Today marks the 55th Anniversary of the Death of Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain, who passed away on this day in 1969! Queen Ena had a splendid jewellery collection, full of family heirlooms and contemporary acquisitions and commissions. Many of her jewels remain with the Spanish Royal Family, and are now worn by Queen Sofia and Queen Letizia, such as her spectacular Diamond Rivière, which we are featuring today!
David Rato
Queen Isabella II’s Mellerio Diamond Star Tiara
Today marks the anniversary of the death of Queen Isabel II of Spain, who passed away on this day in 1904! The eldest surviving child of King Fernando VII and his wife and niece, Maria Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, she became Queen of Spain at the early age of 3, with a reign as “queen of sad fates” marked by a great political turmoil that ended in a Parisian exile in 1868, after a Glorious Revolution, but to mark this anniversary, we are taking a look at the Queen’s Mellerio Diamond Stars.
Duchess of Braganza’s Floral Necklace Tiara
Happy Birthday to Infanta Maria Francisca, Duchess of Coimbra, who turns 27 today! The second child and only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Braganza, pretenders to the defunct Portuguese throne, the Infanta got married to Duarte Sousa Araújo in a lavish ceremony in October 2023 and to mark the day, we are featuring the first tiara from the family’s collection that she has worn: the Braganza Floral Necklace Tiara!
Princess Sandra Torlonia’s 18th Birthday Gala, 1954
Seventy years ago, the exiled Spanish Royal Family, Spanish Aristocracy, and the leading Italian Noble Families got together for a dazzling Gala at the magnificent renaissance Palazzo Torlonia in the heart of the city of Rome to celebrate the 18th Birthday and the debut into society of Doña Alessandra (Sandra) Torlonia, the eldest granddaughter of King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain.
Montellano Turquoise Parure
Two days ago, the Marqués de Pons, eldest son and heir of the Duchess of Montellano, married Doña Ina Morenés Allendesalazar in Madrid, and while the bride was not wearing an heirloom Diadem, the groom’s mother, the X Duchess of Montellano, wore the spectacular necklace of the Montellano Chaumet Turquoise Parure!
Paternò di Spedalotto Tiara
Happy Birthday to Princess Silvia, Dowager Duchess of Aosta, who turns 70 today! The Italian aristocrat, from the Paternò di Spedalotto family, daughter of the VI Marquess Di Regiovanni, was the second wife of the late Prince Amedeo of Savoy-Aosta, V Duke of Aosta and Pretender to the Italian Throne. To mark the day, we are featuring one of the Duchess’ major jewellery pieces: the Paternò di Spedalotto Diamond Tiara!
Princess Olimpia Torlonia’s Diamond Rivière
Happy Birthday to the Princess Olimpia Torlonia, who turns 80 today! The granddaughter of King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain, and youngest child of Infanta Beatriz and the V Prince of Civitella Cesi, who married Paul-Annik Weiller, the son of the very rich Industrialist and Philanthropist Paul-Louis Weiller and the mother Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg, the very discreet Princess Olimpia is the owner of a splendid jewellery collection, of which we are featuring one of the most significant pieces at her disposal: the Diamond Riviére!
Marichalar Tiara
Happy Birthday to Infanta Elena of Spain, Duchess of Lugo, who turns 60 today! The elder sister of the current Spanish Sovereign, the Infanta was a working member of the Spanish Royal family for almost three decades, amassing a splendid jewellery collection, the most recognisable piece being the Marichalar Diamond Tiara!
Princess Claude’s Turquoise Suite
Happy Birthday to the Princess Claude of Orléans, who turns 80 today! The ninth child and fifth daughter of the Count of Paris, the controversial Head of the French Royal House, and the always-elegant Princess Isabelle, who married and then divorced Prince Amedeo of Savoy-Aosta, a Pretender to the Italian Throne. Princess Claude has worn some spectacular jewels throughout her life, being one of the more significant her Turquoise Suite, which we are featuring today!
Orléans-Braganza Diamond Tiara
Last week, Heirloom Jewels from the Orléans Royal Family and the Bourbon Parma Royal Family were loaned to Royal and Noble Débutantes for Le Bal des Débutantes in Paris, with the spectacular Orléans-Braganza Diamond Tiara appearing on the head of Archduchess Ildiko of Austria, Princess of Hungary!