Can you identify the jewels worn here by Queen Sofia of Spain (born Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark) during the 1988 state visit from the United Kingdom? (Bonus points for identifying the orders and medals worn by Sofia’s cousin, the Duke of Edinburgh!)
Saturday Sparkler: The Duchess of Alba’s Pearl Tiara
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| Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, 18th Duchess of Alba (GIF source) |
There are royals, there are nobles, and then there was Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, the 18th Duchess of Alba. The duchess died this week at the grand old age of 88. During her lifetime, she might have been more famous for her appearance and her marriages, but she also had more legitimately recognized noble titles than anyone else on earth and a diamond and pearl tiara with a serious pedigree. So there!
Empress Eugénie, previous owner of the pearl tiara
Cayetana’s pearl tiara had an illustrious previous owner: Eugénie, the last Empress of France. Eugénie was born in Spain, the daughter of an aristocratic Spanish family. Her sister María Francisca married Jacobo Fitz-James Stuart, the Duke of Alba. (Can you tell that Jacobo had a significant royal connection? That surname means that he was descended from the 1st Duke of Berwick, who was the illegitimate son of James II of England and Arabella Churchill.)
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| Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, 18th Duchess of Alba (GIF source) |
Jacobo and Maria Francisca were the great-grandparents of the late duchess, which means that the French empress was her great-grand-aunt. The tiara traveled through the Alba family tree from Eugénie to Cayetana, whose family still owns it today.
The Duchess of Alba dies, aged 88: http://t.co/2bsQvXWZGm pic.twitter.com/rP4yKXAGBL
— Grazia_Live (@Grazia_Live) November 20, 2014
For her first wedding in 1947 (pictured above), Cayetana chose to wear Eugénie’s tiara, which features laurel wreath motifs and alternating upright pearls and square-cut diamonds. The marriage ended with her husband’s death, but the tiara stayed with the family. In 1998, Cayetana’s daughter, Eugenia, wore her namesake’s tiara at her own wedding. That marriage ultimately failed, but I’m loath to declare such a lovely piece to be bad luck! Hopefully, the next Alba bride to sport this sparkler will prove that the third time really is a charm.
This Week in Royal Jewels: November 14-20
November 14-20, 2014
Tiaras, brooches, and earrings galore this week. Enjoy!
10. For a Place2Be reception at Kensington Palace on Wednesday, the Duchess of Cambridge chose a familiar pair of earrings: her Temple of Heaven girandole pendant earrings by Cassandra Goad.
9. Queen Maxima attended a symposium in Utrecht on Thursday, pairing a regal purple outfit with a large gold statement necklace.
8. Queen Mathilde of the Belgians spoke at an event to mark Universal Children’s Day on Thursday. She continued her interest in oversized accessories, wearing a very large necklace.
7. The Duchess of Cornwall wore her paired turquoise bird brooches as she visited HMP Erlestoke Prison on Tuesday.
6. On her sixty-seventh wedding anniversary, Queen Elizabeth II wore the Jardine Star Brooch for a visit to RAF Lossiemouth with the Duke of Edinburgh.
5. Queen Letizia of Spain chose a pair of colorful pendant earrings to address a nutrition summit in Rome on Thursday.
4. Before leaving with King Felipe for Italy, Queen Letizia chose silver earrings for an awards ceremony at El Prado in Madrid on Monday.
3. The Duchess of Cornwall accompanied the Prince of Wales to Westminster Abbey on Thursday for a memorial service for Lady Mary Soames. She wore her diamond stick insect brooch, a piece which has been in her collection since her pre-duchess days.
“@Royal_talk: The Swedish royal family attended a gala dinner pic.twitter.com/oVMa9Olgg8” Cut Steel for Victoria, Connaught for Silvia
— Ella Kay (@courtjeweller) November 18, 2014
2. The Swedish royal family attended a
diplomatic reception on Tuesday, and the two highest-ranking ladies in
the land brought out tiaras for the occasion. Queen Silvia wore the
Connaught Diamond Tiara, while Crown Princess Victoria chose the larger
Napoleonic Cut Steel Tiara. Sofia Hellqvist attended the event with
Prince Carl Philip, but no tiaras for her just yet. See more photos at the royal website.
1. This week, the Duchess of Alba, one of the most flamboyant members of the Spanish aristocracy, died at 88. She had more titles than anyone else on the planet, plus an absolutely astonishing collection of palaces, art, and jewels. Here she is in her younger days, wearing her floral coronet and a gorgeous diamond necklace. Stay tuned tomorrow for another look into her jewel collection!