Jewels of the Swedish royal family
The Swedish royal family owns a historic collection of jewels – some owned by the Bernadotte family foundation and others by private individuals. They are separate from the state regalia of Sweden which is owned by the Swedish state.
The jewels are worn on occasions such as state banquets, the Nobel Banquet, the annual Representationsmiddag (Representation dinner) and royal weddings. They are maintained by the court jeweller, W. A. Bolin.
History
Much of the Swedish royal family's jewel collection originates from when Princess Joséphine of Leuchtenberg, granddaughter of Napoléon Bonaparte's first wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais, who married the future Oscar I in 1823. Joséphine, known in Sweden as Josefina, also received a large inheritance of jewels from her sister, Empress Amélia of Brazil. Princess Viktoria of Baden brought a large jewel collection with her when she married the future Gustaf V in 1881, as did Princess Margaret of Connaught when she married the future Gustaf VI Adolf in 1905.
Karl XIV Johan established a fideicommissum of jewels that would be at the queen's disposal, so that the collection would increase but could never decrease. At the end of the 19th century, Oscar II transformed the fideicommissum into a foundation, now part of the Bernadotte family foundation. These pieces do not belong to the royal family privately, but they can borrow them from the foundation to wear.
Parures
A parure is a set of matching jewellery to be used together which first became popular in 17th-century Europe.
Brazilian Parure
The Brazilian Parure, or Braganza Parure, known is Swedish as the Kröningsdiademet (coronation diadem) or the Brasilianska diademet (Brazilian diadem), contains the largest tiara in the collection. The tiara has a coordinating floral brooch, pair of pear-shaped diamond earrings, and collet necklace. The tiara is said to weigh 1 kilogram (2.2 lb).
The set originally belonged to Empress Amélia of Brazil. It was made from Brazilian sources diamonds that had belonged to Archduchess Maria Leopoldina of Austria, the first wife of Empress Amélia's husband, Pedro I. Pedro I had bought the diamonds from his children who had inherited them upon their mother's death in 1826. Empress Amélia had no surviving children at the time of her death in 1873 so left the tiara to her sister, Queen Josefina of Sweden. It has been worn by every Swedish queen since. It has seldom been taken out of Sweden, Queen Louise, then Crown Princess, took it to the United Kingdom for the coronation of George VI of the United Kingdom in 1937 and Queen Silvia took it to Denmark for a state visit in 2007. Queen Silvia also notably wore the tiara for her first official portrait as queen in 1976 and Crown Princess Victoria's wedding in 2010.[1]
- Queen Josefina in an undated portrait
- Queen Sofia, 1902
- Queen Victoria, 1910
- Queen Louise, 1963
- Queen Silva, wearing the Braganza Tiara and the Russian Pink Topaz Demi-Parure, at Crown Princess Victoria's wedding, 2010
Cameo Parure
The Cameo Parure consists of a tiara, necklace, earrings, brooch and two bracelets. The parure is made from gold, pearls, diamonds and large cameos. Napoléon Bonaparte is said to have ordered the parure from his court jewller, Marie-Étienne Nitot, for his first wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais, around 1805. Joséphine lent the tiara to her daughter, Queen Hortense of Holland, for portrait by Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson in 1810. When Joséphine died in 1814, the parure was likely left to her son Eugène de Beauharnais, husband of Princess Augusta of Bavaria. Eugène, later Duke of Leuchtenberg, likely gave the parure as a wedding gift to his eldest daughter, Princess Josephine of Leuchtenberg, when she married Crown Prince Oscar of Sweden and Norway, the future Oscar I, in 1823. When Josephine, known in Sweden as Josefina, died in 1876, she bequeathed the parure to her only daughter, Princess Eugénie. Princess Eugénie died childless in 1889 and left the parure to her nephew Prince Eugene. Prince Eugene lent the sent to his nephew's wife, Crown Princess Margareta, on numerous occasions. Prince Eugen gave the paurue to Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, bride of his grandnephew Prince Gustaf Adolf, in 1932. Princess Sibylla lent the paurue to her sister-in-law Princess Ingrid, later Queen of Denmark, in 1933 for a costume ball where she dressed as Josephine of Leuchtenberg. Princess Sibylla left the parure to her son Carl XVI Gustaf who owns it to this day.[2] It does not belong to the Bernadotte family foundation.
