Happy Birthday to Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria and Hernani, who turns 84 today! As the younger sister of King Juan Carlos and the aunt of King Felipe, she has attended a plethora of glittering events over the decades, and to mark her birthday, we are taking a look at her Topaz Suite!
Diamond Brooch Tiara | Topaz Suite | Pearl Bow Brooch | Sapphire Brooch | Strawberry Leaf Brooches | Mellerio Shell Tiara | Infanta Pilar’s Sapphire Tiara
Embed from Getty Images
Infanta Margarita’s jewellery box is packed with family heirlooms that were given by or inherited from her mother, the Countess of Barcelona. Examples of that are her Diamond Tiara, the Strawberry Leaf Brooches, and the Art Deco Diamond Clips. However, various modern acquisitions can be appreciated on her collection, namely her Topaz and Diamond Suite, which comprises a brooch, a pair of earrings, a ring, and a bracelet.
By the time of her wedding in 1972, the Infanta started wearing an oblong brooch with a large topaz set in a diamond frame. Soon after that, Doña Margarita debuted a matching pair of earrings and ring. This was followed by the appearance of a bracelet set with the same stones. It makes us guess that those pieces were likely given to her as a gift to mark such an important occasion as her marriage. Infanta Margarita has chosen the earrings, the bracelet and the ring for a very historic moment of her life: the Proclamation Mass of her brother, King Juan Carlos I, in 1975. This event marked the return of the Borbons to the Spanish throne after their exile in 1931. 
One year later, the Topaz Brooch was matched with a pair of sapphire earrings and a pearl necklace for the Wedding of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia and Prince Franz-Wilhem of Prussia . In 1978, the Infanta wore her Topaz Suite during a State Banquet in honour of King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola at the Royal Palace of Madrid.
Margot, as the Infanta is affectionately called by her family and friends, kept wearing her Topaz Suite on many occasions throughout the decades. Occasionally, two large pear-shaped pearls were suspended from the brooch.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
More recently, the Topaz Suite was worn by Doña Margarita when she joined the rest of her family for King Juan Carlos’ 70th Birthday celebrations at El Pardo Palace. In 2019, those pieces were also worn for a Unicef Prize Delivery. Let’s hope we see the Topaz Suite again soon!
Diamond Brooch Tiara | Topaz Suite | Pearl Bow Brooch | Sapphire Brooch | Strawberry Leaf Brooches | Mellerio Shell Tiara | Infanta Pilar’s Sapphire Tiara
This article was written by assistant editor, David Rato, who runs the Spanish Royal Jewels account on Instagram!
