The Royal Watcher in 2021

It’s that time of year again! For the next few days leading up to the New Year, we have a series of ‘Year in Review’ articles, compiling and featuring the Royal Highlights of 2021! We publish around a hundred articles every month, and the planning and logistics behind them is a tiring but fascinating task so today’s feature is an exclusive look at our personal highlights and the structuring of the over a thousand articles published on the Royal Watcher in 2021!

State Visits 2021 | Royal Weddings 2021 | Royal Tiaras 2021

In addition to many ongoing Royal Weddings, we also marked many important Wedding Anniversaries this year, as well as some spectacular Wedding Balls, which had many Royal Guests and Tiaras:

Weddings

Wedding of Hereditary Prince Bernhard of Baden, 2001

Wedding of Princess Marie Louise of Prussia and Count Rudolf of Schönburg-Glauchau, 1971

Wedding of Prince Philipp of Liechtenstein, 1971

Wedding of the Prince of Naples, 1971

Wedding of Prince Karl of Hesse and Countess Yvonne Szapary von Muraszombath Széchysziget und Szapár, 1966

Wedding of the Margrave of Baden and Archduchess Valerie of Austria, 1966

Wedding of the Marquess of Hamilton, 1966

Wedding of the Marquess of Tavistock, 1961

Royal Guests at the Wedding of the Duke of Kent, 1961

Wedding of King Hussein of Jordan, 1961

Wedding of Prince Andrej of Yugoslavia and Princess Christina of Hesse, 1956

Wedding of the Duke of Northumberland and Lady Elizabeth Montagu Douglas Scott, 1946

Wedding of Prince George William of Hanover and Princess Sophie of Greece, 1946

Wedding of Lord Andrew Cavendish and the Hon. Deborah Mitford, 1941

Wedding of Hereditary Grand Duke Georg Donatus of Hesse and Princess Cecilie of Greece, 1931

Wedding of the Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Margarita of Greece, 1931

Wedding of the Margrave of Baden and Princess Theodora of Greece, 1931

Wedding of the Count of Paris and Princess Isabelle of Orléans-Braganza, 1931

Wedding of Lady May Cambridge, 1931

Wedding of Prince René of Bourbon-Parma and Princess Margaret of Denmark, 1921

Wedding of Princess Xenia Georgievna of Russia, 1921

Wedding of Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria and Princess Antonia of Luxembourg, 1921

Wedding Balls

Wedding Ball of the Prince of Prussia and Princess Sophie of Isenburg, 2011

Wedding Ball of Princess Marie Louise of Prussia and Count Rudolf of Schönburg-Glauchau, 1971

Wedding Ball of Prince Karl of Hesse and Countess Yvonne Szapary von Muraszombath Széchysziget und Szapár, 1966

Wedding Ball of the Margrave of Baden and Archduchess Valerie of Austria, 1966

Wedding Ball of Prince Ernst August of Hanover and Princess Ortrud of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, 1951

Wedding Ball of Princess Ileana of Romania and Archduke Anton of Austria, 1931

Wedding Ball of Prince René of Bourbon-Parma and Princess Margaret of Denmark, 1921

We have featured hundreds of Royal Jewels on The Royal Watcher this year, and among those are some pieces which have been the culmination of years of research. While all of these articles were a delight to research and publish, the most important and through articles are underlined:

