Princess Michael of Greece’s Van Cleef and Arpels Suite

~ Saad719

Happy Birthday to Prince Michael of Greece, who turns 80 today! The youngest grandchild of King George I of Greece, and the first cousin of the Duke of Edinburgh, the late Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, Princess Paul of Yugoslavia, Queen Helen of Romania, the Duchess of Aosta, Princess Margarita of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Princess Theodora, Margravine of Baden, Grand Duchess Cecile of Hesse, and Princess Sophie of Hanover, and the Count of Paris, Prince Michael has attended many glittering events, often with Princess Michael wearing her Van Cleef and Arpels Parure-

It is unknown how the Greek Artist Marina Karella acquired this striking Van Cleef & Arpels Suite composed of two necklaces and a pair of versatile earrings set with sapphires and emeralds, but given it’s similarity to the Ruby Parure given to Prince Michael’s cousin Queen Sofia of Spain by Greek shipping tycoon Stavros Niarchos and Queen Anne Marie’s Van Cleef & Arpels Suite it is safe to imagine that Princess Michael’s Suite was another gift from Niarchos or another Greek Tycoon.

Princess Michael was first pictured wearing the Van Cleef & Arpels Suite at a premiere of Zorba the Greek in Paris in the 1965, just a month after her wedding.

In 1988, the Van Cleef & Arpels Suite was paired with her Diamond Floral Tiara for the Wdding Ball of Duchess Mathilde of Württemberg and Prince Erich of Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg. 

A few years later, Princess Michael wore her Van Cleef & Arpels Suite at Prince Henrik of Denmark’s 60th Birthday Gala Dinner in 1994.

Princess Michael also wore her Van Cleef & Arpels Suite for Infanta Elena of Spain’s Wedding Gala in Seville in 1995 and has worn it for a few other Gala events over the years.

Diamond Floral Tiara

Van Cleef and Arpels Parure

Greek Emerald Parure

Greek Ruby Parure

Khedive of Egypt Tiara

Antique Corsage Tiara

Pearl and Star Tiara

Diamond Stars

Aquamarine Pendant

Diamond Sautoir

Modern Diamond Necklace

Sapphire Necklace

Van Cleef & Arpels Ruby Necklace

Van Cleef & Arpels Suite

Diamond Earrings

Diamond Pendant

Emerald Pendant

Amethyst Brooch

Diamond Swan Brooch

Seed Pearl Brooch

Bow Brooch

Diamond Clip Brooches

Seed Pearl Brooch

Greek Royal Tiaras30 

Embed from Getty Images

Similar to her Diamond Floral Tiara, it is unknown how the Greek Artist Marina Karella acquired this Parure featuring two necklaces and a pair of earrings set with sapphires, but given it’s similarity to other Van Cleef and Arpels designs of the era, and the similar Ruby Parure given to Prince Michael’s cousin Queen Sofia of Spain by Greek shipping tycoon Stavros Niarchos, it is safe to imagine that the parure was another gift from Niarchos or maybe even a gift from Prince Michael, who gave up his rights to the Greek Throne to marry his commoner bride. Princess Michael was first pictured in the Parure at a premiere of Zorba the Greek in Paris in the 1965, just a month after her wedding.

In 1988, the full Van Cleef and Arpels Parure, paired with the Diamond Floral Tiara, was worn by Princess Michael in a portrait with the Countess of Paris and her daughters and daughters-in-law at the wedding ball of Duchess Mathilde of Württemberg and Prince Erich of Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg. Prince Michael was raised by his uncle and aunt, the Count and Countess of Paris, after the early death of his parents.

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images

Princess Michael also wore Van Cleef and Arpels Parure at Prince Henrik of Denmark’s 60th Birthday Gala Dinner in 1994, and has worn it for more recent Gala events, so there is no doubt we will see it frequently in the future, maybe even on her daughters, Princess Olga and Princess Alexandra.

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