Today marks the Anniversary of the birth of Princess Ingeborg of Sweden and Denmark, who was the mother of Queen Astrid of Belgium, Crown Princess Martha of Norway, and Princess Margaretha of Denmark and is the grandmother and great-grandmother of King Harald V of Norway, King Philippe of Belgium, and Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg. To mark her birthday, we are taking a look at her magnificent Pearl Brooch-
Featuring a large pear-shaped pearl on top of a stylised diamond fleur-de-lys, the Brooch originated with Princess Ingeborg, a daughter of King Frederik VIII of Denmark who married Prince Carl of Sweden in 1897, and was pictured wearing the Brooch quite soon afterwards. The provenance is unknown, but the piece was quite likely a wedding gift.
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The Pearl Brooch is a jewel that Princess Ingeborg continued to wear for the rest of her life, with the last appearance of the Brooch, with her Boucheron Pearl Circle Tiara, at the 21st Birthday Banquet of her grandson, Crown Prince Harald of Norway, in 1958, just weeks before her death.
#OnThisDay 55 years ago:
Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg signs the act of abdication while her son and successor, the new Grand Duke Jean, looks on with his wife Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte (born Princess of Belgium).
Grand Duke Jean died last April, aged 98.
🇱🇺 pic.twitter.com/IXKxTBI00C
— RoyalArjan (@RoyalArjan) November 12, 2019
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#OnThisDay 55 years ago:
Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg signs the act of abdication while her son and successor, the new Grand Duke Jean, looks on with his wife Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte (born Princess of Belgium).
Grand Duke Jean died last April, aged 98.
🇱🇺 pic.twitter.com/IXKxTBI00C
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Princess Ingeborg’s Pearl Brooch was inherited by her granddaughter, the then Hereditary Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte of Luxembourg, the only daughter of the late Queen Astrid of Belgium. Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte notably wore the Brooch for the Accession of Grand Duke Jean in 1964 and continued to wear the Brooch for the rest of her life, often with her Belgian Scroll Tiara. She also notably wore the Brooch for State Visits from her cousin, King Harald V of Norway, and her brother, King Albert II’s State Visit to Luxembourg, a symbolic family link with the Brooch.
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After Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte’s death, Princess Ingeborg’s Pearl Brooch was inherited by her eldest son, and was not included in the proposed auction of her jewels. The Brooch is frequently worn by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, not just for many Gala events, but also for events in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, which have strong links to the late Princess Ingeborg. There is no doubt we will continue to see the Brooch for years to come.
