The Court Jeweller

Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Princess Mabel’s Tiaras

by // Leave a Comment

Princess Mabel arrives for her wedding in Delft, 24 Apr 2004 (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Happy birthday to Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau! Mabel, who is a daughter-in-law of Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands and a sister-in-law of King Willem-Alexander, celebrates her milestone 50th birthday today, and we’re marking the occasion with a look at the sparkling tiaras she’s worn since becoming a princess.

Princess Mabel and Prince Friso on their wedding day, 24 Apr 2004 (Michel Porro/Getty Images)

Mabel married Prince Friso, the second son of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus, in 2004. (Mabel’s previous relationships — which included a narcotics trafficker — made the match a controversial one, and Friso gave up his succession rights when to marry her.) For her big day, Mabel wore a lovely diamond tiara from the royal vaults. The piece features three rows of diamonds cascading from a central point. It was made by Mellerio in 1888, and the top row of diamonds are also used in the family’s grand sapphire tiara. (You can read more about the diamond tiara’s history here!)

Prince Friso and Princess Mabel attend the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, 19 June 2010 (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Because Mabel was a member of the Dutch royal family, but not a member of the Dutch royal house, her tiara-wearing opportunities have been a bit limited. She dons a diadem for more personal events, like birthday or wedding celebrations, not diplomatic galas or official banquets. For the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden in 2010, she wore her diamond wedding tiara…

Princess Mabel attends Queen Beatrix’s pre-abdication dinner, 29 April 2013 (Robin Utrecht – Pool/Getty Images)

…and she also wore her wedding tiara in 2013 for the dinner given by her mother-in-law in Amsterdam on the night before she abdicated the throne. Tragically, this event happened the same year that Prince Friso died; he’d been dealing with complications from a ski accident for more than a year. He died the day after Mabel’s birthday, and tomorrow is the fifth anniversary of his passing.

Anne-Marie of Greece and Princess Mabel attend the birthday celebrations for King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, 9 May 2017 (HAAKON MOSVOLD LARSEN/AFP/Getty Images)

Today, Mabel is still a central part of the royal family, and in 2017, we finally got to see her dig a bit more into the extensive family jewel vaults. For the joint 80th birthday celebrations for King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, Mabel wore the Pearl Button Tiara. The tiara is a particularly significant one in the family. Princess Beatrix wore it on her inauguration day in 1980, and Princess Margriet wore it on her wedding day in 1967. More recently, Queen Maxima used the base of the tiara as part of her own wedding diadem. (Read about the tiara’s history here!)

Which Dutch royal tiara would you like to see Mabel wear next?

Birthday Pearls for Camilla in Cornwall

by // Leave a Comment

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall embarked on their yearly visit to Cornwall and Devon this week, which also happens to be the week that Camilla celebrates her 71st birthday. Here’s a look at the jewels she wore for a day out in Fowey.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Camilla’s go-to daytime jewelry uniform includes pearls, pearls, and more pearls, and she didn’t deviate from that formula on this trip. With her usual daytime pearl drop earrings, Camilla wore one of her single-stranded pearl necklaces.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

When Camilla brought a bottle of champagne to christen a lifeboat, we also caught a glimpse of a pair of delicate bracelets on her left wrist…

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

…and then we got an even better look when she had to hold her ears as a cannon was fired nearby! I spy a series of charms here, including a small cross, an evil eye, and a geometric square design.

Birthday Jewels for Crown Princess Victoria

by // Leave a Comment

Michael Campanella/Getty Images

Crown Princess Victoria, the future Queen of Sweden, celebrated her 41st birthday on Saturday with festivities on the island of Öland. Here’s a look at the jewels the family wore for the annual Victoriadagen celebrations.

Michael Campanella/Getty Images

The day began at Solliden Palace, the royal family’s summer home. King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Prince Daniel, Princess Estelle, and Prince Oscar all joined Victoria to mark the occasion.

Michael Campanella/Getty Images

Victoria wore a pair of sparkling stud earrings…

Michael Campanella/Getty Images

…which were supplemented by a beaded necklace and bracelets, gifts from the people who gathered to wish her well.

Michael Campanella/Getty Images

Queen Silvia wore a lovely floral brooch that matched her dress, as well as a pair of pearl button earrings. She also wore bracelets on each wrist; you’ll note a gold Cartier Love Bracelet on her right arm.

Michael Campanella/Getty Images

Little Princess Estelle got into the jewelry game this year, too, wearing a delicate necklace and bracelet — plus a bedazzled headband!

Michael Campanella/Getty Images

And here’s little Prince Oscar, just because he’s adorable.

Michael Campanella/Getty Images

Later in the day, the entire family gathered at the Borgholm Sports Arena for the annual concert given in honor of the crown princess.

Michael Campanella/Getty Images

Victoria changed into national costume, but she smartly stuck with simple stud earrings, which didn’t detract from the outfit itself.

Michael Campanella/Getty Images

Silvia also changed into national costume, accessorizing with pearl earrings.

Michael Campanella/Getty Images

Princess Sofia wore an intriguing pair of disc-shaped gold earrings — but unfortunately, they were hidden by her hair in nearly every image.

Michael Campanella/Getty Images

Princess Madeleine’s jewelry, though, was definitely more visible! She donned a major pair of leafy statement earrings. Her only other accessory was, sensibly, a delicate necklace with a cross pendant, which didn’t pull focus from the earrings.