The Benelux royals were out in bejeweled force for the wedding. Queen Beatrix — who was still the Dutch queen at the time of the wedding — wore pearls for her goddaughter’s pre-wedding concert. Her jewelry included a large diamond and pearl bracelet that belonged to Queen Sophie.
Princess Maxima wore her diamond girandole earrings, plus the new bracelets made from Queen Juliana’s large Dutch East Indies Bracelet.
The Duchess of Brabant — who would become Queen Mathilde of the Belgians a few years later — wore her diamond floral necklace and bracelet with large earrings featuring dark pendant drops to match the waist of her gown.
Of all the jewels at the pre-wedding events, I’m not sure any were as spectacular as the ones worn by Princess Astrid of Belgium. This is the Savoy Emerald Necklace, made in France in the nineteenth century. Its original owner was either Queen Maria Vittoria of Spain (wife of Amedeo I) or her daughter-in-law, Princess Hélène of Orléans. (She’s probably better known to the British royal watchers among you as the Catholic princess whom the Duke of Clarence was forbidden to marry.) Today, the necklace is part of the jewel collection of Astrid’s mother-in-law, Archduchess Margherita of Austria-Este.
Also decked out in major colorful gemstones: Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, who wore pieces from the family’s aquamarine parure, plus a ring that looks to have an amethyst stone.
As usual, the Earl and Countess of Wessex represented the Brits at this foreign royal wedding. Sophie let her dress do most of its own accessorizing, but she did wear earrings, an evening watch, and…
…a bracelet, which you can see better in this photo, where everyone is very concerned about Infanta Elena’s skirt.
Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein kept her jewelry very minimal, wearing only small earrings, a watch, and a diamond bracelet. (Plus all those feathers.)
The Princess of Asturias — who would later become Queen Letizia of Spain — wore large diamond hoop earrings and her diamond Cartier bracelet.
Letizia’s sister-in-law, Infanta Elena, wore a Spanish-style gown for the pre-wedding events, accessorizing with green earrings and a pair of glittering bracelets.
Here’s something you’re not likely to see again: Infanta Cristina of Spain and her husband, the disgraced Iñaki Urdangarín, attending a royal event. She’s wearing almost no jewelry at all, save for a pair of small earrings.
She wasn’t yet a princess, as her engagement to Prince Albert II of Monaco was announced after this wedding, but Charlene Wittstock wore a gorgeous pair of pearl earrings to the pre-wedding dinnner. I’m not sure, but I think the jeweled brooch pinned at her waist is probably a part of the gown.
The amazingly-youthful Princess Sarvath of Jordan wore a gorgeous jewel-toned outfit to the pre-wedding dinner, plus delicate drop earrings and a bracelet that matched her dress.
Princess Rym, the sister-in-law of the Jordanian king, wore delicate pendant earrings with her coral-colored gown for the pre-wedding events. If you’re not familiar with Princess Rym, have a Google: her educational and journalistic resume is beyond impressive!
There were a few royals from non-reigning monarchies in attendance at the pre-wedding events as well. Margarita, the Spanish-born wife of the former tsar of Bulgaria, wore gold jewelry to coordinate with her outfit.
And Margarita’s daughter-in-law, Valentino muse Princess Rosario, wore elaborate earrings to contrast with her minimalist gown.
From the former royal family of Yugoslavia, Crown Princess Katherine wore pearls with her vibrant purple dress.
And one more bejeweled guest: Crown Princess Margarita, daughter of the last king of Romania, wore a gorgeous diamond necklace with diamond earrings and a diamond brooch.
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