Today marks the 160th Anniversary of the Death of Grand Duchess Maria-Ana of Luxembourg, who was born on this in 1861! Born Infanta Maria-Ana of Portugal, daughter of the deposed King Miguel of Portugal, she grew up in the Austro-Hungarian Empire before marrying the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and having six daughters, two of whom became Grand Duchesses, among them Grand Duchess Charlotte. After serving as Regent of Luxembourg between 1908 to 1912, Grand Duchess Maria-Ana lived mainly at Schloss Hohenburg in Bavaria, before joining the Grand Ducal Family when they fled Europe into exile in the United States, where she passed away in 1942. To mark the anniversary, we are featuring one of Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s most splendid heirlooms, her Pearl Négligée!
Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara | Empress Zita’s Diamond Tiara | Pearl Négligée
A small diamond bow with two large pear-shaped pearls suspended at different asymmetric lengths in the négligée style that was popular in the first decade of the 20th century, this piece is of unknown provenance but dates from the early 20th century.
The Pearl Négligée was notably worn by Grand Duchess Maria-Ana at the Wedding of her daughter, Princess Antonia, to Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria in 1921, suspended on a fine chain alongside a two-row pearl necklace and a diamond rivière.
The Pearl Négligée was later given to Grand Duchess Charlotte, who wore it as a pendant for a portrait with the Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara in the 1920s.
Following the tribulations of the Second World War, the Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée was worn as a Brooch by Grand Duchess Charlotte at the Wedding of her son, Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, and Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium in 1953, as well as on a State Visit to the United States in 1963.
In 1956, Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée Brooch was worn by Princess Elisabeth of Luxembourg, the eldest daughter of Grand Duchess Charlotte, for her Wedding to the Duke of Hohenberg.
After Grand Duchess Charlotte’s death in 1985, the Pearl Négligée was notably worn by Grand Duchess JJoséphine-Charlotte for the Wedding of her nephew, Crown Prince, now King, Philippe of Belgium in 1999.
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa has worn Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée Brooch on numerous occasions, including for the Wedding Gala of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in 2004, a Public Mass at the Vatican in 2005, King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 60th Birthday Gala in 2006, and National Day in 2010.
Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée Brooch was also worn by Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria for the Funeral of her father, Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, in 2019.
More recently, Grand Duchess Stéphanie wore Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée for an official visit from the Portuguese President, no doubt honouring Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Portuguese roots. There is no doubt we will continue to see this spectacular Heirloom for year to come!
Empress Zita’s Diamond Tiara
Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara
Pearl Négligée
Luxembourg Empire Tiara
Luxembourg Chaumet Emerald Tiara
Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara
Grand Duchess Hilda’s Diamond Floral Tiara
Empress Zita’s Köchert Diamond Necklace 
Nassau Diamond Rose Brooches
Belgian Scroll Tiara
Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara
Vine Leaves Tiara
Sapphire Necklace Tiara
Diamond Floral Tiara
Chaumet Choker Tiara
Diamond Butterfly Tiara
Aquamarine Tiara
Turquoise Tiara
Diamond Earrings
Turquoise Necklace
Click HERE to see the full version of this article!
Grand Duchess Maria-Ana of Luxembourg wearing her Pearl Négligée at the at the Wedding of her daughter, Princess Antonia, to Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria in 1921!
Learn More: https://t.co/4vZ3P9WaKy pic.twitter.com/RA0C4lMhk9
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) July 13, 2021
Grand Duchess Maria-Ana of Luxembourg wearing her Pearl Négligée at the at the Wedding of her daughter, Princess Antonia, to Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria in 1921!
Learn More: https://t.co/4vZ3P9WaKy pic.twitter.com/RA0C4lMhk9
A small diamond bow with two large pear-shaped pearls suspended at different asymmetric lengths in the négligée style that was popular in the first decade of the 20th century, this piece is of unkown provenance but was notably worn by Grand Duchess Maria-Ana at the Wedding of her daughter, Princess Antonia, to Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria in 1921, suspended on a fine chain alongside a two-row pearl necklace and a diamond riviere.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
The Pearl Négligée was soon given to Grand Duchess Charlotte, who wore it as a pendant for a portrait with the Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara in the 1920s, and much later, following the tribulations of the Second World War, the piece was worn as a brooch at the Wedding of her son, Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, and Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium in 1953, as well as on a State Visit to the United States in 1963.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
In 1956, Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée Brooch was worn by Princess Elisabeth of Luxembourg, the eldest daughter of Grand Duchess Charlotte, for her Wedding to the Duke of Hohenberg. After Grand Duchess Charlotte’s death, the piece entered the Grand Ducal Collection, and Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte notably wore the Pearl Négligée Brooch at the Wedding of her nephew, Crown Prince, now King, Philippe of Belgium in 1999.
Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images
Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée Brooch also also been worn numerous times by the current Grand Duchess Maria Theresa, including at a Public Mass during a visit to the Vatican in 2005, King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 60th Birthday Gala in 2006, and National Day in 2010.
Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria wearing Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée Brooch!
Learn More: https://t.co/4vZ3P9WaKy pic.twitter.com/yw9a2p7Cgw
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) July 13, 2021
Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria wearing Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée Brooch!
Learn More: https://t.co/4vZ3P9WaKy pic.twitter.com/yw9a2p7Cgw
More recently, Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée Brooch was worn by Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria for the Funeral of her father, Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, in 2019. There is no doubt we will continue to see this spectacular Heirloom for hears to come!
Great post as usual. It must be a cherrished heirloom, because it has been worn at some rather important events. Grand Duchess Charlotte for instance wore it to the wedding of her son, the late Grand Duke Jean and Josephine-Charlotte in 1953. And, I am afraid I have to contradict your post on this point but I hope you don’t mind, Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte has actually also been seen wearing this brooch. And it was to a rather important event too; the wedding of the now King Philip of Belgium to Mathilde. Adding the link to the GettyImage photo here (hopefully it will open if you press the link):
https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/prince-philippe-of-belgium-and-mathilde-dudekem-wedding-in-brussels-picture-id115158979?s=2048×2048
Thank You so much! I’ve added it in and some other things I forgot about until now!