Today marks the Anniversary of the Death of Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg, who passed away on this day in 2005! The Belgian Princess who became the consort of the world’s only Grand Duchy, to mark the anniversary, we are featuring her iconic Emerald Peacock Tiara!
Belgian Scroll Tiara | Chaumet Emerald Tiara | Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara | Sapphire Necklace Tiara | Emerald Peacock Tiara | Diamond Earrings | Floral Diamond Necklace | Van Cleef & Arpels Ruby Suite | Pearl Brooch | Pearl Negligee Brooch | Queen Astrid’s Emeralds | Luxembourg Royal Tiaras
Soon after Wedding of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium, the new Hereditary Grand Duchess commissioned this Emerald and Diamond Peacock Necklace from Van Cleef & Arpels, using Emeralds from two Emerald Pendants that belonged to her mother, Queen Astrid of Belgium, which originally were a part of the Napoleonic Emerald Tiara or Necklace.
Hereditary Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte debuted her Van Cleef & Arpels Emerald Peacock Necklace with the Belgian Scroll Tiara in the mid-1950s, taking it to her mother’s native Sweden for a Gala Performance at the Drottningholm Palace Theatre and at the Order of Amaranth Ball in 1956.
Later, the Emerald Peacock Necklace was often worn with the Belgian Scroll Tiara for the Wedding Ball of King Constantine II of Greece and Princess Anne Marie of Denmark in 1964, at the Wedding of Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik of Denmark in 1967, and also for the Luxembourg State Visit to Britain in 1972.
Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte also wore the Emerald Peacock Necklace as a Tiara, for the Luxembourg State Visit to her native Belgium in 1968, at the Wedding of her first cousin, King Harald, and Queen Sonja of Norway in 1968, as well as for the British State Visit to Luxembourg in 1976 and on the Dutch State Visit to Luxembourg in 1981.
In 1982, Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte loaned the Tiara to her daughter, the newlywed Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria, for the Wedding Ball of Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein and her sister, Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg, at the Grand Ducal Palace.
Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte continued to wear the Emerald Peacock Necklace into the 1990s, for a series of portraits as well as for Crown Prince Haakon’s 18th Birthday in 1991 and for King Harland and Queen Sonja’s Silver Anniversary in 1993, usually with the Chaumet Emerald Tiara.
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, but unlike most of her other Jewels, the Emerald Peacock Tiara was not included in the proposed auction.
The first person to wear the Emerald Peacock Tiara after Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte’s death was Princess Tessy, who wore the Tiara for the National Day Gala in 2008.
The only time that the Emerald Peacock Tiara was worn by Grand Duchess Maria Theresa was on the Luxembourg State Visit to Portugal in 2010, when it was paired with Queen Astrid’s Emerald Choker and her Antique Emerald Earrings.
Most recently, the Emerald Peacock Tiara was worn again by Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria, this time for the Wedding Gala of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg and Countess Stephanie de Lannoy in 2012. One of my favourites, the Tiara has not been publicly worn since but lets hope we see it worn again soon!
Belgian Scroll Tiara | Chaumet Emerald Tiara | Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara | Sapphire Necklace Tiara | Emerald Peacock Tiara | Diamond Earrings | Floral Diamond Necklace | Van Cleef & Arpels Ruby Suite | Pearl Brooch | Pearl Negligee Brooch | Queen Astrid’s Emeralds | Luxembourg Royal Tiaras
