Archives for March 2016
Saturday Sparkler: Princess Madeleine’s Aquamarine Bandeau
There are few royal tiaras more polarizing than this one: the aquamarine bandeau tiara worn by Princess Madeleine of Sweden. Funny how something so simple can be so divisive, huh?
The tiara — which is often dubbed “the cyclops” for rather obvious reasons — is much older than it seems. When Madeleine first began wearing the tiara, many assumed that it was a newly-made piece. But there are photos of Madeleine’s aunt, Princess Désirée, wearing the tiara. Its history apparently goes back two generations further: sources suggest that it was the property of Queen Louise, the wife of Madeleine’s great-grandfather, King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden.
The design of the sparkler is incredibly simple — two thin rows of diamonds hugging a single, large aquamarine. If the tiara did indeed belong to Queen Louise, it’s plausible that the piece is from the art deco period.
Madeleine received the aquamarine tiara as an eighteenth birthday gift from her parents, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden. Like her sister’s birthday tiara, this was something of a starter piece, and Madeleine has since graduated mainly to larger and grander tiaras. She does, however, occasionally bring out the cyclops at white-tie events.
Part of me, though, almost wishes that she’d unexpectedly chosen this as her wedding tiara — just to hear the echo of groans from tiara lovers across the world. (Not really — I’m not that cruel!)
This Week in Royal Jewels: February 26-March 3
10. Princess Charlene of Monaco wore pearl stud earrings to accompany Prince Albert and Prince Jacques to the Sainte Devote Rugby Tournament on Saturday.
9. Queen Letizia of Spain chose glittering starburst-shaped drop earrings for the Rare Diseases World Day Event in Madrid on Thursday.
8. In Belgium, Queen Mathilde also chose what appears to be a lovely pair of drop earrings to visit a military hospital; unfortunately, her hair obscures their full shape/material in every picture I’ve found. Drat!
Crown Prince Haakon & Crown Princess Mette-Marit visited Alna on Tuesday. Photos: Cornelius Poppe/NTB Scanpix pic.twitter.com/jAAPCznQ81— Factually Royal (@factually_royal) March 2, 2016
7. Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway wore a pendant necklace during a visit to Alna on Tuesday.
6. Queen Elizabeth II received credentials from new ambassadors on Wednesday wearing her usual daytime jewelry uniform: pearl and diamond studs, pearl necklace, and brooch. It’s tough to see this one, but I think it might be the Pearl Trefoil.
Belgium King and Queen in Turnhout province of Antwerpen #Turnhout #Queenmathilde #Royalty pic.twitter.com/3GQ3gl2kia— Albert Nieboer (@Royaleurope) February 26, 2016
5. Queen Mathilde wore a pair of colorful purple and red earrings to visit Turnhout on Friday.
4. The Bernadottes gathered on Thursday for a service of thanksgiving following the birth of Prince Oscar, the newborn son of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel. Queen Silvia wore earrings and a brooch, while Princess Sofia, expecting her own baby next month, wore a lovely pair of drop earrings. (Pearls, perhaps?)
Danish Crown Princess Mary at Qatar Academy & Foundation #CrownPrincessMary #Doha #QatarAcademy #Royals pic.twitter.com/MpjxC8cBJc— Albert Nieboer (@Royaleurope) March 3, 2016
3. Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark are on a visit to the Middle East this week. On Thursday in Qatar, Mary wore a lovely pair of pearl earrings.
2. At a Queen’s Trust event in London on Thursday, Queen Elizabeth II wore her diamond and pink sapphire brooch.
— Albert Nieboer (@Royaleurope) March 2, 2016
1. My top vote of the week goes to Crown Princess Mary, who wore her Annikat earrings while in Qatar, The gorgeous earrings are set with large blue topazes bordered by diamonds and sapphires.
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