The tiara of the paurue has a long history as a bridal tiara. Princess Birgitta wore it at her wedding to Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern in 1961, Princess Désirée wore it at her wedding to Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld in 1964, Silvia Sommerlath wore it at her wedding to Carl XVI Gustaf in 1976 and Crown Princess Victoria wore it, with the matching earrings and bracelet, at her wedding wedding to Daniel Westling in 2010.
- Hortense de Beauharnais wearing the tiara in a portriat by Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson
- Queen Josefina wearing the parure in a portriat by Bertha Valerius
- Princess Ingrid, later Queen of Denmark, at a costume ball, 1933
- Princess Sibylla at a ball during Princess Ingrid's wedding celebrations, 1935
- Princess Birgitta on her wedding day, 1961
- Princess Désirée on her wedding day, 1964
- Crown Princess Victoria on her wedding day, 2010
Leuchtenberg Sapphire Parure
The Leuchtenberg Sapphire Parure consists of a tiara, necklace, earrings, brooch and hairpins. The tiara features eleven flexible elements with diamond floral motifs topped with sapphire and diamond clusters. It can be worn in a wide, open shape or in a circular, closed shape. The parure was likely made by Marie-Étienne Nitot. A portrait of Queen Josefina painted by Sofia Adlersparre in 1856, shows the tiara topped with pearls. Examination of the tiara in 2006 revelaed that the sapphires can be removed and replaced with pearls. The earrings are not original. The original earrings disappeared while the parure was owned by Queen Victoria, as she did not have her ears pierced and never wore earrings. Queen Louise had new earrings ordered from two of the four hairpins.
The parure's first owner was Princess Augusta of Bavaria who received it as a gift from her mother-in-law, Joséphine de Beauharnais, on the occasion of the birth of her first son, Auguste de Beauharnais. The parure was inherited by Princess August's eldest daughter Queen Josefina of Sweden and Norway, wife of Oscar I. Upon Josefina's death in 1876, the parure was inherited by her eldest surviving son, Oscar II. Oscar II and his wife Sophia of Nassau, known in Sweden as Sofia, gave the parure as a wedding gift to their new daughter-in-law Princess Viktoria of Baden when she married their son Crown Prince Gustaf in 1881. Victoria wore the parure frequently and upon her death in 1930, bequeathed it to the Bernadotte family foundation. It has subsequently been worn by Queen Louise, Princess Sibylla and Princess Birgitta, but is now worn exclusively by Queen Silvia.[3]
- Queen Josefina wearing the tiara with pearls in a portrait by Sofia Adlersparre, 1856
- Crown Princess Victoria, 1902
- Queen Louise wearing the parure at the Nobel Banquet, 1953
- Queen Silvia wearing the parure during a state visit from Brazil, 2007
Queen Josephine's Amethyst Parure
Queen Josephine's Amethyst Parure was originally a demi-parure consisting of a large necklace, earrings, a pair of bracelets and a large brooch. The amethysts are set in gold surrounded by clusters of white diamonds set in silver. Queen Silvia found the necklace heavy to wear and had it placed on a tiara frame and combined the two bracelets to form a new necklace.[4]
The parure was allegedly Empress Joséphine's wedding gift to Princess Augusta of Bavaria, bride of her son, Eugène de Beauharnais. Princess Augusta gave the set to her daughter Princess Josephine of Leuchtenberg upon her marriage to Crown Prince Oscar of Sweden and Norway, the future Oscar I, in 1823. It was frequently worn in its necklace form by Queen Louise and has been worn in this form by Princess Margaretha and Princess Christina. The large necklace has been worn exclusively as a tiara since Queen Silvia converted it in the early 1980s, though it can still be removed from its frame. It has been worn in tiara from Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Madeleine, Princess Sofia and Princess Désirée.[4] The parure belongs to the Bernadotte family foundation.
- Princess Désirée at Crown Princess Victoria's wedding, 2010
Napoleonic Cut-Steel Parure
The Napoleonic Cut-Steel Parure consists of a tiara, choker necklace and earrings. It is made of steel and gilded brass and does not contain a single precious stone. In 1976, art historian Göran Alm found the pieces in a silver cupboard.[5] The parure was repaired and Queen Silvia wore it for the first time on a state visit to Austria in 1979. The tiara has subsequently been worn by Princess Lilian, Princess Christina, Princess Désirée, and most commonly, Crown Princess Victoria.
