Queen Maud’s Order of Victoria and Albert Bracelet

Happy Birthday to Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, who turns 20 today! The accomplished Princess set to be the first Queen Regnant of Norway in centuries, Princess Ingrid Alexandra will one day possess the entirety of the spectacular Norwegian Royal Jewellery Collection, but has already worn several spectacular heirloom jewels, including Queen Maud’s Order of Victoria and Albert Bracelet!

When Princess Maud of Wales had her Confirmation, she was made a member of the First Class of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert on 10 March 1888, her parents Silver Anniversary, becoming the seventeenth of twenty-four Royal ladies to receive the First Class of the Order. Consisting of a medallion of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, set in diamonds and surmounted by an imperial crown, attached to a bow of white silk moiré ribbon, the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert was initially set up by Queen Victoria in 1856 and acted as a Royal Family Order.

Princess Maud was pictured wearing the Badge of the Order at the Wedding of the Duke of York and Princess May of Teck in 1893, and continued to wear it following her Wedding to Prince Carl of Denmark in 1896, wearing the Badge suspended from a Sash for the State Opening of Parliament in 1901, and more traditional for the Coronation of her father, King Edward VII, in 1902.

After becoming the Queen of Norway, Queen Maud continued to wear her Order of Victoria and Albert for Official Portraits and royal events, including when she paired it with Queen Alexandra’s Diamond Circlet for the Coronation of her nephew, King George VI, in 1937.

In 1938, Queen Maud brought all her jewels with her to England while she was having an operation, and where she passed away of heart failure. Queen Maud’s jewels remained in England, throughout the Norwegian Royal Family’s exile during WWII, and were only reclaimed during a visit for the Queen’s Coronation in 1953. The following year, Queen Maud’s daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Martha, passed away and much of the Norwegian Royal Jewellery Collection was then in the possession of Princess Astrid, who served as the First Lady of the Norwegian Court for her grandfather and then her father, The Norwegian Royal Jewels were only divided up following the wedding of then Crown Prince Harald in 1968, when the jewels were split between the now King and his two sisters.

Queen Maud’s Order of Victoria and Albert was among the Jewels inherited by Princess Astrid, who put the Diamond Badge of the Order on a Gold and Diamond Bangle and has worn it on numerous occasions through the years, paired with Queen Alexandra’s Turquoise Circlet, the Vasa Tiara, her Ruby Aigrette Tiara, and Gold Bandeau Tiara.

In 2019, Princess Astrid gave Queen Maud’s Order of Victoria and Albert Bracelet as a Confirmation Gift to her great-niece, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and it was displayed with the Order Ribbon alongside the other gifts at the Royal Palace of Oslo.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra first wore Queen Maud’s Order of Victoria and Albert Bracelet that evening, for a Dinner hosted by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess at their home, Skaugum.

A few years later, Queen Maud’s Order of Victoria and Albert Bracelet appeared on Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who paired it with her Diamond Daisy Bandeau for the Dutch State Visit to Norway in 2021.

More recently, Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore Queen Maud’s Order of Victoria and Albert Bracelet as she arrived for Prince Christian of Denmark’s 18th Birthday Gala Dinner at Christiansborg Palace, but appeared to have taken the bracelet off ahead of the Dinner. Lets hope we continue to see this spectacular heirloom worn for years to come!