Today marks the Centenary of the Birth of Countess Gunnila Bernadotte, who was born on this day in 1923! The Swedish Aristocrat who married the former Prince and became the aunt of a King and three Queens, we have already covered Countess Gunnila’s Tiara, so today, we are featuring her striking Moonstone Suite!
Countess Gunnila Bernadotte’s Tiara | Moonstone Suite
But first, lets learn about Countess Gunnila! The daughter of Count Nils Claes Ludvig Wachtmeister af Johannishus and Baroness Märta Ebba Carolina de Geer af Leufsta, Countess Gunnila Wachtmeister af Johannishus was married to Carl-Herman Bussler from 1942 to his death in 1981. The couple has four children. In 1988, Countess Gunnila married Prince Carl Johan Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg, the widower youngest son of King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and Princess Margaret of Connaught. The marriage made her the aunt of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, and the coupe were present at many royal events until his passing in 2012. Countess Gunnila remained present at Swedish Royal Events, passing away in 2016.
The Moonstone Suite, consisting of a pair of earrings and a chain link necklace with a large cabochon moonstone pendant, first appeared on Countess Gunnila soon after her marriage to Prince Carl Johan Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg in 1988, who wore it with her Pearl and Diamond Tiara for a Banquet at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.
Another notable appearance of the Moonstone Suite came for the Luxembourg State Banquet at the Royal Palace of Stockholm in 1991. The Prince’s title of Count of Wisborg had been given by Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg in 1951, six years after he lost his Swedish Princely Title upon his first marriage.
Countess Gunnila also wore the Moonstone Suite for her nephew, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden’s, 60th Birthday Gala Dinner at Drottningholm Palace in 2006.
In 2010, Countess Gunnila wore the Moonstone Suite with her Pearl and Diamond Tiara at the 70th Birthday Gala for her niece, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen.
The last notable appearance of the Moonstone Suite came a few months later, when Countess Gunnila wore it for the Wedding Gala of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden at the Stockholm Concert Hall. Since the Moonstone Suite has not been auctioned like Countess Gunnila’s Tiara, it likely still belongs to the Countess’ children!
Countess Gunnila Bernadotte’s Tiara | Moonstone Suite
