Queen Frederica and Princess Irene of Greece joined Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia of Spain as they accompanied the Spanish dictator, General Francisco Franco, and his wife, Carmen Polo, as guests of honour at the reopening of the Teatro Real, in Madrid on this day in 1966.
Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofia of Spain, and Queen Frederica and Princess Irene of Greece accompanied the Spanish Dictator, General Francisco Franco, and his wife, Carmen Polo, as guests of honour at the reopening of the Teatro Real, in Madrid.
The royal theatre was firstly inaugurated in 1850, during the reign of Queen Isabel II. It worked uninterruptedly until 1925, when the building suffered some damages caused by the works for the installation of Madrid’s metro. Because of that, it was provisionally closed by royal decree. The abolition of the Monarchy, the Spanish Civil War, and the difficulties of the post-war era paralysed the reconstruction works, that ended up lasting 41 long years.
In 1966, the restoration works were finally finished, and it opened to the public as auditorium and headquarters of the Royal Superior Conservatory of Music. To mark the occasion, a concert of the Spanish National Orchestra and the Orfeón Donostiarra took place. Apart from the Head of State, his wife, and the Greek and Spanish royals, also ministers, ambassadors, and high personalities of Spanish society were present at this gala evening.
Queen Frederica wore Queen Sophie’s Diamond Tiara, her Pearl and Diamond Necklace with Queen Marie of Romania’s Sapphire suspended, a pair of Romanov Sapphire Earrings and the Greek Order of Redeemer.
Princess Sofia was in the Prussian Tiara, the Niarchos Ruby Parure, the main flowers of the Floral Tiara as brooches, a large Diamond Floral Brooch, and the Order of Charles III.
Princess Irene wore Queen Sophie’s Diamond Circle Tiara, the Order of Saints Olga and Sophia, and the Commemorative Badge of the Centenary of the Royal House of Greece.
Carmen Polo notably wore the Franco Pearl Tiara.
Pearl and Diamond Necklace Tiara
Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara
Prussian Diamond Tiara
Spanish Floral Tiara
Mellerio Shell Tiara
Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Cartier Pearl Tiara
Queen Maria Christina’s Loop Tiara
Niarchos Ruby Parure
Joyas de Pasar
Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Diamond Earrings
Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Diamond Bracelets
Queen Frederica’s Ruby Pendant
Queen Sofia’s Wedding Necklace
Queen Sofia’s Emerald Suite
Queen Sofia’s Sapphire Suite
Queen Sofia’s Baguette Diamond Necklace
Queen Sofia’s Pearl Earrings
Queen Sofia’s Ruby Dove Parure
Queen Sofia’s Omani Diamond Suite
Queen Sofia’s Shell Pendant
Queen Sophia’s Star Sapphire Brooch
Queen Sofia’s Diamond Flower Brooch
Queen Sofia’s Montellano Earrings
Countess of Barcelona’s Pearl Brooch
Countess of Barcelona’s Pearl Bracelet
Queen Maria Christina’s Mellerio Pearl Necklace
Vladimir Sapphire Kokoshnik Tiara 
Romanian Massin Tiara
Diamond Fringe Tiara
Diamond Loop Tiara
Cartier Pearl Tiara
Turquoise Tiara
Sapphire Bandeau Tiara
Cartier Sapphire Pendant
Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna’s Pearl Brooch
Cartier Diamond Sautoir
Emerald Tiara
Fringe Tiara
Gold Tiara
Cartier Diamond Eagle
Greek Emerald Parure
Queen Marie of Romania’s Cartier Pearl Tiara
Cartier Sapphire Necklace
Vladimir Sapphire Kokoshnik
Diamond Scroll Tiara
Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna’s Pearl Brooch
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The royal theatre was firstly inaugurated in 1850, during the reign of Queen Isabel II. It worked uninterruptedly until 1925, when the building suffered some damages caused by the works for the installation of Madrid’s metro. Because of that, it was provisionally closed by royal decree. The abolition of the Monarchy, the Spanish Civil War, and the difficulties of the post-war era paralysed the reconstruction works, that ended up lasting 41 long years.
In 1966, the restoration works were finally finished, and it opened to the public as auditorium and headquarters of the Royal Superior Conservatory of Music. To mark the occasion, a concert of the Spanish National Orchestra and the Orfeón Donostiarra took place. Apart from the Head of State, his wife, and the Greek and Spanish royals, also ministers, ambassadors, and high personalities of Spanish society were present at this gala evening.
Queen Frederica wore Queen Sophie’s Diamond Tiara, her Pearl and Diamond Necklace with Queen Marie of Romania’s Sapphire suspended, a pair of Romanov Sapphire Earrings and the Greek Order of Redeemer. Her youngest daughter, Princess Irene was wearing Queen Sophie’s Diamond Circle Tiara, the Order of Saints Olga and Sophia, and the Commemorative Badge of the Centenary of the Royal House of Greece.
Prince Juan Carlos wore the Order of Golden Fleece and the Order of Charles III and Princess Sofia was in the Prussian Tiara, the Niarchos Ruby Parure, the main flowers of the Floral Tiara as brooches, a large Diamond Floral Brooch, and the Order of Charles III.
This article was written by assistant editor, David Rato, who runs the Spanish Royal Jewels account on Instagram!
Sources: https://www.teatroreal.es/es/historia-del-teatro; ABC, Pintrisimo
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