- Princess Désirée wearing the Cut-Steel Tiara, 2013
Cut-Steel Bandeau
The collection also contains a smaller, bandeau style tiara, and a haircomb, likely of similar origin. Crown Princess Victoria first wore the smaller tiara and haircomb at a gala the evening before the wedding of Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy, in 2012. The smaller tiara has been worn by Princess Sofia and Princess Christina.[6]
Demi-Parures
A demi-parure is a smaller set of matching jewellery to be used together, often without a tiara.
Russian Pink Topaz Demi-Parure
The demi-parure consists of a necklace, a small round brooch, and a larger brooch with a floral motif. Two pendants from the larger brooch can be detached and worn as earrings.[7]
Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia, wife of Karl Friedrich, Hereditary Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, received the set from her mother, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, to mark the birth of her daughter Princess Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach in 1811. Princess Augusta, who married Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, later King of Prussia and German Emperor, in 1829, inherited the demi-parure upon her mother's death in 1859. When Empress Augusta died in 1890, she left the set to her daughter, Grand Duchess Louise of Baden, who in turn left it to her daughter, Queen Victoria of Sweden, in 1923. Queen Victoria was never photographed in the demi-parure, having largely retired from court life by 1923. When Queen Victoria died in 1930, she left the set to the Bernadotte family foundation. It has since been worn by Queen Louise, Princess Sibylla, Princess Christina, Princess Désirée and Queen Silvia.[7]
- Queen Silvia wearing the demi-parure at Crown Princess Victoria's wedding, 2010
Bernadotte Emerald Demi-Parure
The Bernadotte Emerald Demi-Parure consists of a large diamond and emerald necklace consisting of 16 rosettes, a larger brooch, a smaller brooch and a pair of earrings. The necklace was originally a belt worn by Karl XIV Johan and the larger brooch was a belt buckle. Queen Sofia is said to have worn the belt as a necklace but it was first photographed in this fashion by Princess Sibylla. Queen Silvia shortened the necklace and fashioned earrings out of the removed pieces, worn for the first time in 2021.
It has been worn by Queen Sofia, Princess Sibylla, Princess Christina, Queen Silvia, Princess Lilian and Crown Princess Victoria.
- Princess Sibylla at the opening of the Riksdag, 1956
- Queen Silvia wearing the demi-parure on a state visit to the Netherlands, 1976
Grand Bernadotte Pearl Demi-Parure
The set consisted of a necklace of 26 nut-sized, gray-toned oriental pearls with a diamond clasp and pearl drop earrings. Initially, there were 36 pearls and three teardrop-shaped pearls used as a clasp for the necklace. Queen Victoria had the necklace shortened. It has been worn by many Bernadotte ladies but notably Princess Sibylla and Queen Silvia.
- Princess Sibylla, 1934
- Queen Silvia at Princess Estelle's christening, 2012
Tiaras
Queen Sofia's Diamond Tiara
Queen Sofia's Diamond Tiara (Drottning Sofias diadem), sometimes called the Nine-Prong Tiara, was, according to the royal court, made circa 1860 for Princess Sophia of Nassau shortly after she married Prince Oscar (later Oscar II). Other sources say the tiara is listed in an inventory made after the death of Sofia's brother-in-law, Karl XV, and was originally a diamond comb belonging to Karl XIV Johan. Queen Silvia had the base remade circa 1977 to make it easier to wear.
The tiara has been worn by Queen Louise, Princess Christina, Princess Margaretha, Princess Lilian and Princess Birgitta.
- Queen Sofia
- Crown Princess Louise, 1925
- Queen Silvia at Princess Madeleine's wedding, 2013
Baden Fringe Tiara
The Baden Fringe Tiara, known in Swedish as Stråldiademet (The Radiant Diadem), consists of 47 diamond rays decreasing in height away from the centre. It is reminiscent of the kokoshnik, a traditional Russian headdress. Kokoshnik-inspired fringe tiaras as a common tiara design and are seen in the collections of multiple other royal houses.
Princess Viktoria of Baden received the tiara as a wedding gift from her parents, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Baden, when she married Gustaf, Crown Prince of Sweden and Norway (later Gustaf V), in 1881. She wore the tiara as a necklace during the wedding ceremony in Karlsruhe. She frequently wore the tiara in many forms, its tiara form, as a necklace and a corsage ornament. In her will, then Queen Victoria stipulated the piece is to be worn by crown princesses of Sweden. Crown Princess Victoria fulfills her namesake's wish and is the primary wearer of the tiara today. It has been worn by Queen Louise, Princess Margaretha, Princess Birgitta, Princess Désirée, Princess Christina, Queen Silvia and Princess Lilian.
