Happy Birthday to Princess Dorothea of Hesse, Princess of Windish-Grätz, who turns 90 today! The daughter of Prince Christoph of Hesse and Princess Sophie of Greece and Hanover who married Prince Friedrich Karl of Windisch-Grätz and is a first cousin of King Charles III, Princess Dorothea possessed some spectacular jewels, including the magnificent Hesse Aquamarine Tiara and Parure!
Today marks the 170th Anniversary of the Birth of Grand Duchess Vladimir, who was born on this day in 1954! The Mecklenburg-Schwerin Duchess who married a Grand Duke, becoming an imperious Society Hostess and the last member of the Family to escape Russia, the Grand Duchess possessed a legendary jewellery collection, which included the spectacular Vladimir Emerald Necklace!
Today marks the 130th Anniversary of the Engagement of Tsar Nicholas II and Princess Alix of Hesse, who got engaged on this day in 1894, during the Wedding of her brother, Grand Duke Ernest Louis of Hesse, and his cousin, Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Among the spectacular Engagement Gifts received by the Hessian princess from the future Tsar was this Boucheron Pearl Coronet!
Royal Guests and Relatives from around the World joined the Savoy Royal Family for the Funeral of Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, Prince of Naples at the Duomo Cathedral in Turin on February 10th. The Prince of Naples was the last Crown Prince of Italy was the Head of the House of Savoy and a disputed Pretender to the former Italian Throne.
Today marks the 115th Anniversary of the Birth of Princess Ileana of Romania, who was born on this day in 1909! The Romanian Princess who married an Austrian Archduke and then had to flee both Austria and Romania to eventually settle in the United States, we have already talked about how Princess Ileana sold the magnificent Vladimir Sapphire Kokoshnik to fund her life in exile, but she retained her Diamond Scroll Tiara and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna’s Pearl Brooch!
Happy birthday to Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, who celebrates her 70th Birthday today! The fascinating claimant to the Headship of the House of Romanov and the titular Empress of Russia, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna has worn several striking jewels, the most spectacular of which was her Chaumet Tiara!
Today marks the 170th Anniversary of the Birth of Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg und Gotha and Edinburgh, who was born on this day in 1853! The imperious Romanov Grand Duchess who became Queen Victoria’s daughter-in-law and the Consort of a Sovereign German Duke, the Tsar’s only daughter came to England with a spectacular jewellery collection which became the source of family strife!
Today marks the 95th Anniversary of the Death of Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia, who passed away on this day in 1928! The Danish Princess who married the Russian Tsar and became the mother of the tragic last Tsar, the Empress possessed a spectacular collection of jewels, with one of the most iconic pieces being her Sapphire and Pearl Brooch!
Infanta Maria Francisca de Bragança, Duchess of Coimbra, the only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Braganza, married Duarte de Sousa Araújo Martins at the Basílica Palácio de Mafra inside the Palácio Nacional de Mafra on October 7th, which is the first Portuguese Royal Wedding in over a quarter of a century. The Wedding was followed by a Gala Dinner hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Braganza in the grounds of their House in São Pedro de Sintra.
Today marks the 120th Anniversary of the Birth of Princess Xenia Georgievna of Russia, who was born on this day in 1903! The illustrious Russian Princess who married an American Millionaire, Princess Xenia possessed a spectacular Romanov Heirloom: The Vladimir Ruby Kokoshnik! Continue reading
Today marks the Anniversary of the Birth of Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia, who was born not his day in 1872! Queen Victoria’s Hessen Granddaughter who became the tragic last Empress of Russia, the Tsarina possessed a splendid personal jewellery collection as well as a spectacular collection of jewels from the Imperial Vaults, which included Tsarina Elizabeth Alexeievna’s Diamond Kokoshnik Tiara!
Today marks the 180th Anniversary of the Birth of Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse, who was born on this day in 1843! The fascinating second daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who married the Grand Duke of Hesse and became a prolific champion of nursing until her tragic death, Princess Alice was the mother of, among others, Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia, and her splendid Jewellery Collection included this spectacular Emerald Brooch!
Today marks the Anniversary of the Death of Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood, who passed away on this day in 1965! The only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary who married into the prominent Aristocratic Family, Princess Mary had an enormous jewellery collection, most of which has been sold in the years since her passing, though today’s piece is unique in having been sold during her life time: The Russian Sapphire Devant de Corsage!
Next week, the Duchess of Kent will be celebrating her 90th Birthday! The Baronet’s daughter who married the late Queen’s first cousin and was a working royal for over 40 years before retiring from royal duties, the Duchess possessed some spectacular heirloom Jewels, many of which we have featured over the years, though we reserved some special heirlooms for her 90th Birthday, beginning our series by featuring Empress Maria Feodrovna’s Sapphire Brooch!
Royal Guests from around the world joined the Greek Royal Family for the the Funeral of King Constantine II of Greece at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens at noon on January 16th, which will be followed by the Burial in the Royal Cemetery at Tatoi Palace. The former King Constantine II was an Olympic Gold Medalist before becoming the Sovereign for nine years and then being exiled for over 40 years, returning to Greece only a decade ago. Continue reading
Today marks the Anniversary of the Death of Princess Paley, who passed away on this day in 1929! The noblewoman who had an affair with a widower Grand Duke and later became his morganatic wife, Princess Paley possessed some spectacular jewels, which included this splendid Cartier Pearl and Diamond Corsage!
Today marks the 175th Anniversary of the Birth of Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia, who was born on this day in 1847! The Danish Princess who married the Russian Tsar and became the mother of the tragic last Tsar, the Empress possessed a spectacular collection of jewels, though the Pearl Wave Tiara and Parure is synonymous with her public identity!
Today marks the Anniversaries of the Deaths of Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia and of Gladys, Duchess of Marlborough, so today we are featuring a spectacular Heirloom that belonged to both ladies and is now in the Philippines: Empress Maria Feodorovna’s Pearl Drop Tiara!
Today marks the 55th Anniversary of the Death of Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna, the Princess of Prussia, who passed away on this day in 1967! The exiled Russian Grand Duchess who married the Head of the House of Hohenzollern, Grand Duchess Kira possessed some spectacular Prussian Royal Heirlooms, but she also owned a special British Royal Heirloom: Princess Victoria Melita’s English Rose Brooch! Continue reading
