Princess Danica’s Emerald Earrings

Happy Birthday to Hereditary Princess Danica of Serbia, who turns 40 today! The Serbian–French graphic designer married to the Heir of the House of Karađorđević received these striking Emerald and Diamond Earrings as a wedding gift!

Danica Marinkovic received these striking Emerald and Diamond Earrings and a small Pendant when she married Prince Philip of Serbia in 2017. The exact origin of these jewels is not known but it is thought that they were a gift from her father-in-law, Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia, or more likely her mother-in-law, Princess Maria da Glória of Orléans-Braganza, Duchess of Segorbe.

It is not known if the Earrings were newly acquired or older heirlooms, but there is a long history of emeralds on both sides of Prince Philip’s heritage, particularly Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna’s magnificent Emerald Tiara and Parure acquired by King Alexander of Yugoslavia for his bride, Princess Marie of Romania, in 1922, which were sold off by Prince Philip’s grandfather, King Peter, to Van Cleef & Arpels in 1953.

Prince Philip’s maternal grandmother, Princess Esperanza of Orléans and Braganza, inherited the Emerald Corsage Brooch of Queen Amelie of Portugal, which was auctioned off along with several other emerald jewels and the Orléans-Braganza Diamond Tiara by Princess Maria da Glória in 1981. However, she has since inherited the Duchess of Medinaceli’s Emerald Pendant which she continues to wear to this day. It is likely that these Earrings may have come from Princess Maria da Glória’s collection.

The Emerald and Diamond Earrings and Pendant were first worn by Danica Marinkovic when she married Prince Philip at the Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Belgrade in 2017, which was the first royal wedding in Belgrade since 1922.

Princess Danica notably wore the Emerald Earrings for the Christening of their son, Prince Stefan of Serbia, in 2018 and the Christening of their daughter, Princess Maria, in 2024.

The Emerald Earrings were also worn by Princess Danica for the Wedding of her sister-in-law, Doña Sol de Medina, 54th Countess of Ampurias, in 2023 and also the Wedding of Prince Alexander of Serbia in 2025, as well as the Wedding of Prince Dushan of Serbia and the Wedding of Prince Jean-Christophe Napoléon and Countess Olympia von und zu Arco-Zinneberg in 2019.

Princess Danica has worn the Emerald Earrings more frequently after Prince Philip became the Hereditary Prince of Serbia, including for the 40th Birthday of Nicholas of Romania Bran Castle, as well as for Official Engagements, among them a Service at the Serbian Orthodox Church St. Nikola in Lyons, Illinois during a visit to the United States in June.

Hereditary Princess Danica wore the Emerald Earrings with a Silver Tiara for the 80th Birthday Banquet of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at the Royal Palace of Stockholm in April.

More recently, Hereditary Princess Danica wore the Emerald Earrings for King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia’s Golden Wedding Anniversary in June, and there is no doubt we will continue to see them worn for years to come!