Queen Mathilde of Belgium will be celebrating her 50th Birthday this week! With one of the smallest jewellery collections among her European counterparts, Queen Mathilde is frequently seen in just a few limited pieces, so today, we are continuing our series on her jewels by covering Queen Mathilde’s Laurel Wreath Tiara!
Nine Provinces Tiara | Queen Mathilde’s Laurel Wreath Tiara | Wolfers Necklace Tiara | Diamond Floral Bracelet | Diamond Fringe Earrings | Diamond Scroll Earrings | Wedding Earrings | Waterfall Brooch | Tunisian Parure | Aquamarines | Diamond Butterfly Brooch | Belgian Royal Tiaras | The Jewels of Queen Mathilde of Belgium
Made by Hennel & Sons in 1912, this striking Diamond Laurel Wreath Tiara is composed of a ‘wreath’ of diamond laurel leaves, dotted with clusters of diamond berries, very much in the style of Roman Laurel Wreath Diadems, which became came to the forefront following the Coronation of Napoleon in 1804 and remained popular though the next century or so. The Provenance of the Tiara is unknown, except that it was bought by the Association of the Belgian Nobility in 1999, for Jonkvrouw Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz when she married the then Crown Prince Philippe of Belgium.
In 22 days Mathilde will turn 50!
Isn't she lovely in this early official portrait?#Mathilde50 pic.twitter.com/mfvYBlXKD1
— Queen Mathilde Blog (@BlogMathilde) December 29, 2022
In 22 days Mathilde will turn 50!
Isn't she lovely in this early official portrait?#Mathilde50 pic.twitter.com/mfvYBlXKD1
Gifted to Crown Princess Mathilde soon after her wedding, as her only Tiara, the Laurel Wreath was worn for all of her Gala Events, including the Spanish State Visit, the Danish State Visit to Belgium and Return Banquet, the State Visit from Sweden, and the Norwegian State Visit to Belgium all in quick succession, as well as the Dutch State Visit to Belgium in 2006 and the Luxembourg State Visit in 2007.
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As her only Tiara, Princess Mathilde frequently travelled with the Laurel Wreath, and it was thus worn for the Wedding Gala and Wedding of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in 2004, as well as for King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden’s 60th Birthday in 2006, King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand’s Diamond Jubilee Reception later that year, and also for King Harald of Norway’s 70th Birthday in 2006.
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The Tiara could also be worn as a Necklace, like it was for the Ball at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam in 2002, on the eve of the Wedding of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, as well as for the Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2010.
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Crown Princess Mathilde also wore her Diamond Laurel Wreath Tiara for the Wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden in 2010, the Wedding Ball of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco in 2011, the Wedding Gala of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg and Countess Stephanie de Lannoy in 2012, and also for Queen Beatrix’s Abdication Dinner in 2013, which came just a few months before she became Queen.
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After the Accession of King Philippe as the King of The Belgians, Queen Mathilde gained access to the Nine Provinces Tiara and soon afterwards to the Wolfers Necklace Tiara, so the Diamond Laurel Wreath Tiara remained unworn for a period of time, until it appeared as a Tiara for a German State Visit, and then as a necklace with the Wolfers Necklace Tiara on a State Visit to Poland in 2016, as well as the appearance as a necklace for the Return Concert during the Belgian State Visit to the Netherlands.
More recently, the Laurel Wreath Tiara has begun to be worn again by Queen Mathilde, appearing on the Belgian State Visit to Canada in 2018, and also at Crown Prince Frederik’s 50th Birthday Gala Dinner at Christiansborg Palace, as well as for the Belgian State Visit to Portugal later that year. The most recent appearance of the Tiara came only a few weeks ago, when it was worn by the Queen for the Swiss State Visit to Belgium. There is no doubt we will continue to see this versatile jewel of years to come!
Nine Provinces Tiara | Queen Mathilde’s Laurel Wreath Tiara | Wolfers Necklace Tiara | Diamond Floral Bracelet | Diamond Fringe Earrings | Diamond Scroll Earrings | Wedding Earrings | Waterfall Brooch | Tunisian Parure | Aquamarines | Diamond Butterfly Brooch | Belgian Royal Tiaras | The Jewels of Queen Mathilde of Belgium
