Tiara

Portrait in public domain

Queen Maria Theresia of Bavaria wears the family's pearl and diamond floral tiara in a court portrait, ca. 1918; learn more about the tiara over here!

Royal Jewels at Princess Eugenie's Wedding

Owen Humphreys - WPA Pool/Getty Images

There were royals galore present at St. George's Chapel this morning for the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank -- and lots of royal jewelry, too! Here's an overview of the British royal jewels worn for the occasion.

Princess Eugenie's Bridal Jewels

JONATHAN BRADY/AFP/Getty Images

HRH Princess Eugenie of York is now officially HRH Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank! And, of course, we've got all the details on her royal wedding jewels!

Princess Eugenie's Royal Wedding Live Post!

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank announce their engagement, January 2018 (JONATHAN BRADY/AFP/Getty Images)

It's royal wedding day, Magpies! Today, Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank will marry at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

The Daily Diadem: Queen Marie's Pearl Tiara

Wikimedia Commons

Queen Marie of Bavaria wears a petite tiara of pearls and the grand diamond and pearl stomacher in a portrait taken by Joseph Albert, ca. 1864; I don't have any additional information about the tiara, but you'll find more about the stomacher over here!

This Week in Royal Jewels: October 5-10

October 5-10, 2018

Surprise! Because we're going to be in royal wedding mode tomorrow, I'm bringing you an early (and supersized!) version of our weekly royal jewel roundup today. Don't forget to vote for your favorites in the poll below!

EDDIE MULHOLLAND/AFP/Getty Images

20. On Tuesday, the Duchess of Cambridge wore her Empress earrings and necklace from Mappin and Webb for the first Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in London. (More on the suite here!)

The Daily Diadem: Queen Therese's Diamond Tiara

Wikimedia Commons

Queen Therese of Bavaria wears an elaborate diamond tiara featuring diamond drops, scrolls, and laurel leaf motifs in its design, plus her pearl girandoles and the pearl crown of Bavarian queens, in a copy of Joseph Karl Stieler's coronation portrait; I don't have any additional information about the tiara, but the earrings and crown are both featured here!

Sarah, Duchess of York's Diamonds

Sarah, Duchess of York wears the earrings and necklace from her diamond demi-parure in Cannes, May 2011 (Francois Durand/Getty Images)

Princess Eugenie of York's wedding is quickly approaching, and I've seen some discussion online about the tiara she may choose to wear for the big day. (Bets seem to be on her mother's bridal diadem, the York Tiara.) But Sarah Ferguson also received another dazzling wedding present from the Queen: a floral diamond demi-parure that we may be able to spot on either Sarah or Eugenie this Friday.

The Monegasque Tiarapedia Has Arrived!

The Ocean Tiara (VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images)

The Tiarapedia's renaissance continues with a brand-new section, this time devoted to the princely jewel collection of the Grimaldis of Monaco!

The Daily Diadem: Princess Augusta's Pearl Bandeau

Grand Ladies Site

Princess Augusta, Duchess of Leuchtenberg wears a bandeau made of two strands of pearls hung with pear-shaped pearl drops in a portrait by Andrea Appiani. ca. 1806; unfortunately, I do not have additional information to share about the pearls

Empress Eugenie's Bow Brooch

Empress Eugenie's Bow Brooch (Christie's)

Our journey through the remarkable jewelry collection of our Magpie of the Month, Empress Eugenie of France, arrives today at a truly stunning piece of art: her massive Diamond Bow Brooch. Once worn in France's royal palaces, the bow took a meandering path, eventually returning to one of France's most cherished institutions.

The Daily Diadem: Queen Caroline's Cluster Tiara

Wikimedia Commons

Queen Caroline of Bavaria wears a parure of jewels with gem-set clusters, possibly featuring black opals, hematite, or onyx, in a portrait by an unnamed German artist, ca. 1817; I do not have any additional information about the jewels depicted

Celebrating Oktoberfest with Bavarian Royal Jewels

Image kindly provided by Marina; do not reproduce!

At the end of September and the beginning of October, the citizens of Munich throw an internationally renowned party: the Oktoberfest. The first ever Oktoberfest bash took place on October 12, 1810, when the people of Munich gathered in the fields near the city's gates to celebrate the royal wedding of King Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. They've been celebrating ever since, and the festivities have inspired similar celebrations worldwide. (My little hometown even has an Oktoberfest this weekend!)

To celebrate the season, a kind reader, Marina, has shared some of her photographs of Bavarian royal jewels. She recently visited the treasury room at the the Residenz Museum in Munich, and she very generously offered to share some of her sparkling photographs with all of us!

The Daily Diadem: Queen Victoria's Strawberry Leaf Tiara

Wikimedia Commons

Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom wears her mother's Strawberry Leaf Tiara in a portrait by Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida, ca. 1908; read more about the tiara over here!

