Princess Margaretha’s Diamond Floral Brooch

Today marks the Anniversary of the Birth of Princess Margaretha of Sweden and Denmark, who was born on this day in 1899! The hardworking Swedish Princess who married a Danish Prince and became the beloved aunt of the Sovereigns of Belgium, Norway & Luxembourg, Princess Margaretha possessed some spectacular jewels, including this Diamond Flower Brooch!

Of unknown provenance, this Diamond Flower Brooch is composed of a floral spray, with a pearl in the centre of one of the diamond flowers, and was one of three Diamond Flower Brooches in Princess Margaretha’s collection, possibly coming from her mother-in-law, Princess Marie of Denmark, or more likely, her mother, Princess Ingeborg of Sweden.

Princess Margaretha began wearing Diamond Flower Brooch in the mid-late 1950s, including with the Khedive of Egypt Tiara for the British State Visit to Denmark in 1957, and with the Boucheron Pearl Circle Tiara for a portrait with her sons and daughters-in-law.

Princess Margaretha notably wore the Diamond Flower Brooch for the Wedding Ball of her nephew, King Baudouin of Belgium, and Doña Fabiola de Mora y Aragón at the Royal Palace of Brussles in 1960 and the following month, it was worn at the Wedding of her niece, Princess Astrid of Norway, in 1961.

Princess Margaretha also wore the Diamond Flower Brooch at the Wedding of her nephew, Crown Prince Harald of Norway in 1968, as well as at various Noble Prize Ceremonies, which she frequently attended in the 1960s and 1970s.

After Princess Margaretha’s death in 1977, the Diamond Flower Brooch was among the jewels inherited by her daughter-in-law, Countess Ruth of Rosenborg, who wore it for numerous occasions throughout the years with Princess Viggo’s Garnet Kokoshnik Tiara, including for Queen Margrethe’s 60th Birthday in 2000, the Wedding of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway in 2001, and King Harald’s 70th Birthday Banquet in 2007.

After Countess Ruth’s death in 2010, Princess Margaretha’s Diamond Floral Brooch was among the Jewels inherited by her elder son, Count Axel of Rosenborg, and worn by his wife, Countess Jutta, for he wedding of his son, Count Carl Johan, just a few months after Countess Ruth’s passing. While another one of Princess Margaretha’s Diamond Floral Brooches was auctioned last year, this one remains with the family and will hopefully be worn again soon!