Prince Henrik of Denmark, Queen Margrethe’s consort for 46 years, passed away this week, and to honour his memory, we are taking a look at some of his glittering gifts to his family over the years. Today’s feature is Crown Princess Mary’s Diamond Flower Brooch.
This diamond brooch, featuring six petals and interjacent diamonds surrounding a large central diamond, belonged to Prince Henrik’s mother, Countess Renée-Yvonne de Laborde de Monpezat.
Countess Renée-Yvonne de Laborde de Monpezat notably wore the brooch as a clasp of her pearl necklace with Princess Dagmar’s Diamond Floral Tiara for Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik’s 25th Wedding Anniversary Banquet in 1992.
After the Countess’ death in 2001, the Diamond Flower Brooch was inherited by her son, Prince Henrik, who gave the brooch to his new daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mary, as a wedding present in 2004, who wore the Brooch for several occasions soon afterwards, including the 2004 Olympics, and a memorial ceremony for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
Crown Princess Mary notably wore the Diamond Flower Brooch on several occasions over the next few years, usually for ceremonial events but also for receptions and on foreign visits.
The Countess de Monpezat’s Diamond Diamond Flower was also worn by Crown Princess Mary at a couple of Gala events, including at King Harald and Queen Sonja’s 80th Birthday Banquet at the Royal Palace of Oslo in 2017.
The Diamond Flower Brooch has also been worn as a hair ornament, notably on a visit to Vietnam, where the Monpezat Family resided for several years from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Crown Princess Mary often wore the Diamond Flower Brooch at funerals and memorial services, including the reburial of Empress Maria Feodorovna in St. Petersburg in 2006 and the Funeral of Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg in 2017, as well as on several occasions leading up to and including the Funeral of Prince Henrik in 2018.
Later that year, Crown Princess Mary wore the Countess de Monpezat’s Diamond Flower Brooch in the back of her hair for Crown Prince Frederik’s 50th Birthday Gala Dinner at Christiansborg Palace, and again paired it with her Diamond Necklace Tiara for the Spanish State Visit to Denmark.
Most recently, the new Queen Mary wore the Countess de Monpezat’s Diamond Flower Brooch for the Proclamation Service at Aarhus Cathedral following the Proclamation of King Frederik X in 2024. There is no doubt we will continue to see the Diamond Flower Brooch worn for years to come!
The Jewels of the Queens of Denmark
The Danish Emerald Parure
The Danish Pearl Poiré Tiara
The Danish Ruby Parure
Danish Diamond Bandeau
Wedding Tiara
Diamond Necklace Tiara
Queen Caroline Amalie’s Gold Tiara
Midnight Tiara
Danish Diamond Rivière
Antique Diamond Earrings 
‘Belle Epoque’ Diamond Earrings
Duchess of Leuchtenberg’s Pearl Bracelet
Wedding Earrings
Diamond Fringe Earrings
Aquamarine Jewels
Amethyst Earrings
Queen Josefina’s Diamond Brooches
Connaught Sapphire Brooch
Queen Louise of Sweden’s Engagement Bracelet 
Diamond Flower Brooch
Antique Turquoise Parure
Queen Lovisa’s Engagement Bracelet 
Danish Flood Sapphire Brooch
Diamond Flower Earrings
Ole Lynggaard Brooch
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This diamond brooch, featuring six petals and interjacent diamonds surrounding a large central diamond. It belonged to Prince Henrik’s mother, Countess Renée-Yvonne de Laborde de Monpezat, who wore the brooch as a clasp of her pearl necklace at Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik’s 25th Wedding Anniversary Banquet in 1992. The brooch was inherited by Prince Henrik in 2001.
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In 2004, Prince Henrik gave the brooch to his new daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mary, as a wedding present. Early appearances included the 2004 Olympics, and a memorial ceremony for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. It was also worn to welcome the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to Denmark in 2012.
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The Diamond Floral Brooch has been worn at a couple of Gala events, including a Brazilian State Visit and King Harald and Queen Sonja’s 80th Birthday Banquet last year. It can also be worn as a hair ornament.
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Crown Princess Mary mainly prefers to use the brooch at funerals and memorial services, including the reburial of Empress Maria Feodorovna in St. Petersburg and the Funeral of Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. The brooch was last worn yesterday, when the Danish Royal Family followed Prince Henrik’s coffin from Fredensborg Palace to Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen. They also saw some of the tributes outside the Palace. I’m sure we will see it at events related to Prince Henrik for years to come.
It’s a small but lovely brooch, full of significance as it belonged to the late Prince’s mother. I think it looks perfect as anchor for Princess Mary’s sashes, and I was surprised to see that it can also be used as a hair ornament! Wonderful!
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