The Teck Emperor of Austria Brooch

Queen Elizabeth II wears the Teck Emperor of Austria Brooch (CHRIS JACKSON/AFP/Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth II's brooch collection is well stocked with pieces set with diamonds and pearls. But today's brooch, the Teck Emperor of Austria Brooch, also has a little something extra: a Habsburg imperial provenance.

The Daily Diadem: The Dutch Laurel Wreath Tiara

Jacopo Raule/Getty Images

Princess Carolina of Bourbon-Parma, first cousin of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, wears the Dutch Laurel Wreath Tiara at her wedding to Albert Brenninkmeijer, June 2012; learn more about this family heirloom over here!

Princess Marie's Opal Tiara

Princess Marie of Denmark wears her opal tiara and necklace

The lovely, unique birthstone of October babies, the opal, often makes an appearance in royal jewelry with a dramatic flair. Today's sparkler, the opal tiara that belonged to Princess Marie of Denmark, certainly fits that bill.

The Daily Diadem: The Alba Emerald Coronet

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba wears the family's ducal coronet in a portrait, ca. 1947; the diamond and emerald diadem has been in the family for several generations

This Week in Royal Jewels: September 28-October 4

September 28-October 4, 2018

We've got both fun jewelry and major sparkle on tap this week! Don't forget to vote for your favorites in the poll below!

Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images

10. Queen Letizia of Spain wore her Chanel star stud earrings on Thursday for Red Cross World Day in Madrid.

The Daily Diadem: The Danish Ruby Parure Tiara

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (seated beside Constantine II of Greece) wears the tiara and jewels from the Danish Ruby Parure at a gala dinner celebrating Queen Margrethe II's Ruby Jubilee, January 2012; much more on this suite over here!

Royal Wedding Jewels in Bavaria

(Photo kindly provided by Gabi; do not reproduce!)

This weekend, a wedding took place in Bavaria between a countess and her American-born groom. It all sounds rather run-of-the-mill -- until you realize that the bride is a descendant of the Habsburgs, the Wittelsbachs, and the Savoys. It should come as no surprise, then, that a major royal tiara popped up on the bride's head!

The Daily Diadem: The Spanish Wedding Gift Tiara

AFP/Getty Images

Carmen Polo y Martínez-Valdés, wife of Francisco Franco, presents Fabiola de Mora y Aragon with a coronet-style tiara ahead of her wedding to King Baudouin of Belgium, December 1960; learn more about the story of the Spanish Wedding Gift Tiara here!

Caroline Makes a Statement at Bonhams

Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

Princess Caroline of Monaco was in London on Monday, and she packed a major statement piece of jewelry in her luggage for the trip!

Jewels of The Splendour of Power (Part 3)

Collar of the Order of the Dannebrog (Image kindly shared by Alberta; do not reproduce!)

Today, we've got a treat for you: the final post in our series on the current jewelry exhibition at Koldinghus in Denmark! This entire set of posts would not have been remotely possible without the generosity of Alberta, one of our readers who attended the exhibition and kindly offered to share her photos with us.

For our last peek inside the exhibition, we've got a series of bejeweled items that really reinforce its theme: The Splendour of Power. (And if you missed post one or post two, don't forget to go check those out, too!)

Forest Green Jewels for Kate in London

Peter Nicholls - WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Duchess of Cambridge officially returned from maternity leave on Tuesday, and she brought along some appropriately hued jewels for her first engagement back at work.

The Daily Diadem: The Boucheron Emerald Leaves Tiara

HENRIK MONTGOMERY/AFP/Getty Images

Queen Rania of Jordan wears a Boucheron tiara of leaves in emeralds and black gold during a state visit to Sweden, October 2003; the tiara was likely on loan from the jewelry firm

The Metropolitan Opera's Currant Leaf Brooch

Empress Eugenie painted by Edouard Louis Dubufe, ca. 1854 (Grand Ladies Site)

It's a new month, which means we're delving into the collection of a brand-new Magpie of the Month! Because Princess Eugenie of York is getting married in a few days, we're spending October with one of her royal namesakes: Empress Eugenie of France. And we're kicking things off with an absolutely grand brooch from her collection: the Currant Leaf Brooch that later belonged to New York's Metropolitan Opera.

The Daily Diadem: The Diamond Vine Leaves Tiara

Handout/Getty Images

Princess Claire of Luxembourg wears the Diamond Vine Leaves Tiara for her religious wedding to Prince Felix in France, September 2013; learn more about the tiara over here!

The Norwegian Tiarapedia Debuts!

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

A new week brings a new section of the relaunched Tiarapedia, the original online encyclopedia of tiaras! Today's Tiarapedia debut has a distinctly Nordic feel about it...