The late Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark, who passed away this week at the age of 83, inherited a striking Diamond Loop Tiara and wore her mother’s Pearl Necklace Tiara, but her most prominent jewel has been a striking Pink Topaz Pendant!
Composed of a large pale pink pear-shaped stone, possibly kunzite or topaz, in a double-ringed diamond frame, the Pendant has been worn suspended from a string of pearls. Pendants were common gifts to young Princesses in the 1950s and 60s particularly before their 18th birthdays, with other examples including a Shell Pendant worn by Queen Sofia, Queen Anne Marie’s Aquamarine Pendant, or even Queen Frederica’s Ruby Pendant, reflecting a particular trend in the Greek Royal Family to wear pendants suspended from pearl necklaces.
The Topaz Pendant first appeared on Princess Irene in the late 1950s, being worn with several headpieces for her first official Gala Portraits, as well as for King Paul’s 60th Birthday Banquet at the Royal Palace of Athens in 1961.
Princess Irene continued to wear the Topaz Pendant for daytime events and family occasions over the next few years.
The Topaz Pendant was taken by Princess Irene, along with other jewels, when the Royal Family left Greece into exile in 1967, and was notably worn at her brother-in-law, King Juan Carlos’ Name Day Celebrations in the 80s.
Princess Irene also wore the Topaz Pendant for the Wedding Gala of her nephew, the Prince of Asturias, at the El Pardo Palace near Madrid in 2004. Following Princess Irene’s passing, let’s hope the Pendant reappears again on the next generation.
