The Court Jeweller

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A Vibrant Remembrance for Princess Christina

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Our weekly royal jewel roundup will return next Friday.
PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/AFP/Getty Images

The Dutch royal family gathered in The Hague today to remember the life of Princess Christina, the youngest daughter of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard. Christina was the daughter, sister, and aunt of Dutch monarchs, and it’s clear that her loss is felt keenly by all those who loved her.

PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/AFP/Getty Images

For the past few days, Christina lay in state in the Dome of Fagel on the grounds of Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. She was surrounded by gorgeous, bright sunflowers, and wreaths and arrangements given by loved ones. Her insignia of the Order of the Netherlands Lion rested at the foot of her wooden casket.

PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/AFP/Getty Images

A particularly poignant wreath was positioned at the head of the casket. The ribbons indicate that it came from her children (Bernardo, Nicolas, Juliana, and Juliana’s partner, Tao) and her grandchildren (Isabel, Julian, Kai, Numa, and Aida).

PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/AFP/Getty Images

On Thursday, the family gathered for a private funeral service in The Hague. The memorial included a family procession from from the Dome of Fagel to the Royal Mews at Noordeinde Palace.

The mourners didn’t wear traditional black; it’s clear that Princess Christina herself must have asked that everyone wear their brightest, most colorful clothes to remember her. I think that’s just lovely — especially given that Christina was born nearly blind and went through numerous treatments during her life to restore her vision. It makes perfect sense that she would want her final celebrations to be full of color. (Remember that Christina’s mother, Queen Juliana, also made a special request for the attire of the mourners at her funeral, asking them to wear white.)

Accordingly, I’m not going to comment further on the choices of clothing or jewels of those family members who appeared before the press during the procession. They’ve clearly all chosen their attire with Christina’s wishes in mind. I’d ask that you all follow suit in the comments — this isn’t an appropriate place for critique of clothing or jewels today. I’ll simply identify the people in the procession for you.

PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/AFP/Getty Images
Christina’s children: Nicolas Guillermo, Juliana Guillermo, and Bernardo Guillermo
PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/AFP/Getty Images
Christina’s sisters: Princess Beatrix, Princess Irene, and Princess Margriet
ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN/AFP/Getty Images
Princess Margriet, Queen Maxima, and Pieter van Vollenhoven
PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/AFP/Getty Images
Queen Maxima, King Willem-Alexander, Countess Eloise of Orange-Nassau, Count Claus-Casimir of Orange-Nassau, Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau
PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/AFP/Getty Images
Countess Leonore of Orange-Nassau, Prince Constantijn, Princess Laurentien, Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Parma, Princess Annemarie of Bourbon-Parma, Princess Viktoria of Bourbon-Parma, Prince Jaime of Bourbon-Parma
PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/AFP/Getty Images
Albert Brenninkmeijer, Princess Carolina of Bourbon-Parma, Prince Pieter-Christiaan of Orange-Nassau, Princess Christina’s nurse, Tjalling ten Cate, Princess Margarita of Bourbon-Parma
PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/AFP/Getty Images
Princess Marilene of Orange-Nassau, Prince Maurits of Orange-Nassau, Prince Bernhard of Orange-Nassau, Princess Aimee of Orange-Nassau, Prince Floris of Orange-Nassau
More posts remembering the bejeweled life of Princess Christina

In Memoriam: Princess Christina of the Netherlands

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Michel Porro/Getty Images
We learned sad news from the Dutch court yesterday: Princess Christina — aunt of King Willem-Alexander, sister of Princess Beatrix, and daughter of Queen Juliana — passed away after a long struggle with bone cancer. Today, to honor her memory, we have a bejeweled look at her royal life.

Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
Wearing pearls as a bridesmaid to her eldest sister, Princess Beatrix, and her new brother-in-law, Prince Claus, March 1966
Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
Dancing in costume (including glitter tights!) during a masked ball aboard the Oranje Nassau in Amsterdam, December 1966
Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
Wearing the family’s laurel wreath tiara (beside her new brother-in-law, Pieter van Vollenhoven, and her father, Prince Bernhard) during a state banquet for the King and Queen of Nepal, April 1967
Eric Koch/Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
Wearing the family’s ears of wheat tiara beside Princess Margriet (in the family’s aquamarines) and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg (in the grand Empire Tiara) during the Luxembourgish state visit to the Netherlands, September 1967
Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
Gleaming in pearls on the balcony between Pieter van Vollenhoven and her elder sister, Princess Margriet, on Prinsjesdag, September 1967
Ron Kroon/Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
A vivid yellow ensemble and button-style statement earrings for Prinsjesdag, September 1968
Rob Mieremet/Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
Wearing her mother’s turquoise heart necklace and pendant for the announcement of her engagement to Jorge Guillermo, February 1975
Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
Windswept in fringe earrings with Jorge as they arrive for a dinner given by the government at Loevestein Castle ahead of their wedding, June 1975
Hans Peters/Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
Wearing a lace veil and cap (but no tiara) for her wedding to Jorge in Utrecht, June 1975
Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
Wearing dangling earrings and stacked bracelets during the Swedish state visit, October 1976
Hans Peters/Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
Wearing groovy sunglasses and button earrings (and expecting her first child, Bernardo) at Soestdijk Palace on Koninginnedag, April 1977
Bert Verhoeff/Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
With Jorge and baby Bernardo at Soestdijk Palace, May 1978
Koen Suyk/Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
Wearing a long necklace (and expecting her second child, Nicolas) with her sister, Princess Irene, and brother-in-law, Pieter van Vollenhoven, at the Amsterdam premiere of a documentary about Queen Juliana, April 1979
Rob Croes/Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
Wearing pearl button earrings on the grounds of Soestdijk Palace, May 1980
Hans van Dijk/Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
Wearing pearl button earrings and a sparkling bracelet and ring (and expecting her third child, Juliana) at the opening of Christie’s in Amsterdam, September 1981
Rob Croes/Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
Pearl button earrings and bracelets for the official opening of the Paleis Het Loo Museum in Apeldoorn, June 1984
Rob Bogaerts/Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
Pearls and layered jewels to watch the Prinsjesdag celebrations in The Hague with her mother, Queen Juliana, September 1987
Rob Bogaerts/Anefo/Nationaal Archief/Wikimedia Commons
Flower earrings and a charming bird brooch to watch the Prinsjesdag celebrations with Queen Juliana, September 1988
Michel Porro/Getty Images
Pearls to attend the wedding of Prince Friso and Princess Mabel with her sisters, Princess Margriet and Princess Irene, April 2004
Steve Finn/Getty Images
Golden jewels, including floral earrings, for the christening of Princess Amalia, June 2004
Michel Porro/Getty Images
Wearing pearls (with her daughter, Juliana) for the wedding of her nephew, Prince Pieter Christiaan of Orange-Nassau, in Noordwijk, August 2005
Michel Porro/Getty Images
Pairing the family’s laurel wreath tiara with pearls for a gala dinner held the night before the inauguration of her nephew, King Willem-Alexander, April 2013
MARTIJN BEEKMAN/AFP/Getty Images
Favorite pearl button earrings and a pearl necklace for the royal inauguration, April 2013
Michel Porro/Getty Images
Wearing golden jewels (with her elder son, Bernardo) at the wedding of her nephew, Prince Jaime of Bourbon-Parma, October 2013
Jeroen van der Meyde/RVD/Wikimedia Commons
A final formal-but-casual royal portrait in turquoise and gold, 2015

In Memoriam: Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg (Part 2)

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Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

Our coverage of the state funeral of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg wraps up today with a look at the jewels worn by royals from around the world, including several more family members of the late head of state. (Part one, which covers jewels worn by close family, can be found here.)

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Grand Duke Jean’s late wife, Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, was the sister of King Albert II of Belgium, so it’s no surprise that numerous members of the Belgian royal family attended the state funeral. Queen Paola chose classic diamond and pearl earrings for the occasion.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

Three generations of Belgian royals were present to celebrate the life of Grand Duke Jean.

JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images

Queen Mathilde wore her lovely diamond and pearl brooch for the service and reception. (Read our previous post on the piece here.)

© Cour grand-ducale/Sophie Margue

She paired the brooch with her diamond and pearl wedding earrings.

© Cour grand-ducale/Sophie Margue

The Duchess of Brabant, who will one day be Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians, wore simple pearl stud earrings for her great-uncle’s funeral.

© Cour grand-ducale/Sophie Margue

Princess Astrid of Belgium selected diamond fringe earrings from her jewelry box for the day.

© Cour grand-ducale/Sophie Margue

And Princess Lea (widow of the late Prince Alexandre of Belgium) wore silvery pearl earrings to celebrate the life of her brother-in-law.

JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark wore black and silver earrings and a coordinating ring to attend the state funeral.

© Cour grand-ducale/Sophie Margue

She also wore the heart-shaped brooch that she has worn to numerous funerals and memorials.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

Margrethe’s sister, Queen Anne-Marie, attended the funeral with her son, Crown Prince Pavlos.

© Cour grand-ducale/Sophie Margue

Anne-Marie wore pearls for the occasion, including a diamond and pearl brooch shaped like a butterfly — an appropriate symbol of rebirth and new life.

© Cour grand-ducale/Sophie Margue

The Jordanian royal family was represented at the service by Prince Hassan, Princess Sarvath, and their daughter, Princess Badiya.

JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images

Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein wore a double strand of pearls with classic pearl and diamond earrings.

JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images

A significant contingent from the Norwegian royal family also attended. King Harald and the late Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte were first cousins, so the families are closely linked.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

Queen Sonja wore pearl and diamond earrings, plus a pearl necklace layered over a necklace with a heart pendant.

JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images

Princess Astrid of Norway chose pearl drop earrings for the service, pairing them with a floral brooch.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands wore a necklace of black and white pearls with coordinating pearl button earrings.

JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images

Queen Sofia of Spain stuck with her trademark gold jewelry for the occasion, including an interesting brooch.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

Several members of the British royal family were also in attendance for the state funeral.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

The Princess Royal paired her gold and diamond ribbon brooch with classic gold and pearl earrings. (More on the brooch here.)

© Cour grand-ducale/Sophie Margue

The Duchess of Gloucester wore luminous pearls with a pair of circle brooches. (You’ll also spot the Countess Mountbatten of Burma behind her, wearing a large floral brooch.)

© Cour grand-ducale/Sophie Margue

Lady Elizabeth Anson, who was a niece of the Queen Mother and a stepdaughter of Prince George of Denmark, wore pearl and diamond earrings with a diamond flower brooch.

© Cour grand-ducale/Sophie Margue

Numerous members of non-reigning royal families and aristocratic families also attended the funeral. I’ll highlight a few familiar faces from the (very) large group. Margareta of Romania wore large silvery pearl earrings for the funeral.

© Cour grand-ducale/Sophie Margue

The Duchess of Braganza kept her jewelry very simple, wearing classic hoop earrings.

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

And Camilla of Bourbon-Two Sicilies wore oversized pearl earrings for the mass and reception.