- Princess Viktoria of Baden on her wedding day wearing the tiara as a necklace, 1881
- Queen Victoria wearing the tiara as a corsage with the Leuchtenberg Sapphire Parure at Prince Gustaf Adolf's wedding, 1905
- Queen Victoria in a portrait by Victor Roikjer, 1928
- Queen Silvia at the Amarante Ball, 1977
- Princess Margaretha at Princess Madeleine's wedding, 2013
Connaught Tiara
The Connaught Tiara, sometimes referred to in Swedish as Prinsessan Sibyllas diadem (Princess Sibylla's Tiara), consists of five diamond forget-me-not wreaths with a diamond pendant suspended from each alternating with six upside down bows support single diamond uprights. It can be removed from its frame and worn as a necklace or the five diamonds pendants can be removed and worn on a chain. It was made in 1904 by E. Wolff & Co.
The tiara was a wedding gift to Princess Margaret of Connaught from her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, when she married Prince Gustaf Adolf (later Gustaf VI Adolf) in 1905. When Crown Princess Margaret, known in Sweden as Margareta, died in 1920, the tiara was inherited by her eldest son, Prince Gustaf Adolf. It was frequently worn by his wife, Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, hence the name Prinsessan Sibyllas diadem. After Princess Sibylla's death in 1972, Princess Christina wore it on her wedding day in 1974 and Silvia Sommerlath wore it at a gala the evening before her wedding in 1976. It has also been worn by Princess Désirée, Princess Birgitta and Princess Lilian. Princess Madeleine first wore the tiara to Crown Princess Victoria's wedding in 2010 and Crown Princess Victoria first wore the tiara to Prince Carl Philip's wedding in 2015.
- Crown Princess Margareta
- Princess Sibylla, 1947
- Princess Madeleine at Crown Princess Victoria's wedding, 2010
- Princess Birgitta at Princess Madeleine's wedding, 2013
- Crown Princess Victoria at Prince Carl Philip's wedding, 2015
Edward VII Ruby Tiara
Known in Swedish as Kronprinsessan Margaretas rubindiadem (Crown Princess Margaret's ruby diadem), Princess Margaret of Connaught received this tiara as a wedding gift from her uncle and aunt, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, when she married Prince Gustaf Adolf (later Gustaf VI Adolf) in 1905. When Crown Princess Margareta, as she was known in Sweden, died in 1920, this ruby and diamond tiara was inherited by her second son, Prince Sigvard. Sigvard lost his royal title and style when he married commoner Erica Maria Patzek in 1934. Both his first wife and his second wife, Sonja Christensen Robbert, wore the tiara as a necklace. Sigvard sold the tiara back to his after, Gustav VI Adolf, who, in his will, left it to Sigvard's son, Michael Bernadotte, who later sold it to his cousin, Carl XVI Gustaf. Sigvard's third wife, Marianne Lindberg wore the piece as both a tiara and necklace, notably when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom made a state visit to Sweden in 1983. Sigvard maintained he simply loaned the tiara to his father and never settled a dispute with his nephew about his title. He openly objected when Queen Silvia wore the piece to Prince Joachim of Denmark's wedding in 1995. Queen Silvia did not begin to wear the piece openly until after Sigvard Bernadotte's death in 2002, subsequently disregarding, however, his surviving widow.
Aquamarine Kokoshnik
The Aquamarine Kokoshnik – inspired by the kokoshnik, a traditional Russian headdress – originally belonged to Crown Princess Margareta. After her death, it was next worn by Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha at a ball prior to her wedding to Crown Princess Margareta's son, Prince Gustaf Adolf in 1932. Princess Sibylla gave the tiara to her eldest daughter, Princess Margaretha, when she married John Ambler in 1964. The tiara was worn by Princess Margaretha's daughter Sibylla Ambler when she married Baron Cornelius von Dincklage in 1998. Princess Margaretha wore the tiara to Crown Princess Victoria's wedding in 2010 and left the tiara in Sweden for use by members of the royal family while retaining ownership. Since then, it had been worn by Princess Christina, Princess Madeleine and Crown Princess Victoria.
