Belgian Scroll Tiara

Today marks the 95th Anniversary of the Birth of the late Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg, who was born on this day in 1927! The Belgian Princess who became the consort of the world’s only Grand Duchy, to mark the anniversary, we are featuring her iconic Belgian Scroll Tiara!

Belgian Scroll Tiara | Chaumet Emerald Tiara | Diamond Earrings | Van Cleef & Arpels Ruby Suite | Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara | Floral Diamond Necklace | Sapphire Necklace Tiara | Sapphire Bracelet Tiara | Pearl Negligee Brooch | Luxembourg Royal Tiaras

Given to Princess Josephine Charlotte of Belgium from the Société Générale bank as a wedding gift in 1953, when she married the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, the Belgian Scroll Tiara was made by Henry Coosemans of 854 diamonds set in platinum, with a total weight of 46.42 carats. The central 8.1 carat diamond can be removed to be worn as a ring, and the entire central element can be also worn as a brooch. 

The Tiara first made an appearance at the Reception following the Wedding of Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium, when the bride changed from the Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara into the Scroll Tiara. A few weeks after her wedding, the Hereditary Grand Duchess wore the Belgian Scroll Tiara for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

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The Belgian Scroll Tiara was the Hereditary Grand Duchess’ primary Tiara in the 1950s and 1960s, worn for a Gala Performance at the Drottningholm Palace Theatre and the Order of Amaranth Ball in 1956, a Gala Dinner during King Baudouin of Belgium’s State Visit to Luxembourg, the Wedding Ball of King Baudouin and Doña Fabiola de Mora y Aragón at the Royal Palace of Brussles in 1960, Queen Juliana’s Silver Anniversary on 1962, and the Wedding Ball of Prince Juan Carlos of Spain and Princess Sophia of Greece in 1962

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The Belgian Scroll Tiara was also worn for the Accession of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg in 1964, as well as for the Wedding Ball of King Constantine II of Greece and Princess Anne Marie of Denmark in 1964, a State Visit to the Vatican in 1965, the Wedding Ball of Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands in 1966, a State Visit to Belgium in 1967, the 2500th Anniversary of the Persian Empire at Persepolis in 1971, the Luxembourg State Visit to Britain in 1972, the British State Visit to Luxembourg in 1976, and Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte’s 25th Anniversary Gala in 1978.

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The Belgian Scroll Tiara continued to be worn the 1980s and 1990s, notably for the Luxembourg State Banquet at the Royal Palace of Stockholm in 1991, Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik’s 25th Wedding Anniversary in 1992, King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 50th Birthday in 1996, the Wedding of Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Count Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth, and the Luxembourg State Banquet at the Royal Palace of Brussels in 1999, and also continued to be worn after the Accession of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg in 2000, notably for the Wedding of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway in 2001.

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In 2002, Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte loaned the Belgian Scroll Tiara to her favourite daughter-in-law, Princess Sibilla, for the Wedding of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, and may have earlier loaned it for the Wedding of Prince Joachim of Denmark and Alexandra Manley in 1995.

After her death in 2005, many of Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte’s jewels were put on auction by her children, which was later cancelled due to public outcry, and unlike some of the smaller jewels, the Belgian Scroll Tiara, which had been valued between 80,000 and 140,000 euros, was retained and not sold off discreetly. 

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In a lovely twist of fate, since the late 2000s, the Belgian Scroll Tiara become a favourite of Grand Duchess Maria Theresa, worn for numerous portraits and also for King Harald and Queen Sonja’s 80th Birthday Banquet, the Portuguese State Visit to Luxembourg, the National Day Gala in Luxembourg in 2017, the Dutch State Visit to Luxembourg, Luxembourg National Day in 2018, Luxembourg National Day in 2019, the Belgian State Visit to Luxembourg, and the Luxembourg State Visit to Portugal in 2022. There is no doubt we will continue to see this spectacular Tiara worn for years to come! 

Belgian Scroll Tiara | Chaumet Emerald Tiara | Diamond Earrings | Van Cleef & Arpels Ruby Suite | Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara | Floral Diamond Necklace | Sapphire Necklace Tiara | Sapphire Bracelet Tiara | Pearl Negligee Brooch | Luxembourg Royal Tiaras

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Belgian Scroll Tiara

Chaumet Emerald Tiara

Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara

Chaumet Choker Tiara

Diamond Floral Tiara

Emerald Peacock Tiara

Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara

Diamond Earrings

Van Cleef & Arpels Ruby Suite

Floral Diamond Necklace

Sapphire Necklace Tiara

Sapphire Bracelet Tiara

Art Deco Sapphire Necklace Tiara

Princess Ingeborg’s Pearl Brooch

Pearl Negligee Brooch

Antique Emerald Earrings

Luxembourg Royal Tiaras

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