Today marks the 20th Anniversary of the Death of the Countess of Barcelona, mother of King Juan Carlos and grandmother of King Felipe of Spain, who passed away on this day in 2000. The Bourbon-Two-Sicilies Princess who was the de-facto Queen Consort of Spain, the Countess had a magnificent jewellery collection, from which we are featuring her Pearl Brooch.

Featuring two important natural pearls, the larger, button-shaped, having a yellowish tone, while the second, smaller, is drop-shaped. The first is set within a frame of 12 brilliant-cut diamonds, from which an additional brilliant diamond and the pearl drop set in cap of rose-cut diamonds are suspended. These piece is known to have been part of the collection of Queen Maria Cristina, however, it is highly probable that it was part of the Spanish Royal collection before the Queen’s arrival at Madrid’s Court in 1879. It might have belonged to King Alfonso XII’s beloved first wife, Queen María de las Mercedes, who suddenly passed away the year before.

The Pearl and Diamond Brooch features in several of Queen Maria Cristina‘s portraits and family photographs, most notably for a painting made by José San Bartolomé Llaneces around 1911, where Her Majesty was depicted wearing three similar brooches at the same time. The piece also features in King Afonso XIII and Princesa Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg’s engagement pictures taken in Miramar Palace in San Sebastián, as the Queen had it pinned on her dress.

When Doña Cristina passed away, in 1929, the Pearl and Diamond Brooch, valued in 4.250 pesetas of that time, was inherited by her only son, King Alfonso XIII. Six years later, in 1935, Don Alfonso presented the Pearl Brooch to her new daughter-in-law, Princess Maria de las Mercedes, on the occasion of her marriage to Infante Juan. The Princess’ corbeille de mariage comprised several other notable family heirloom jewels, namely Queen Maria Cristina’s Loop Tiara, the Chaumet Ruby Clip Brooches, and Infanta Isabel’s Pearl Bracelet.

The Countess of Barcelona, as Doña María de las Mercedes was referred as after her father-in-law’s passing, in 1941, wore the Pearl and Diamond Brooch quite frequently. As her husband’s grandmother did in the past, the Countess choose to wear the Brooch for several family photographs taken with her husband and children, Infanta Pilar, Prince Juqn Carlos, Infanta Margarita, and Infante Alfonso. Sometimes, Doña María wore only the top part of the piece as an alternative to the complete Brooch. It was also used as a pendant, being suspended from an historic pearl necklace.

Doña Maria also wore the Pearl and Diamond Brooch for several important family events, most notably the Wedding of King Constantine II of Greece and Princess Anne Marie of Denmark in 1964, the Christening of Infanta Cristina of Spain in 1965, the Wedding of Infanta Pilar and Luis Goméz-Acebo in 1967, and Infanta Margarita and Carlos Zurita’s Pre-Wedding Reception in 1972.

The Pearl and Diamond Brooch was later passed by Doña María to her daughter-in-law, Queen Sofía, who began wearing it around the 1980s. Like her mother-in-law, Doña Sofia has also played quite a bit with the brooch’s versatility, wearing it with and without the pendant section. On some occasions, the Queen of Spain has also suspended the pearl drop from other brooches in her collection.

Together with the Joyas de Pasar and several other heirloom jewels, Queen Maria Cristina’s Pearl and Diamond Brooch was passed by Queen Sofía to her daughter-in-law, the new Queen of Spain, following King Juan Carlos’ abdication in 2014, and in October 2017, Queen Letizia debuted the Pearl Brooch for the events marking Spanish National Day.

On the occasion of National Day, a family picture, together with King Felipe, Princess Leonor, and Infanta Sofía, was taken on one of the balconies of the Royal Palace of Madrid, which was later used for their 2017 Christmas Card.

In April 2024, Doña Letizia wore the Brooch again for a Funeral Mass of her husband’s cousin, Don Fernando Gómez-Acebo. There is no doubt we’ll continue seeing this heirloom jewel in the future!

This article was written by assistant editor, David Rato, who runs the Spanish Royal Jewels account on Instagram!

Queen Maria Cristina’s Loop Tiara

Floral Tiaras

Sapphire Necklace

Diamond Corsage

Strawberry Leaf Brooches

Diamond Bow Brooch

Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara

Spanish Floral Tiara

Prussian Diamond Tiara

Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Cartier Pearl Tiara

Queen Maria Christina’s Loop Tiara

Mellerio Shell Tiara

Ansorena Fleur de Lys Tiara

The Joyas de Pasar

Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Diamond Earrings

Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Diamond Bracelets

Queen Sofia’s Wedding Necklace

Queen Sofia’s Emerald Parure

Queen Sofia’s Sapphire Parure

Queen Sofia’s Ruby Dove Parure

Queen Sofia’s Diamond Flower Brooch

Queen Sofia’s Omani Diamond Suite

Spanish Royal Tiaras

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The Pearl Brooch, featuring a central pearl ringed by diamonds with a detachable pearl pendant, was part of the Wedding Gifts given to Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two-Sicilies when she married Infante Juan of Spain, the third son and heir of the exiled King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain, in 1935, and displayed with her corbeille de mariage. The Brooch originated from his grandmother, Queen Maria Christina.

The Countess of Barcelona's Pearl Brooch: https://t.co/ogwzqlkFBN pic.twitter.com/lL2Sx9kZ04

— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) January 2, 2020

La condesa de Barcelona, abuela de Felipe VI, lució el broche de Letizia en la boda de la infanta Pilar en 1967 #12OctFiestaNacional pic.twitter.com/SFKv5wbO92

— ♔ Carles Navarro ♔ (@carlesnav) October 12, 2017

Though not as much of a favourite as her pearl jewellery, the Pearl Brooch was worn by the Countess of Barcelona in a variety of configurations, including as a pendant, throughout her life, most notably at the Wedding of Infanta Pilar.

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After the Countess of Barcelona’s death, the Pearl Brooch passed to her daughter-in-law, Queen Sofia, who wore it frequently for a variety of daytime and evening occasions, often without the pearl pendant.

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Now, the Countess of Barcelona’s Pearl Brooch has passed to Queen Letizia, who wore it for the first time on Spanish National Day in 2017. With quite a few royal occasions coming up in the next few months, let’s hope we see this heirloom jewel again soon.