Yesterday, Queen Mary of Denmark surprised us all when she debuted a 175-year old Heirloom Bracelet from Queen Louise of Sweden and Norway for the first New Year’s Levée at Christiansborg Palace.
The gold bracelet with flat, round links that interlock like small waves is an engagement gift from 1850 from Charles XV of Sweden to his wife, Queen Louise.
The bracelet can be hooked together with an oval pendant with a large diamond and two slightly smaller diamonds surrounded by three diamond-studded rings. The pendant can also be worn as a brooch.
The Bracelet was an engagement gift from the future King Charles XV of Sweden to Princess Louise of the Netherlands upon their engagement in February 1850.
Upon Queen Louise’s untimely death in 1872, the Engagement Bracelet was among the jewels inherited by her only daughter, Queen Lovisa of Denmark, who transferred the jewelry to the Danish Royal Family’s Property Trust (Løsøre Fideikommis) in 1910.
Queen Louise of Sweden’s Engagement Bracelet was worn by Queen Margrethe on a handful of occasions, including on a State Visit to France in 1978.
Queen Mary debuted Queen Louise of Sweden’s Engagement Bracelet as she and King Frederik X hosted a New Year’s Levée for the Diplomatic Corps at Christiansborg Palace, though the Bracelet does not appear to have been worn for the earlier New Year’s Levée at Christian VII’s Palace in Amalienborg. Let’s hope we see this magnificent heirloom worn again soon!
Queen Mary wore Queen Louise of Sweden’s Engagement Bracelet again for the Return Dinner on the State Visit to France.
The Bracelet was paired with the Diamond Earrings from Anne of Orange, which were also inherited by the Danish Royal Family though Queen Louise of Sweden and Norway and her daughter Queen Lovisa of Denmark.
Queen Mary paired Queen Lovisa’s Engagement Bracelet with Antique Diamond Earrings from Anne of Orange and a Diamond Brooch which is the central element of Queen Louise of Sweden’s Engagement Bracelet for the final New Year’s Levée at Christiansborg Palace.
The Jewels of the Queens of Denmark
The Danish Emerald Parure
The Danish Pearl Poiré Tiara
The Danish Ruby Parure
Danish Diamond Bandeau
Wedding Tiara
Diamond Necklace Tiara
Midnight Tiara
Antique Diamond Parure
‘Belle Epoque’ Diamond Earrings
Duchess of Leuchtenberg’s Pearl Bracelet
Wedding Earrings
Diamond Fringe Earrings
Aquamarine Jewels
Amethyst Earrings
Connaught Sapphire Brooch
Queen Louise of Sweden’s Engagement Bracelet
Diamond Flower Brooch
Antique Turquoise Parure
Diamond Flower Earrings
Ole Lynggaard Brooch
It is delightful for all of us who enjoy historic royal jewels to see Queen Mary’s keen interest in wearing pieces not seen for many years and being very creative and sensitive with her alterations.