- Princess Sibylla at a ball prior to her wedding, 1932
Boucheron Laurel Wreath Tiara
The Boucheron Laurel Wreath Tiara, known in Swedish as Prinsessan Lilians Diadem (Princess Lilian's Tiara), is made of silver, gold, and diamonds. It was originally a necklace and was made by Boucheron.
The tiara, then necklace, was a wedding gift to Princess Margaret of Connaught from her husband's grandmother, Queen Sofia, when she married Prince Gustaf Adolf (later Gustaf VI Adolf) in 1905. When Princess Margaret, then known in Sweden as Crown Princess Margareta, died in 1920, the piece was inherited by her third son Prince Bertil. Prince Bertil became involved in a thirty-year courtship with British commoner Lilian Craig who more his mother's tiara to Gustaf VI Adolf's 90th birthday celebrations in 1972. Lilian continued to wear the tiara after she and Bertil finally married in 1976 and she became Princess Lilian. When Princess Lilian died in 2013, it was inherited by Crown Princess Victoria, who wore it for the first time to Princess Madeleine's wedding.
- Crown Princess Margareta
- Princess Lilian
- Crown Princess Victoria at Princess Madeleine's wedding, 2013
The Button Tiaras
There are two similarly designed and named tiaras, known as the Four and Six-Button Tiaras. The diamond rosettes, or buttons, are thought to have originated with Karl XVI Johan or Queen Lovisa Ulrika. In addition to the ten diamond rosettes in the tiaras, there are two that can be worn as pendants.
- Queen Lovisa Ulrika possibly with the buttons affixed to her bodice
- Oscar II with the buttons affixed to his crown, 1898
Four-Button Tiara
The Four-Button Tiara consists of four of the diamond buttons on a simple band. It was created in the 1950s for Princess Margaretha. It was also worn by her sisters, Princess Birgitta, Princess Désirée and Princess Christina, and later by Princess Lilian, Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Madeleine and Princess Sofia
Six-Button tiara
The Six-Button Tiara, known in Sweden as Karl Johan diademet (Charles John's diadem), is the knew of the two tiaras yet the buttons are much older. Karl XIV Johan had to buttons attached to the crown of Erik XIV for his coronation in 1818. Oscar II became the last Swedish monarch to wear the crown and the buttons were removed by Gustaf V and worn on a necklace by his daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Margareta. The buttons were incorporated into a tiara in the 1970s to be worn by the newlywed Princess Lilian, wife of Prince Bertil. It has since been worn by Queen Silvia, Princess Birgitta, Princess Christina, Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Madeleine and Princess Sofia
- Princess Christina at Princess Madeleine's wedding, 2013
Modern Fringe Tiara
Queen Silvia first wore the Modern Fringe Tiara in the mid-1980s. It can be removed from its base and worn as a necklace. It has been worn in this form by Queen Silvia, Princess Madeleine and Crown Princess Victoria. It has only been worn as a tiara by Queen Silvia and Princess Madeleine. Princess Madeleine is now the primary wearer of the tiara and wore it when she married Christopher O'Neill in 2013.
- Princess Madeleine wears the tiara as a necklace at a gala concert the evening before Crown Princess Victoria's wedding, 2010
- Princess Madeleine on her wedding day, 2013
Crown Princess Victoria's 18th Birthday Tiara
Crown Princess Victoria received this small tiara for her 18th birthday from her parents, Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. It has a metallic base with diamond and sapphire spikes. It was last worn in 2007.
Aquamarine Bandeau
The Aquamarine Bandeau is an Art Deco-style tiara with a large square aquamarine between two small diamond bands. It was created in the 1920s and was given to Lady Louise Mountbatten as a wedding gift from her sister Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark when she married Gustaf Adolf, Crown Prince of Sweden (later Gustaf VI Adolf), in 1923. Queen Louise later lent the tiara to her step-granddaughters, known as the Haga princesses, in the 1960s. It was worn by Princess Birgitta, Princess Désirée and Princess Christina. It was later given to Princess Madeleine as an 18th birthday gift, and as such is sometimes referred to as Princess Madeleine's Tiara.
Princess Christina's Pearl and Diamond Tiara
Princess Christina's Pearl and Diamond Tiara was made by Ribbhagen in the 19th century for Queen Sofia. When Queen Sofia died in 1913, she left the tiara to her second son, Prince Oscar Bernadotte. The tiara eventually belonged to his daughter Elsa Cedergren, who gave it to her goddaughter Princess Christina as an 18th birthday gift in 1961.
