The Court Jeweller

Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

An Emerald Wedding Tiara in Wertheim

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Photograph © Stefan from Royal Travel and Events. Do not reproduce.

Earlier this week, I asked my Twitter followers whether they’d wear an emerald wedding tiara like the one worn by Princess Sofia of Sweden. Coincidentally, this weekend brought a relevant tiara spotting in Germany: a wedding tiara set with diamonds and emeralds! Here’s the scoop on the unusual wedding tiara worn by Sophie, Princess zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg.

Photograph © Stefan from Royal Travel and Events. Do not reproduce.

The tiara is something of a modified kokoshnik, rising to a peak in the center, and filled with elaborate, delicate diamond-studded design elements. I note ribbons and festoons among the designs. Seven cabochon emerald drops are suspended within these designs, moving as the wearer moves. According to a message posted at the RJWMB, the tiara has been with the family since at least the 1930s; it was worn by Sophie’s great-grandmother, Princess Margarethe, at the wedding of Princess Alexandrine-Louise of Denmark in 1937.

Sophie also wore a small pair of diamond cluster stud earrings — a good choice, because they sparkle, but there’s no attempt to pull focus from that tiara! (Any such attempt would surely be futile.)

Photograph © Stefan from Royal Travel and Events. Do not reproduce.

The groom, Constantine, Count Fugger von Babenhausen (no, really, that’s his name/title), coordinated his wedding ensemble with the bride’s tiara. His green waistcoat pairs nicely with the emerald drops. You also get a glimpse of Sophie’s plain gold wedding ring here.

Photograph © Stefan from Royal Travel and Events. Do not reproduce.

Sophie’s wedding gown featured bejeweled embellishments, too. She’s pictured here with her father, Ludwig, Prince zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg. I love getting a chance to feature a noble wedding like this. So many non-reigning and noble families have managed to hang on to their jewels, but we only get to see them in public on rare occasions like weddings. Isn’t it great to see a fabulous tiara like this one come out of the vaults?

The images in this post were generously provided by a friend of the blog, Stefan from Royal Travel and Events, who was able to join the crowd outside the church in Wertheim. Thank you so much, Stefan! I’d highly recommend that you read his post about attending the wedding, which you can find here.


Jewels to Celebrate the Late Countess Mountbatten of Burma

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Mark Richards – WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Mountbatten and Windsor families gathered today at St. Paul’s Church in Knightsbridge to celebrate the life of the late Patricia Knatchbull, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma. Lady Mountbatten was the daughter of the famous Lord Mountbatten, the last viceroy of India, who was an uncle of the Duke of Edinburgh and a brother of Queen Louise of Sweden.

Lady Mountbatten was the Duke of Edinburgh’s first cousin and a godmother of the Prince of Wales. She was a formidable woman; she served in World War II, and she was one of the survivors of the IRA bombing that killed her father, her mother-in-law, and one of her sons. We covered her post-war wedding over here and chatted about her wedding tiara over here; today, we’re glancing at some of the elegant jewels worn at her funeral service.

Mark Richards – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Lord Brabourne, the late Lady Mountbatten’s eldest son, arrived hand in hand with his wife, Penelope. Although they have been estranged in the recent past, the two presented a united front at the funeral service. After today, they’ll officially be known as the Earl and Countess Mountbatten of Burma. (Norton had previously inherited his father’s Brabourne barony; now, he inherits his mother’s Mountbatten earldom.)

Matt Dunham – WPA Pool/Getty Images

The new Lady Mountbatten wore a lovely diamond floral brooch with classic pearl earrings to celebrate her mother-in-law’s extraordinary life.

Matt Dunham – WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Queen was a bridesmaid at the late Lady Mountbatten’s wedding; today, she wore the elegant Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch at her funeral. (More on the brooch’s history over here.)

Matt Dunham – WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Prince of Wales was among the mourners at his godmother’s funeral; so was the Duke of Edinburgh, who was recently released from the hospital.

Mark Richards – WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Duke of York was also in attendance…

Mark Richards – WPA Pool/Getty Images

…as was the Countess of Wessex. (The Earl of Wessex had previously-scheduled official engagements in Scotland.) Sophie wore her Dior Tribales pearl-look earrings with a dress made of heart-shaped lace.

Mark Richards – WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Princess Royal attended the funeral in classic pearls and one of her gold and pearl brooches.

Mark Richards – WPA Pool/Getty Images

And a few more royals were in attendance, too: the Kent brothers, Edward and Michael, represented their branch of the royal family.