Habsburg Pearl and Diamond Bandeau

Happy 25th Anniversary to Archduke Karl and Archduchess Francesca von Habsburg! In honour of their anniversary, we are taking a look at the wedding Tiara. An antique bandeau made of diamond motifs with pearls, this tiara is reputed to have been once owned by Empress ‘Sissi’ of Austria, though no photographic proof exists. A similar (if not the same) bandeau was worn by Princess Adelheid of Prussia, née Saxe-Meiningen, aunt of Archduchess Regina. (h/t to Stefan) Continue reading

British State Visit to Sweden, 1956

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are starting their two-day Official Visit to Sweden today, and in honour of the visit, we are taking a look at the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s first State Visit to Sweden in 1956, which coincided with the Equestrian Olympic Games. The Queen and Duke had hosted the Swedish King and Queen in 1954, and visited Sweden on another State Visit in 1983.

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