In 2012, tiara was stolen from Princess Christina's home in Stockholm by a family friend among other jewels and thrown off the Riksbron. Divers were unable to locate the tiara.
Princess Birgitta's Pearl Circle Tiara
Princess Birgitta's Pearl Circle Tiara was created by Carman in the middle of the 20th century. It consists of seven pearl circles with pearl and diamond flowers in their centres and diamond flowers in between. Gustaf VI Adolf purchased the tiara as a wedding gift for his granddaughter, Princess Birgitta, when she married Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern in 1961. The tiara was worn by her daughter Princess Désirée of Hohenzollern when she married Heinrich Franz Josef, Hereditary Count of Ortenburg, in 1990 and by her daughter-in-law Uta Maria König when she married Prince Hubertus of Hohenzollern in 2000. Princess Désirée of Hohenzollern subsequently wore the tiara at her cousin's weddings.
Queen Louise's Diamond Tiara
Lady Louise Mountbatten wore this small Art Deco-style tiara in the 1920s, around the time she married Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden (later Gustaf VI Adolf) in 1923. It was later worn by her four step-granddaughters – known collectively as the Haga Princesses – Princess Margaretha, Princess Birgitta, Princess Désirée and Princess Christina. Upon Queen Louise's death in 1965, it was inherited by Princess Désirée.
- Princess Margaretha at the opening of the Riksdag, 1956
Princess Sibylla's Bracelet Tiara
Princess Sibylla's Bracelet Tiara is a small Art Deco-style bracelet that can be placed on a frame and worn as a bandeau-style tiara. It has been worn in this form by Princess Sibylla, Princess Désirée and Princess Birgitta. Upon Princess Sibylla's death in 1972, it was inherited by her second daughter Princess Birgitta, who wore it in its bracelet form to Crown Princess Victoria's wedding in 2010.
Princess Sofia's Wedding Tiara
Sofia Hellqvist received this emerald and diamond tiara from her parents-in-law, Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, when she married Prince Carl Philip in 2015. The emeralds can be replaced with diamonds, pearls, turquoise, topazes and aquamarines.
- Princess Sofia on her wedding day, 2015
Necklaces
Queen Josefina's Diamond Stomacher Necklace
Queen Josefina's Diamond Corsage was originally a stomacher belonging to Queen Josefina. It has three diamond rosettes connected by a diamond chain, a diamond bow and a pear-shaped pendant suspended from the bottom. It has two additional diamond drops which can be removed and worn as earrings.
Queen Josefina is portrayed wearing the piece with the pearl version of the Leucthenberg Sapphire Parure Tiara in a portrait by Sofia Adlersparre. It was next worn by Queen Louise (Louise of the Netherlands), Queen Victoria, Queen Louise (Louise Mountbatten), Princess Sibylla and Queen Silvia. The stomacher was placed on a chain and worn as a necklace by Princess Lilian. When she died in 2013, she left the necklace to Crown Princess Victoria.
- Queen Josefina by Sofia Adlersparre, 1856
- Queen Louise (Louise of the Netherlands)
- Queen Victoria by Victor Roikjer, 1928
- Crown Princess Louise (Louise Mountbatten), 1948
- Crown Princess Victoria at Princess Madeleine's wedding, 2013
Bernadotte Cross Pendant
This piece of jewelry consists of 20 larger brilliants shaped in a Christian cross and can be identified as having been in Karl Johan's fideicommiss . It is not documented that it was worn before Queen Silvia wore it at the Nobel Banquet in 1976 and the last time she wore it was at the Nobel Banquet in 2007.
Grand Diamond Rivière
The Grand Diamond Rivière consists is 36 diamonds set in gold and silver. The rivière was originally owned by Grand Duchess Louise of Baden, mother of Queen Victoria. The clasp of the necklace is much older and belonged to Princess Sophia Albertina, sister of Gustaf III, who bequeathed it to Queen Josefina.
Processional Necklace
The Processional Necklace, known in Swedish as Intågningssmycke (Entrainment jewellery), is a necklace made of diamonds, 16 Ceylon sapphires, 6 sapphires, and 25 baroque pearls.
Princess Viktoria of Baden received the necklace as a wedding gift from her husband Crown Prince Gustaf of Sweden and Norway when they married in 1881. She wore the necklace during her processional entrance to Stockholm, hence the name. It has subsequently been worn by Queen Louise, Queen Silvia, Princess Christina, Princess Désirée, Princess Lilian, Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Madeleine.
