Queen Letizia’s Ansorena Fleur de Lys Tiara

Happy Birthday to Queen Letizia of the Spain, who is celebrating her 51st Birthday today! Although the Queen is the current main wearer of the historic pieces from the Spanish Jewel Vault, HM has also worn several modern jewels from her personal collection. To mark her birthday, we are featuring one of those modern acquisitions, the Ansorena Diamond and Pearl Tiara!

Created by Ansorena, Spanish Crown Jewellers since 1869, made of 450 diamonds and 10 Australian pearls set in platinum, its design features a central (detachable) fleur-de-lys, the symbol of the Borbon Dynasty, flanked by five swirls on each side. This piece, by no means consensual, diving sentiments, loves and hates, is also known as the “Princesa” tiara, a nod to the Queen’s previous title of Princess of Asturias.

Several sources claim that the Tiara was purchased by now-King Felipe for his wife as a 5^th wedding anniversary gift. However, this assumption is not accepted by all. Throughout the years, various contradictory versions were told by the press. ¡Hola! Magazine first announced in exclusive that it was Ansorena who gave the Princesa Tiara to Doña Letizia in 2006. By that time, the Jeweller shared with the magazine a close-up picture of the tiara to be posted. Later, the publication changed their official version, stating it was a 5^th anniversary gift.

Nevertheless, the then Princess of Asturias paired the Floral Tiara and her Diamond Earrings with the central fleur de lys of the Princesa Tiara converted into a brooch during a State Banquet in honour of the President of Panamá in 2008, one year before their wooden wedding anniversary, indicating it was already in her possession.

Princess Letizia kept wearing the central diamond fleur de lys as a brooch for a plethora of gala events, often pairing it with the family’s historic tiaras. It was also used for daytime events, including the Wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden in 2010 and the Inauguration of King Willem Alexander in 2013.

After several years of waiting, the now-Queen Letizia debuted the Princesa Tiara during a banquet celebrating the 75^th Anniversary of Queen Margrethe II in Copenhagen in 2015. Until now, this remains the only occasion in which the piece was worn as a Tiara.

Since her husband’s accession as King Felipe VI, Doña Letizia kept wearing the Fleur de Lys Brooch frequently, often to secure her sashes during state banquets. The Queen paired it with the Fleur de Lys Tiara during a State Banquet in honour of the President of Argentina, and with the Floral Tiara during a State Visit to Japan and a State Visit to The United Kingdom, as well as an Israeli State Banquet and a Chinese State Banquet.

The Fleur de Lys Brooch also features in King Felipe and Queen Letizia’s Official Portraits. On this occasion, the Queen wore some of the most important family heirlooms, such as La Buena Tiara, the Diamond Earrings, and the Twin Bracelets. The same dress and jewels were also repeated for the Enthronement Banquet of Emperor Naruhito in 2019, as well as for the Spanish State Visit to Sweden in 2021.

The Fleur de Lys Brooch has become one of the Queen’s firm favourites, her signature brooch. There is no doubt we’ll continue to see it. In addition, with both the Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofia soon reaching the age of 18 and consequently start attending gala events, it is highly probable that the Princesa Tiara is being reserved for their use.

This article was written by assistant editor, David Rato, who runs the Spanish Royal Jewels account on Instagram!