Queen Alexandrine’s Pearl and Diamond Brooch

Today marks the Anniversary of the death of Queen Alexandrine of Denmark, the grandmother of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, who died on this day in 1950. To mark the day, we are taking a look at her Pearl and Diamond Brooch.

Queen Alexandrine’s Pearl Brooch | Diamond Fringe Earrings | Amethyst Earrings

Composed of a round pearl surrounded by three diamonds, from which a detachable pear-shaped conch pearl is suspended, the exact origin of this jewel is unknown, but it likely originates from the wedding gifts of Queen Alexandrine.

Queen Alexandrine most prominently wore the Pearl Brooch for a series of portraits in the early 1900s, a few years before she became Queen.

In 1940, Queen Alexandiren gave the Pearl Brooch as a christening gift to her granddaughter, now Queen Margrethe II. A few months later, Queen Alexandrine’s Pearl Brooch was worn by her mother, the then Crown Princess Ingrid, for King Christ X’s 70th Birthday Lunch, during German Occupation of Denmark.

Princess Margrethe began wearing Queen Alexandrine’s Pearl Brooch in the years before coming of age, with it being frequently worn as a brooch and a pendant, both with and without the pendant, and also once with the Connaught Pearl Brooch to create a larger jewel.

In early 1963, Princess Margrethe loaned Queen Alexandrine’s Pearl Brooch to her youngest sister, 16 year-old Princess Anne Marie, as she arrived in Athens following the announcement of her engagement to Crown Prince Constantine of Greece.

Queen Margrethe was rarely pictured wearing Queen Alexandrine’s Pearl Brooch over the next few decades, with the most notable appearance during the Luxembourg State Visit to Denmark in 2003.

In 2007, Queen Margrethe gave Queen Alexandrine’s heirloom Pearl and Diamond Brooch to her eldest granddaughter, Princess Isabella, as a christening present, with the message:

To Isabella from Farmor ‘Grandmother’

An the day of her Christening 1 July 2007

This Jewel was given to me on the day of my Christening 14 May 1940 by my grandmother, Queen Alexandrine

Over a decade later, Queen Alexandrine’s Pearl Brooch was debuted by Princess Isabella at Prince Joachim’s 50th Birthday Dinner in 2019. As one of her few royal jewels, there is no doubt we will continue to see this stunning heirloom for years to come.

Princess Isabella next wore the Queen Alexandrine’s Pearl and Diamond Brooch for her Confirmation at the Fredensborg Palace Church in 2022.

That year, Queen Alexandrine’s Pearl Brooch went on display in the ‘A Queen’s Jewelry Box/En Dronnings Smykkeskrin‘ Exhibition at the Amalienborg Palace Museum for Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee in 2022.

Queen Alexandrine’s Pearl Brooch was also notably worn by Princess Isabella for the Proclamation of King Frederik X of Denmark at Christinsborg Palace in 2024.

Most recently, Princess Isabella wore Queen Alexandrine’s Pearl Brooch as Queen Margrethe II celebrated her 85th Birthday at Fredensborg Palace last week, the day after Princess Isabella’s own 18th Birthday Gala Performance at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen. As one of her few royal heirlooms, there is no doubt the Brooch will be worn by Princess Isabella for years to come!

Queen Alexandrine’s Pearl Brooch | Diamond Fringe Earrings | Amethyst Earrings

Diamond Fringe Earrings

Queen Alexandrine’s Pearl and Diamond Brooch

Queen Mary’s Amethyst Earrings

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

‘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

Diamond Flower Earrings

Ole Lynggaard Brooch

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Featuring a round pearl surrounded by three diamonds, from which a pear-shaped conch pearl is suspended, the Pearl and Diamond Brooch was most prominently worn by Queen Alexandrine in a series of portraits in the early 1900s, a few years before she became Queen, and was not prominently worn for the rest of her life.

After her death in 1950, Queen Alexandrine’s Pearl and Diamond Brooch was inherited by her granddaughter, Queen Margrethe II, who was only pictured wearing the piece on a handful of ocassions, along with her Connaught Pearl Brooch, Wedding Earrings, and the Alexandrine Drop Tiara in the 1960s.

Embed from Getty Images

In 2007, Queen Margrethe reportedly gave Queen Alexandrine’s heirloom Pearl and Diamond Brooch to her eldest granddaughter, Princess Isabella, as a Christening present, and was publicly worn for the first time at Prince Joachim’s 50th Birthday earlier this year. As one of her few royal jewels, there is no doubt we will continue to see this stunning heirloom for years to come.