- Princess Madeleine at Crown Princess Victoria's wedding, 2010
13-Row Seed Pearl Choker
Crown Princess Victoria (Victoria of Baden) received this 13-row seed pearl choker with five diamond bars from her parents-in-law, Oscar II and Queen Sofia, on the occasion of their silver wedding anniversary. It has been worn by Queen Silvia, Princess Christina and Princess Madeleine.
Scarab Necklace
The Scarab Necklace is an Egyptian-style rubies, sapphires, diamonds, and pearl necklace made by Koch. Crown Prince Gustaf (later Gustaf V) and Crown Princess Victoria gave it to their new daughter-in-law, Princess Margaret of Connaught, the bride of their son, Prince Gustaf Adolf (later Gustaf VI Adolf), in 1905. The Egyptian style fit as Prince Gustaf Adolf and Princess Margaret had met in Cairo. When Crown Princess Margareta, as she was known in Sweden, died in 1920, she left the necklace to her third son, Prince Bertil. It was born by his wife Princess Lilian, who left it to Queen Silvia when she died in 2013. As of 2023, Queen Silvia has yet to wear it.
Princess Sibylla's Sapphire Necklace
Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha received the necklace as a wedding gift from her cousin, Tsar Ferdinand of Bulgaria, when she married Prince Gustaf Adolf in 1932. The necklace was worn without pendants by her youngest daughter Princess Christina. It was ultimately left to her second daughter Princess Birgitta upon her death in 1972.
- Princess Sibylla, 1947
- Princess Christina in the Netherlands, 1964
- Princess Birgitta at Princess Madeleine's wedding, 2013
Bracelets
The Duchess of Albany's Sapphire Bracelet
Princess Helen of Waldeck and Pyrmont received the bracelet as a wedding gift from her bridesmaids – Lady Florence Anson, Lady Florence Bootle Wilbraham, Lady Blanche Butler, Lady Mary Campbell, Lady Anne Lindsay, Lady Ermyntrude Russell, Lady Alexandria Vane-Tempest and Lady Feodore Yorke – when she married Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, youngest son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom in 1882. The bracelet was likely inherited by her son Carl Eduard, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, upon her death in 1922 who subsequently gave it to his daughter, Princess Sibylla, wife of Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden. After Princess Sibylla's death in 1972, the bracelet was allegedly inherited by her eldest daughter, Princess Margaretha. In 2023, Crown Princess Victoria wore it to the coronation of Charles III of the United Kingdom.
Earrings
Karl XIV Johan Earrings
The earrings from Karl XIV Johan's jewellery fideicommiss consist of a large drop of brilliant which is surrounded by a smaller wreath of diamonds and another larger one with large diamonds. The first queen to wear these was Queen Lovisa, married to Karl XV. They are still used today by Queen Silvia.
- Queen Louise (Louise of the Netherlands)
- Queen Louise (Louise Mountbatten) on a state visit to the Netherlands, 1955
- Queen Silvia at Princess Madeleine's wedding, 2013
Vasa Earrings
A pair of brilliant earrings that have the shape of a teardrop-shaped wreath with a pendant shaped like a globe with a brilliant mount. They are among the oldest jewel in the jewellery collection dating back to the end of the 18th century. They probably come from Gustav IV Adolf's wife Fredrika of Baden. When the couple was exiled in 1809, they took with them some jewellery that was then inherited by their eldest son Gustaf and later by his daughter Carola who was married to King Albert of Saxony.
When Victoria of Baden married Gustaf in 1881, she received the earrings as a wedding gift from Queen Carola.
The earrings can be worn without the pendant, so that the wreath is empty. Today they are worn by Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Madeleine.
Princess Madeleine wore the Vasa earrings when she got married in 2013.
- Princess Sibylla at the opening of the Riksdag, 1956
- Princess Madeleine on her wedding day, 2013
Epaulette Earrings
These earrings were worn by Crown Princess Victoria at the concert before the wedding on 18 June 2010. Epaulet means shoulder jewellery and is part of certain uniforms. The name Epålett (Epaulette earrings) earrings was first published on 11 December 2011, when Victoria wore them for the second time. At King Carl XVI Gustaf's 70th birthday, Princess Madeleine wore the earrings.
