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Tiaras of the Akishino Princesses

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TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images, TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images, TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

When Emperor Naruhito ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne last week, Japan also gained a new crown princely family. The Akishino household, headed by the emperor’s brother and heir, Crown Princess Fumihito, includes a trio of jewel-wearing imperial princesses. Today, we’ve got a look at the family’s growing collection of tiaras.

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The Akishino Tiara

When Prince Fumihito and Kiko Kawashima married in 1990, Emperor Akihito granted them their own household and the titles of Prince and Princess Akishino. Kiko also gained her own imperial symbol, the iris setosa. Her diamond wedding parure, which includes the Akishino Tiara, incorporates iris flowers in its complicated design. For three decades, the Akishino Tiara was the only diadem that Kiko wore for gala events, including state banquets and the family’s annual New Year audience. (Learn more about the tiara here!)

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Princess Mako’s Tiara

Fumihito and Kiko have two daughters, Princess Mako and Princess Kako, and a son, Prince Hisahito. Per Japanese tradition, Mako and Kako received parures of diamond jewelry when they turned twenty. Both of their parures also feature design inspiration from the iris. Princess Mako debuted her mirrored parure in October 2011. (More on the suite here!)

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Princess Kako’s Tiara

The iris flower design is even more prominent in the diamond parure given to Princess Kako in December 2014. Like most imperial parures, this set includes a tiara with a coordinating necklace and brooch. (Learn more about the tiara and jewels here!)

TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images
The Japanese Crown Princely Wedding Tiara

When Kiko became Japan’s crown princess on May 1, she debuted a second suite of jewels. The Japanese Crown Princely Wedding Parure takes its name from its apppearance on a pair of Japanese imperial brides: Michiko Shoda, who married Crown Prince Akihito in 1959, and Masako Owada, who married Crown Prince Naruhito in 1993. Kiko is the third imperial crown princess to wear the tiara and its coordinating jewels in public. (Learn much more about the parure here!)

This Week in Royal Jewels: May 3-9

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May 3-9, 2019
It’s been an absolutely incredible week for royal jewels, and we’ve got an appropriately supersized jewel review for you! Don’t forget to vote for your favorites in the poll below!
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30. The Duchess of Sussex wore diamonds, turquoise, and gold to introduce baby Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor to the world on Wednesday. (Much more here!)

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29. During Wednesday’s visit to North Wales, the Duchess of Cambridge wore citrine drops from Kiki McDonough as she explored Newborough Beach. (More on the earrings here!)
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28. Kate wore her diamond and sapphire cluster drop earrings, plus her usual set of rings, as she and William launched the King’s Cup Regatta at Cutty Sark on Tuesday. (More on the earrings here!)
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27. In Munich on Thursday, the Duchess of Cornwall wore some of her favorite diamond and pearl pieces for a trip to the famous Hofbrauhaus.
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26. Queen Mathilde of the Belgians selected silvery statement earrings to attend the Queen Mathilde Awards in Brussels on Thursday.
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25. On Saturday, Princess Astrid of Norway wore pearls and a floral brooch for the state funeral of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg. (Much more here.)
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24. For World Red Cross Day in Zaragosa on Tuesday, Queen Letizia of Spain wore aventurine and pink quartz earrings from Coolook.
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23. Princess Margriet of the Netherlands wore major blue and gold jewels as she and the Duke of Sussex launched the Invictus Games in The Hague on Thursday.
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22. For Saturday’s state funeral, Queen Sofia of Spain wore golden jewels. (More over here.)
© Cour grand-ducale/Sophie Margue
21. Queen Anne-Marie selected a diamond and pearl butterfly brooch, plus additional pearl jewels, for the state funeral in Luxembourg on Saturday. (More here.)
© Cour grand-ducale/Sophie Margue
20. For Saturday’s state funeral, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark wore modern black and silver jewels with her classic diamond heart brooch. (More here.)
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19. On Sunday, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wore stacks of bracelets and a brooch in her hair for the annual Liberation Day concert in Amsterdam.
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18. Queen Maxima chose her pink gemstone drop earrings for Thursday’s international health care conference in Amsterdam.
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17. Princess Mikasa wore a sparkling brooch with a pearl sautoir necklace for the first imperial public audience of Emperor Naruhito on Saturday. (More here!)
16. For the imperial audience, Princess Hitachi wore a double strand of pearls with a vibrant wave brooch. (More here!)
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15. Princess Kako of Akishino wore pearls and a delicate bow brooch for her uncle’s first public imperial audience on Saturday. (More here!)
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14. For Saturday’s balcony appearance, Crown Princess Kiko of Japan wore a double strand of pearls and a modern diamond and pearl bow brooch. (More here!)
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13. The Princess Royal wore pearls and her gold and diamond ribbon brooch to remember Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg this weekend. (More here.)
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12. On Saturday, the Duchess of Gloucester wore a pair of circle brooches with pearls for the state funeral of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg. (More here, with an honorable mention to the Mountbatten jewels behind her.)
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11. Queen Suthida of Thailand wore pearl drop earrings with a pearl station necklace and a royal family order badge on Thursday for the annual royal ploughing ceremony near the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
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10. For a birthday reception for the Queen at the British ambassador’s residence in Berlin on Tuesday, Camilla wore lovely pearl and diamond earrings, plus her pearl necklace with the diamond and amethyst clasp.
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9. Princess Mako of Akishino wore pearls with an intriguing modern diamond and pearl brooch for the imperial appearance at the palace on Saturday. (More here!)
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8. For Saturday’s balcony appearance, Princess Tsuguko of Takamado wore a gorgeous bright blue brooch with a silver-toned necklace. (More here!)
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7. As her husband greeted the public for the first time as emperor, Empress Masako of Japan gleamed in golden pearls and a diamond ribbon brooch. (More here!)
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6. Lady Elizabeth Anson wore a grand diamond floral brooch and a lovely aquamarine ring for the state funeral in Luxembourg on Saturday. (More here.)
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5. Queen Mathilde wore her diamond and pearl brooch with her wedding earrings to honor the memory of Grand Duke Jean on Saturday. (More here.)
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4. For Monday’s Order of Merit luncheon at Windsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom wore pearls with the Centenary Rose Brooch. (Read our recent feature on the brooch here!)
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3. Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria wore family pearls from the Luxembourg vaults, including Grand Duchess Maria Ana’s Pearl Negligee Pendant, for her father’s state funeral on Saturday. (More here.)
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2. On Monday, Princess Sirivannavari of Thailand wore fantastic jewels, including a diamond hair ornament, for her father’s first public audience as a crowned king. (More here!)
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1. For Monday’s balcony appearance in Bangkok, Queen Suthida wore a lovely pair of diamond girandole earrings, plus numerous orders and medals. (More here!)