The Court Jeweller

Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World

Merry Christmas!

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Prince Albert, Father Christmas, and Princess Grace distribute holiday gifts in Monaco, 23 December 1976 (AFP/Getty Images)
Merry Christmas, magpies! Whether you celebrate today’s holiday or any other festive day this time of year, I hope you’re having a wonderful season with the people you love.
This year has been an especially wonderful one for me, thanks in no small part to each and every one of you who visit The Court Jeweller. Thank you all so, so much — for reading, engaging, chatting, and sharing in this little sparkly corner of the world. I hope it continues to bring all of you joy!
Happy Holidays!
Ella Kay

(Oh, and PS: here’s the lowdown on those magnificent pearls worn by Princess Grace in the holiday photo above!)

The Queen Reaches for Grima at Christmas

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John Stillwell – WPA Pool/Getty Images

A still photograph of Queen Elizabeth II from this year’s Christmas Speech has been released, and it gives us a sneak peek at her jewelry choice for the annual broadcast.

John Stillwell – WPA Pool/Getty Images

For this year’s broadcast, the Queen will wear the Grima Ruby Brooch, which was made by Andrew Grima and given to the Queen by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1966. (Read our article on the brooch here!) The press information circulated by journalists with the photograph reveals a little more about the brooch. Rebecca English tweeted, “It is known as the Scarab brooch, designed by Andrew Grima, and is crafted of yellow gold with a carved ruby and diamond embellishments.”

John Stillwell – WPA Pool/Getty Images

This year’s speech was recorded in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace. Eagle-eyed royal watchers often also look for the detailed photographs placed nearby during royal speeches like these, and this year’s broadcast photograph includes a reference to the Prince of Wales, who celebrated his 70th birthday this November. This portrait of the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Prince of Wales was taken by Baron in 1948.

Royal Christmas Jewels in Norway

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HAKON MOSVOLD LARSEN/AFP/Getty Images

With Christmas less than a week away, we’re starting to see plenty of royal holiday spirit in the air. Today, we’ve got a look at the festive family Christmas jewels of the Norwegian royals.

HAKON MOSVOLD LARSEN/AFP/Getty Images

The palace released several official Christmas portraits on Friday, featuring King Harald, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and Prince Sverre Magnus. (Norway’s royal house includes Harald, Sonja, Haakon, Mette-Marit, and Ingrid Alexandra. The royal family includes the entire family, including Sverre Magnus, Marius Borg, Princess Astrid, and Princess Martha Louise and her daughters.)

HAKON MOSVOLD LARSEN/AFP/Getty Images

Queen Sonja wore a festive suite of red jewels, plus gold bangles (and a smartwatch!).

HAKON MOSVOLD LARSEN/AFP/Getty Images

Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who will one day be Norway’s monarch, wore a sentimental piece of family jewelry: the heart pendant necklace she received from her grandmother, Queen Sonja. (More on the necklace here!)

HAKON MOSVOLD LARSEN/AFP/Getty Images

Crown Princess Mette-Marit didn’t wear any visible jewelry in the portraits, but given her recent health care issues, it’s just great to see her smiling!

Rune Hellestad/Getty Images

On Monday, Haakon and Mette-Marit made a visit to the Fathers Pursuit Organisation in Oslo.

Rune Hellestad/Getty Images

Mette-Marit wore several pieces of interesting jewelry for the visit, including a long necklace with several pendants.

Rune Hellestad/Getty Images

Here’s a closer look at the pendants.

Rune Hellestad/Getty Images

On her right wrist, Mette-Marit stacked a few sparkling bracelets.

Rune Hellestad/Getty Images

And in lieu of her engagement ring (a ruby and diamond ring that was also her mother-in-law’s engagement ring), she wore a ring with a large white stone (perhaps indeed a diamond) on her left hand.