Queen Maud’s Aquamarine Brooch

Today marks the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Queen Maud of Norway, the British Princess who became the first Queen of an Independent Kingdom of Norway. To mark the occasion, we are featuring Queen Maud’s Aquamarine Brooch.

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Queen Maud wears her Aquamarine Brooch at King Harald’s Christening in 1938: https://t.co/oaVYLsy0wZ pic.twitter.com/czv5kprJNv
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) November 25, 2019

Featuring a large rectangular aquamarine, surrounded by a foliate diamond frame in an Edwardian design, the brooch, of unknown provenance, was most notably worn by Queen Maud for the Christening of her grandson, the current King Harald, in 1938. In 1938, Queen Maud brought her jewels with her to England while she was having an operation, and where she passed away of heart failure. Queen Maud’s jewels remained in England, throughout the Norwegian Royal Family’s exile during WWII, and were only reclaimed during a visit for the Queen’s Coronation in 1953.

Crown Princess Sonja wears Queen Maud's Aquamarine Brooch during the British Royal Family’s Holiday in Norway in 1969: https://t.co/oaVYLsy0wZ pic.twitter.com/NcMnBRQa0h
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) November 25, 2019

Soon afterwards, her daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Martha passed away, and the brooch remained in the vaults for years until the Norwegian Royal jewellery collection was divided up following the wedding of then Crown Prince Harald in 1968. In 1969, Queen Maud’s Aquamarine Brooch was worn by the then Crown Princess Sonja for a visit from the British Royal Family, but was not regularly seen in public.

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However, a few years after her marriage, Queen Maud’s Aquamarine Brooch began to be worn by Crown Princess Mette-Marit, for a variety of notable occasions, including Queen Margrethe’s Ruby Jubilee Banquet, the Christening of her godson, Prince Oscar of Sweden, and a visit to Latvia. There is no doubt we will continue to see Queen Maud’s Aquamarine Brooch for years to come.