Queen Fabiola’s Diamonds Sparkle Again on Queen Mathilde in Brussels

On Tuesday, members of the extended Belgian royal family gathered in Brussels to remember their departed loved ones, and Queen Mathilde appropriately wore a brooch that belonged to the late Queen Fabiola for the occasion.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians led the royal family party during the annual mass in memory of their deceased loved ones at Notre-Dame de Laeken on Tuesday. Philippe and Mathilde were joined at the mass by his brother and sister-in-law, Prince Laurent and Princess Claire, and his half-sister and her husband, Princess Delphine and Jim O’Hare.

Also present were Princess Léa, the widow of the King’s uncle, Prince Alexandre, as well as Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg and Prince Nikolaus and Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein. Margaretha and Guillame are the daughter and son of the late Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg, who was the eldest daughter of King Leopold III of Belgium.

The mass is held annually at Notre-Dame de Laeken because the royal crypt beneath the church is the final resting place for generations of Belgian royals. All of Belgium’s monarchs and their spouses are buried here, including the present King’s grandparents, King Leopold III and Queen Astrid (and his second wife, Princess Lilian), and his uncle and aunt, King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola. Prince Alexandre of Belgium is buried there, too, as is Prince Leopold of Liechtenstein, the infant son of Prince Nikolaus and Princess Margaretha.

Queen Mathilde usually wears dark colors for this annual mass, and on Tuesday, she opted for a black dress (from Natan, per UFO No More) with long black gloves, a black hat, and a matching clutch bag and shoes.

She wore an especially appropriate brooch for the occasion: the diamond floral fringe brooch that belonged to the King’s beloved aunt, the late Queen Fabiola.

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The antique diamond brooch arrived in Fabiola’s jewelry collection in 1983, after it was purchased from a Christie’s auction in Geneva by her husband, King Baudouin. She wore it occasionally during the final decade of her husband’s reign. Above, she wears it for a black-tie event in 1986.

Fabiola lent the brooch to Mathilde as early as 2011, and at some point she made the loan into a permanent gift. Mathilde has worn the brooch often since Fabiola’s death, and this appearance was a clear reference to Fabiola’s memory. Mathilde paired the brooch with pearl drop earrings from her personal collection for the mass.

There were a handful of other jewelry moments that I thought were notable during the mass. Princess Léa wore a forest green suit and wrap for the occasion, paired with bold golden flower earrings.

And Princess Sibilla opted for classic diamonds and pearls with her black coat and hat, wearing diamond and pearl drop earrings and a three row pearl necklace.