Princess Alice’s Pearl and Diamond Tiara

Queen’s Bahrain Pearl Earrings

Vladimir Pearl Earrings

Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara

Princess Caroline’s Diamond Fringe Necklace

Princess Bibesco’s Emerald Tiara

Queen Marie Jose’s Sapphire Necklace

Princess Ileana’s Diamond Tiara

Chaumet Bourbon-Parma Tiara

Queen Frederica’s Bow Brooch

Milford Haven Ruby Kokoshnik

Queen Alexandra of Yugoslavia’s Girandole Earrings

Orléans Sapphire Parure

The Family Collection of the late Countess Mountbatten of Burma | 24 March 2021

Danish Pearl Poiré Brooch

Queen Tadj ol-Molouk’s Diamond Tiara

Duchess of Kent’s Diamond Brooch

Queen Josefina’s Diamond Stomacher Necklace

Vladimir Emerald Brooch

Duchess of Bedford’s Tiaras

Grand Duchess Victoria Melita’s Cartier Sapphire Necklace

Queen Alexandra’s Ladies of North Wales Leek Brooch

Cartier Halo Tiara

Princess Muna’s Tiaras

Hohenlohe-Langenburg Tiaras

Mellerio Shell Tiara

The Cullinan Diamond

Mountbatten Diamond Floral Necklace

Prussian Diamond Scroll Tiara

Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara

Ruby Dragonfly Tiara

Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara

Brabourne Tiara

Queen’s Dubai Sapphire Suite

Queen Mary’s Diamond Stomacher

Baden Royal Tiaras

Fürstenberg Tiaras

Queen Máxima’s Top 5 Jewels

Queen Zein’s Diamond Tiara

Hohenzollern Sapphire Parure

Empress Eugenie’s Andean Emerald Cross

Empress Marie-Louise’s Topaz Parure

Queen Helen’s Russian Sapphire Earrings

Princess Margaret’s Sapphire Earrings

Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara

Hesse Star Tiara

Queen Maria of Yugoslavia’s Gold Cross Tiara

Gloucester Diamond Necklace Tiara

Duchess of Windsor’s Pearl Necklace

Greek Ruby Parure

Orléans Emerald Necklace

Swedish Cameo Parure

Selangor Diamond Fringe Tiara

Lesotho Diamond Fringe Tiara

The Jewels of Infanta Pilar of Spain

Miller Fringe Tiara

Duchess of Cornwall’s Modern Diamond Suite

Swedish Diamond Epaulette Earrings

Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Négligée Brooch

Queen Anne Marie’s Van Cleef & Arpels Suite

Norwegian Emerald Parure

Portuguese Star Tiara

Princess Viggo’s Garnet Kokoshnik Tiara

The Jewels of Diana, Princess of Wales

Greek Seed Pearl Brooch

Queen Noor’s Diamond Tiara

Queen Anne Marie’s Modern Diamond Necklace

Queen Augusta Victoria’s Tiaras

Princess Margaret’s Star Brooch

Princess Anne’s Diamond Star Brooch

Johor Diamond Tiara

Countess of Paris’ Action Française Tiara

Queen Sirikit’s Diamond Earrings

Empress Frederick’s Shell Tiara

Duchess of Aosta’s Ruby Necklace

Queen Mary José’s Savoy Knot Brooches

Duchess of Sussex’s Birks Diamond Earrings

The Jewels of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway

Prussian Ruby Parure

Queen Sofia’s Diamond Flower Brooch

Hesse Turquoise and Moonstone Tiara

Princess Grace’s Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Bracelet

Princess Victoria Louise’s Köchert Diamond Brooch

Beauchamp Pearl and Diamond Tiara

Countess Karin Bernadotte’s Tiara

Bernadotte Emerald Parure

Habsburg Peridot Parure

Greek Emerald Parure

Queen Josefina’s Diamond Tiara

Princess Soraya’s Harry Winston Diamond Necklace

Portuguese Emerald Tiara

Grand Duchess Maria Kirillovna’s Diamond Necklace

Princess Gina’s Diamond Earrings

Princess Mako’s Diamond Tiara

Raine, Countess Spencer’s Tiara

Princess Yolanda’s Diamond Tiara

Queen Marie Antoinette’s Diamond Bracelets

Queen Josefina’s Pearl Necklace

Princess Dagmar’s Diamond Floral Tiara

Queen Maud’s Diamond Brooch 

Grand Duchess Victoria Melita’s Emerald Tiara

Hesse Emerald Brooch

Queen Amélie’s Diamond Tiara

Queen Margherita’s Musy Tiara

Countess of Avon’s Tiara

Princess Grace’s Cartier Diamond Earrings

Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels | 10 November 2021

Princess Fawzia’s Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Earrings

The Duchess of Sutherland’s Tiara

Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn Tiaras

Cartier India Tiara

Princess Maria Francesca’s Diamond Tiara

Princess Sayako’s Diamond Tiara

Cambridge Sapphire Parure

Bavarian Sunburst Tiara

Queen Elisabeth’s Pearl and Diamond Leaf Brooch

While we have combined elements of our feature biographical articles with many jewel articles this year, there were some notable birthdays and anniversaries that were marked which called for individual articles, including:

Feature

King George V

King Olav V of Norway

Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife

Princess Hélène, Duchess of Aosta

King Alfonso XIII of Spain

Sacha Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn

Queen Komal of Nepal

Gladys, Duchess of Marlborough

Princess Anna of Battenberg

Alix, Princess Napoléon

Duchess Marie-Caroline in Bavaria, Duchess of Württemberg

Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany

Queen Aishwarya of Nepal

Prince Amedeo of Savoy, Duke of Aosta

Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil

Fortune FitzRoy, Duchess of Grafton

Royal Relatives of the Duke of Edinburgh

We try to plan our flashback articles around poignant dates, especially ’round’  anniversaries of people’s births deaths and events, with some of the highlights including:

2001 (20 years ago)

Jordanian State Visit to Britain, 2001

Spanish State Banquet at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, 2001

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia’s Silver Anniversary Gala, 2001

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia’s Silver Anniversary Dinner, 2001

Coronation of King Gyanendra of Nepal, 2001

British State Visit to Norway, 2001

Royal Guests at the Wedding of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, 2011

Engagement of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, 2001

1991 (30 years ago)

Accession of King Harald V of Norway, 1991

Funeral of King Olav V of Norway, 1991

Crown Prince Haakon’s 18th Birthday, 1991

King Harald V’s Consecration, 1991

Ghillies Ball at Balmoral, 1991

Royal Holiday at Balmoral, 1991

Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace, 1991

1986 (35 years ago)

