Princess Thyra’s Sapphire Tiara

The Royal Heirloom made for the unmarried daughter of  King Frederick VIII of Denmark and Princess Louise of Sweden and Norway, who left it to her niece, Hereditary Princess Caroline-Mathilde, though it was most notably worn by her daughter, the late Princess Elisabeth of Denmark, who left it to her own nieces, who are auctioning the Tiara next month. 

Composed of five cabochon sapphire and diamond scrolling elements, which can be swapped for five cabochon turquoises, the Tiara was made in the latter half of the 19th century, likely by E. Wolff & Co., London. In the 1920s, a brown velvet ribbon, set with several single-cut Rhinestones, was sewn on the base. The Tiara is housed in a original fitted leather case from A. Michelsen in Copenhagen, purveyor to the Royal Danish Court

The Tiara was made in the latter half of the 19th century for Princess Thyra of Denmark, an unmarried daughter of King Frederik VIII and Queen Louise of Denmark and as the sister of King Christian X of Denmark and King Haakon VII of Norway, she attended a variety of glittering events. After her death in 1945, she left the Tiara to her niece.

Princess Caroline Mathilde of Denmark was married to her cousin, Prince Knud, second son of King Christian X, who, for a period of a few years, was the Hereditary Prince of Denmark, until the succession laws were changed to allow Queen Margrethe to succeed her father. Hereditary Princess Caroline Mathilde wore this tiara quite rarely, instead preferring her mother-in-law’s Fringe Tiara.

While this wasn’t her 18th birthday tiara, Princess Elisabeth began wearing Princess Thyra’s Sapphire Tiara soon afterwards, most notably for the weddings of her brothers and cousins in the 1960s and 70s. Due to her employment in the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she did not attend many glittering events, though she usually wore this tiara to family events.

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Due to her age, Princess Elisabeth is rarely seen, though some recent notable events include Queen Margrethe’s 75th Birthday, the Dutch State Banquet, and the Belgian State Banquet last year. She has stated that she eventually intends for the Tiara to go into the main line of the royal family, though may she long wear the glittering piece, most probably at Crown Prince Frederik’s 50th Birthday this month.

UPDATE: After Princess Elisabeth’s passing in 2018, the Tiara was inherited by her three nieces, the Rosenborg Countesses, who are selling it at Auction at Bruun Rasmussen in December 2022, along with Queen Alexandrine’s Emerald Bracelet.

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4 thoughts on “Princess Thyra’s Sapphire Tiara

  1. “She has stated that she eventually intends for the Tiara to go into the main line of the royal family…..”. Just out of curiosity. Where does this piece of information come from?

  2. I’m always amazed at how the British line of succession can go on for thousands of individuals (at last count it was more than 4,900 persons), and yet the line of succession of the Danish ends at 12 with Princess Elizabeth! It’s always so nice to see her out and about at royal events. I wish her joy!

  3. Well….sorry! Still not convinced that she should have stated that publicly. As to Royal jewels of the World reference I believe it to be rumours if discussed on the blog. Anyway! I wish her many years still to come. And nice to read about a somewhat peripheral member of a royal familiy.

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