Crown Princess Märtha’s Silver Wedding Earrings

~ Saad719

Today marks the 65th Anniversary of the Death of Crown Princess Märtha of Norway, the mother of King Harald, who tragically died of cancer on this day in 1954. While the Norwegian Emerald Parure is probably is most well known contribution to the royal vault, today we are featuring a piece that was made for her but never worn, and is now seen on Crown Princess Mette Marit.

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In March 1954, Crown Prince Olav selected this pair of diamond chandelier earrings as a present for his wife, Crown Princess Märtha, on the occasion of their Silver Wedding Anniversary, for which a series of lavish events were scheduled. However, just a few days before, she was admitted into hospital, and the celebrations were cancelled. Just a few days later, she passed away in hospital, with the earrings, and her gown, remaining unworn. A few decades later, the Silver Wedding Earrings came into the procession of her daughter-in-law, Crown Princess (now Queen) Sonja, who usually wore them with the Vifte Tiara, and most notably at the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1997.

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Queen Sonja also loaned Crown Princess Märtha’s Silver Wedding Earrings to her daughter, Princess Märtha Louise, who paired them with the Maltese Circlet Tiara for a State Banquet and also wore them at Infanta Elena’s pre-wedding Gala.

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In 2001, King Harald and Queen Sonja gifted Crown Princess Märtha’s Silver Wedding Earrings to their daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mette Marit, who first wore them on the eve of her wedding, with the Vifte Tiara as a necklace. Since then, the Chandelier Earrings have been regularly worn, quite often with the Diamond Daisy Bandeau, and remain staples in the Crown Princess’ jewellery box. There is no doubt we will continue to see them for years to come.

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3 thoughts on “Crown Princess Märtha’s Silver Wedding Earrings”

  2. Does princess Ragnhild inherited any of her mother jewels because it seems most of the jewels go to prince (now King) Harald?

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    1. Well, I don’t know if she inherited other jewels like earrings or necklaces, but I do know she inherited Queen Maud’s Diamond tiara. It’s one of the most important tiaras her mother Crown Princess Martha had and it is now with the late Princess Ragnhild’s heirs. I don’t think the Norwegians have “state” or “crown” jewels like Denmark nor a jewel foundation like Sweden and the Netherlands, so the tiara was hers personally. There have been rumors that she intended to leave the tiara to her brother so that it would remain with the main line of the family, but Princess Ragnhild died in 2012, more than six years ago, and I haven’t heard anything regarding the return of the tiara. On the other hand, Princess Astrid has made it known that the heirloom tiaras she owns, the Vasa and the Queen Maud Turquoise tiaras, will be returned to the main line and that there they will stay in the future.

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