Prince von Thurn und Taxis’ 60th Birthday, 1986

Queen’s 60th Birthday Party at Claridge’s Hotel, 1986

Greek Royal Family’s Ball at Claridge’s Hotel, 1986

Prince and Princess of Wales’ Middle Eastern Tour, 1986

1991 (40 years ago)

Gala at Claridge’s Hotel, 1981

Royal Guests at the Wedding of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer

Christening of Zara Phillips, 1981

The Wedding Ball of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981

Royal Consent to the marriage of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer, 1981

Danish State Visit to Japan, 1981

Spanish State Visit to the Vatican, 1981

Christening of Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia, 1981

British State Visit to Norway, 1981

Wedding of Prince Ernst August of Hanover, 1981

Wedding of Prince Antônio of Orléans-Braganza and Princess Christine de Ligne, 1981

Royal Family at Braemar Games, 1981

1976 (45 years ago)

Royal Family at the Montreal Olympics, 1976

1971 (50 years ago)

Prince Charles and Princess Anne in Kenya, 1971

Royal Visit to the Circuito del Jarama, 1971

Princess Anne in Norway, 1971

Princess Anne’s 21st Birthday Portraits, 1971

Christening of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, 1971

Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako meet the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, 1971

Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako’s Tour of Europe, 1971

2500th Anniversary of the Persian Empire, 1971

Persian Dinner at Persepolis, 1971

Foreign Royals depart Iran, 1971

State Opening of Parliament, 1971

Afghan State Visit to Britain, 1971

1966 (55 years ago)

Jordanian State Visit to Britain, 1966

Gala at the Teatro Real in Madrid, 1966

Independence of the Kingdom of Lesotho, 1966

1961 (60 years ago)

Queen in India, 1961

British State Visit to Iran, 1961

Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Banquet at Buckingham Palace, 1961

Royal Holiday at Windsor, 1961

Royal Family at Badminton Horse Trials, 1961

Royal Film Premiere of ‘The Guns of Navarone’, 1961

Gala Performance at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool, 1961

Belgian State Visit to France, 1961

Belgian State Visit to the Vatican, 1961

Gala at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, 1961

Christening of Diana, Princess of Wales, 1961

Iranian State Visit to France, 1961

Queen in West Africa, 1961

Princess Alexandra in Japan, 1961

Olympic Gala in Naples, 1960

1956 (65 years ago)

Order of Amaranth Ball, 1956

Iraqi State Visit to Britain, 1956

Greek State Visit to Germany, 1956

Ball at Woburn Abbey, 1957

1951 (70 years ago)

Princess Elisabeth in Malta, 1951

Royal Film Performance, 1951

Royal Film Premiere of ‘Captain Horatio Hornblower’, 1951

Princess Elizabeth at the Vatican, 1951

Opening of the Festival of Britain, 1951

Danish State Visit to Britain, 1951

Flower Ball at the Savoy Hotel in London, 1951

Dutch State Visit to Luxembourg, 1951

Norwegian State Visit to Britain, 1951

Gala Performance at Covent Garden, 1951

Ball at Savoy Hotel, 1951

Duke of Edinburgh on Mediterranean Fleet’s Summer Cruise, 1951

Summer at Clarence House, 1951

Royal Holiday at Balmoral, 1951

Bal du Siècle in Venice, 1951

Royal Variety Performance, 1951

Princess Elizabeth’s Tour of Canada, 1951

Royal Film Performance of ‘Where No Vultures Fly’, 1951

Funeral of Prince Carl of Sweden, 1951

1946 (75 years ago)

Christening of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, 1946

Royal Holiday at Schloss Wolfsgarten, 1946

Greek Royal Family return to Greece, 1946

Christening of Queen Anne Marie of Greece, 1946

King Carl XVI Gustaf’s Birthdays

1941 (80 years ago)

Funeral of King Alfonso XIII of Spain, 1941

Funeral of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, 1941

1936 (85 years ago)

Little Entente Banquet at the Royal Palace of Bucharest, 1936

Olympic Gala in Berlin, 1936

Duke and Duchess of York at Claridge’s Hotel, 1936

There were also many important programes and documentaries released this year:

Documentaries and Programmes

Royal Family (1969)

Atlantic Crossing

The Princes and the Press

Prince Philip: The Royal Family Remembers

Princess Diana, Martin Bashir and the BBC

The Queen and Her Cousins

Katharine: The Compassionate Duchess

The Duke Of Edinburgh: In His Own Words

My Years With The Queen

Oprah with Meghan and Harry

6The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1997

2 thoughts on “The Royal Watcher in 2021

  1. WOW!!! I can’t believe the quality, variety, and amount of content you produced this year! I, for one, greatly appreciate the time and effort you dedicate to your blog. Thank you so much for all your excellent work!

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