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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Archives for July 2019

Birthday Jewels for Crown Princess Victoria

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Julia Reinhart/Getty Images

The Swedish royal family gathered on the island of Oland this weekend to mark the 42nd birthday of Crown Princess Victoria. Here’s a look at some of the jewelry they sported for the occasion!

Julia Reinhart/Getty Images

The festivities began on Sunday at Solliden Palace, the family’s summer home in Borgholm. King Carl XVI Gustaf led birthday cheers for his daughter and heir.

Julia Reinhart/Getty Images

Victoria’s entire family was present, including Prince Daniel and their children, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar.

Julia Reinhart/Getty Images

Victoria’s bright statement earrings come from the brand Sophie by Sophie. (The ID comes courtesy of TheRoyalsAndI, a blog devoted to Swedish royal fashion. One of their writers, Sarah, was present at Solliden for this event, and they’ve got a fabulous write-up over here.)

Julia Reinhart/Getty Images

Estelle was adorable as usual, and she even wore a little age-appropriate jewelry — a necklace and a little bracelet.

Julia Reinhart/Getty Images

Prince Oscar was also on hand to receive birthday greetings from the gathered crowd.

Julia Reinhart/Getty Images

For her daughter’s birthday, Queen Silvia wore hoop earrings and playful pearls, plus stacked bracelets. Some of the bracelets look to have been handmade, perhaps gifts from some of the members of the public who attended the event.

Julia Reinhart/Getty Images

Later in the day, the family gathered for the traditional birthday concert at Idrottsplatsen in Borgholm.

Julia Reinhart/Getty Images

Victoria wore traditional dress, including a silver brooch. She paired simple diamond studs with the ensemble.

Julia Reinhart/Getty Images

With her traditional dress, Queen Silvia wore pearl earrings and her usual bracelets and rings. (Note the beaded “Childhood” bracelet that comes from one of her most important charitable endeavors.)

Julia Reinhart/Getty Images

Estelle and Daniel were on hand as well, though little Oscar sensibly stayed home.

Julia Reinhart/Getty Images

Victoria’s sibings and their spouses were also at the concert. Princess Madeleine wore coral statement hoops, and Princess Sofia chose a summery pair of earrings from Gas Bijoux.

TCJ Book Club Pick: Massie’s CATHERINE THE GREAT

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Get excited, magpies: our July/August selection for The Court Jeweller Book Club is…

Image: The Court Jeweller
Peter III and Catherine II of Russia (Wikimedia Commons)
Massie’s book is a completely fascinating biography of a completely fascinating royal woman. Catherine’s life has become the stuff of legend, but Massie capably transports the reader back to the world of the eighteenth century, breathing life into Catherine’s journey from a small German principality to the throne of imperial Russia.
Portrait of Empress Catherine II (Wikimedia Commons)
The biography is lengthy, but it’s very accessible, and I think both those who are familiar with the subject and those who are reading about the empress for the first time will find things to enjoy within the text. Massie is a master of his genre, and the book is an absolute joy to read.
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We’ll be discussing the book in September, so you’ve got plenty of time to grab a copy and get lost in the world of Catherine’s imperial court! Copies are available at Amazon (and other retailers), and there should be plenty to be found in the second-hand market, too!
Note: Some links on this website are Amazon affiliate links. I put all money that I receive from these affiliate links back into materials for review on the site (including the book discussed in this post), so if you want to read more reviews, please consider purchasing items through the affiliate links in this post and throughout the site. Thanks, everybody!

TCJ Book Club Discussion: ROYAL SISTERS

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Grab your copy of our latest book club selection, magpies: it’s time to discuss Anne Edwards’s Royal Sisters!

The Queen and Princess Margaret at the London Coliseum during the Queen’s fifth wedding anniversary celebrations, November 1952 (AFP/Getty Images)

Originally published in the 1990s, Edwards’s book takes a look at the young lives of Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, from their childhood until the 1950s. Their romances with Philip Mountbatten and Peter Townsend form a major part of the book. Edwards is keenly interested in the way the regal position of each princess informed her romance.

Peter Townsend in Brussels, March 1955 (Central Press/Getty Images)

The book was republished in 2016, no doubt thanks to the success of The Crown. Edwards has provided a new foreword to the book that discusses her own personal connections to her biographical subjects — including her friendship with Townsend.

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What did you make of Edwards’s glimpse into the early years of the Queen’s life and reign? What did you make of the portrayal of her relationship with her younger sister? Let’s discuss the book in the comments below!

Our discussion of Royal Sisters continues below in the comments! Stay tuned later this morning for the big reveal of our next selection for The Court Jeweller Book Club!