Brooches
Queen Josefina's Diamond, Ruby and Pearl Brooch
One of the oldest picture-documented brooches is one worn by Josephine of Leuchtenberg. It is a flower brooch, consisting of diamonds, rubies and pearls. It is used as both a brooch and hair ornament by Crown Princess Victoria and Queen Silvia. Crown Princess Victoria has worn it as an alternative to a classic tiara at Queen Margaret's 70th birthday party in Copenhagen in 2010 and at the King's dinner for the 2010 Nobel Laureates at Stockholm Castle.
- Queen Josefina in a portrait by Axel Nordgren,
Queen Victoria's Pearl and Diamond Corsage
Princess Viktoria of Baden wore this brooch, with a diamond semi-sunburst surrounding a pearl, on her wedding day when she married Crown Prince Gustaf (later Gustaf V) in 1881. She continued to wear this piece throughout her life. It was not seen again until Queen Silvia wore it on a state visit to Germany in 2016.
- Crown Princess Victoria (later Queen Victoria) wears the ray diadem and a corsage brooch that now bears her name
Baden Pearl Brooch
Among other things a brooch with a pearl in the middle and diamonds set around the pearl, on the brooch there is also a pearl pendant. On a portrait of Grand Duchess Louise of can be seen the brooch, this piece of jewelery is then found in photos and portraits of Queen Victoria and Queen Louise and is now worn on occasional occasions by Queen Silvia.
- Grand Duchess Louise of Baden by Otto Propheter, 1903
- Queen Louise, 1950s
Baden Floral Pearl Drop Brooch
Another brooch that is somewhat smaller and more pretty is this one, which today is often worn by Queen Silvia. It also has a pearl pendant.
- Grand Duchess Louise of Baden
- Queen Victoria, 1902
- Queen Silvia, 2013
Pearl and Diamond Ivy Brooch
- Crown Princess Victoria, 1882
- Queen Louise on a state visit to the Netherlands, 1955
Queen Louise's Sapphire Spray Brooch
- Crown Princess Louise, 1935
- Princess Margaretha, 1966
Diamond Arrow
This diamond arrow brooch has only been worn by Queen Silvia on a few occasions. On 18 June 2010, the night before the wedding between Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, Crown Princess Victoria wore this brooch as a hair ornament. The oldest pictorial listing of the jewellery is as late as 1953, when it was worn by Princess Sibylla during the Nobel ceremony, but it is probably older than that.
Princess Lilian's Diamond Brooch
Lilian's diamond brooch is a small brooch made of diamonds shaped like a flower, which Crown Princess Victoria received as a gift from Princess Lilian. Victoria wore the brooch at the media meeting in connection with her engagement. During the Turkish state visit the day after Princess Lilian died, Victoria wore the brooch at lunch and the gala dinner in the evening.
See also
Print sources
- Bond, Cay; Alm Göran (2006). (in Swedish) Drottning Silvias festklänningar och de kungliga smyckena. Stockholm: Atlantis. Libris 10154529. ISBN 91-7353-130-8 (inb.)
- Alm, Göran; Fogelmarck Stig, Granslund Lis (1976). (in Swedish) Smycken för drottningar tillhöriga de Bernadotteska stiftelserna: Stockholms slott 1976-1977. Stockholm: Ståthållarämbetet. Libris 3277116
- Steen Jensen, Bjarne (2002) (in Danish). Juvelerne i det danske kongehus. Köpenhamn: Nyt Nordisk forlag Arnold Busck. ISBN 87-17-07143-7 (inb.)
Documentaries
- Kungliga smycken - Symboler för makt och kärlek (In Swedish) Aired 2020 on SVT (2 parts)
- De Kongelige Juveler (In Danish and English) Aired 2011 on DR (2 parts)
References
- Kiehna, Lauren. "The Brazilian Tiara". The Court Jeweller. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- Kiehna, Lauren. "Tiara Timeline: The Cameo Parure". The Court Jeweller. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- Kiehna, Lauren. "Sapphire Spotlight: The Leuchtenberg Sapphires". The Court Jeweller. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- Kiehna, Lauren. "The Swedish Royal Family's Regal Amethyst Tiara". The Court Jeweller. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- Kiehna, Lauren. "A Diadem That Sparkles Without Diamonds: Sweden's Napoleonic Cut-Steel Tiara". The Court Jeweller. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- Kiehna, Lauren. "The Swedish Cut-Steel Bandeau Tiara". The Court Jeweller. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
- Kiehna, Lauren. "The Russian Pink Topaz Suite". The Court Jeweller. Retrieved 16 August 2023.