Royal Tiaras at the Japanese State Banquet in Belgium

We saw five spectacular Royal and Imperial Tiaras as the Belgian Royal Family held a State Banquet for the Japanese Emperor and Empress at the Château de Laeken last night, on the first evening of the Japanese State Visit to Belgium following a State Visit to The Netherlands.

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The Duchess of Brabant, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel, Princess Eléonore, Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este joined King Philippe and Queen Mathilde as they held a State Banquet for Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan at the Château de Laeken last night!

Empress Masako wore Princess Chichibu’s Diamond Honeysuckle Tiara and Necklace with the Sash and Star of the Order of Leopold, Belgium’s highest Order.

The beloved Princess Chichibu received this magnificent Mikimoto Diamond Honeysuckle Tiara when she married Emperor Hirohito’s brother in 1928, which later became a favourite of Empress Michiko and was debuted by Empress Masako in Amsterdam last week. However, this was the first time that the Necklace had been worn with the Tiara since the 1990s.

Queen Mathilde wore the Nine Provinces Tiara and her Diamond Earrings with the Sash and Star of the Japanese Order of the Precious Crown.

The Nine Provinces Tiara was the symbolic Wedding Gift to the tragic Swedish Princess when she married the future Belgian King in 1926, having become the Belgian Royal Family’s most spectacular Heirloom a century later, reserved solely for the use of Queen Mathilde.

The Duchess of Brabant wore the Laurel Wreath Tiara and Queen Mathilde’s Diamond Fringe Earrings with the Order of the Chrysanthemum, the highest Japanese Order.

The Laurel Wreath Tiara was the Belgian Nobility’s versatile wedding gift to Queen Mathilde in 1999, which has been loaned for the first time in over two decades.

Princess Eléonore made her Tiara debut an antique Diamond Tiara with a pair of Diamond Earrings and a Diamond Bracelet.

The Diamond Tiara was an 18th Birthday gift to Princess Eléonore from King Philippe and Queen Mathilde in April. Made by Brussels Jeweller Coosemans, it had been sold at auction in 2019 for €26,000.

Princess Astrid wore the Savoy-Aosta Diamond Tiara with the Order of Leopold.

The magnificent Diamond Tiara of Princess Anne, Duchess of Aosta now belongs to her granddaughter-in-law, Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria Este.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium are hosting Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan on their State Visit to Belgium this week, following their State Visit to The Netherlands. The Dutch Royal Family and the Japanese Imperial Family have had a long and close relationship over several generations.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako were received by the Duchess of Brabant upon arrival in Belgium over the weekend, staying with the Belgian Royal Family at the Château de Ciergnon before arriving at the Château de Laeken ahead of the official beginning of the State Visit.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan were received by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde in an Official Welcome Ceremony at the Royal Palace in Brussels that included a review of the Guard of Honour, and was followed by an introduction of the Japanese Delegation and a Lunch.

The King and Queen joined the Emperor and Empress to visit the Brussels City Hall which was followed by the Emperor’s visit to Parliament and a meeting with the Prime Minister.

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In the evening, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde hosted a State Banquet in honour of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the Château de Laeken, at which both the King and Emperor gave Speeches. The Duchess of Brabant, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel, Princess Eléonore, Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este were also present.