Diamonds of the Danish Kingdom – Style

After 52 years of reign, the Danish Queen Margrethe II abdicated the throne, passing the throne to her son. Crown Prince Frederik X became the new king of Denmark, and his wife Crown Princess Mary became the queen. At Christianburg Palace in Copenhagen, Margrethe II signed a document of abdication; a little later, the accession of a new monarch to the throne was officially announced from the balcony of the same palace (in Denmark they do not hold a coronation ceremony, as, for example, in Great Britain).

For the special occasion, the royal ladies chose jewelry with rubies and diamonds, symbolizing the colors of the national red and white flag of Denmark. Margrethe wore her favorite ruby ​​horseshoe brooch. This decoration was given to her by her father, King Frederick IX, in 1953 on the day when Margrethe, as the eldest of his three daughters, became heir to the throne (at that time a law was passed according to which a Danish princess could become a monarch in the absence of male claimants). Margrethe wore the same brooch when she was proclaimed queen in 1972; she wore it during important events and visits, pinning it either on the collar of her jacket or on the lapel of her coat, and signed her abdication in it. She complemented her farewell royal look with silver earrings with rubies and diamonds, a gift from her husband, Prince Henrik of Denmark.

Her daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mary, appeared at the ceremony wearing earrings with a brooch (she attached them to her belt) and a jewelry clip in her hair. All items are taken from the famous ruby ​​parure, the most important precious relic of the Danish crown. The jewelry was made in 1804 for Desiree Clarie Bernadotte, the future Queen of Sweden, on the occasion of the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte, and came to Denmark in 1869 with Queen Lovisa – and has since remained in the hands of the Danish monarchy. The ruby ​​parure also includes a tiara with a floral motif, a ceremonial necklace, another pair of earrings and brooches.

The ruby ​​parure was the favorite jewel of Queen Consort Ingrid, mother of Margrethe II. At the end of her life in 2000, she bequeathed it to her grandson, Crown Prince Frederik. That is why the ruby ​​set appeared in public much more often in the company of his wife, Crown Princess Mary Donaldson – they say that the tiara and necklace were even specially adjusted to the size of her neck and head.

Margrethe II preferred other Danish crown jewels. In her first official photographs as queen, she wears the Danish Pearl Tiara Poire, which features 18 moving pear-shaped pearls. The jewel was made in 1825 by order of the King of Prussia.

The emerald parure was made in 1840 for Queen Caroline Amalia. The tiara, earrings, necklace and other items are decorated with 2,650 diamonds and 67 emeralds – all stones have royal provenance.

Princess Margrethe got married in 1967 wearing the Khediv of Egypt tiara. Initially, the jewel, made in 1905 by Cartier jewelers, was intended for its namesake, Crown Princess Margaret of Connaught – she married the King of Sweden, whom she met in Egypt. Therefore, Vice-Sultan of Egypt Abbas II considered it his duty to present her with a platinum jewel with diamonds as a gift. Since the 1960s, the Khediv of Egypt tiara has been an indispensable attribute of wedding ceremonies in the Danish royal family.

All these jewels are part of the royal regalia of Denmark and are kept in Rosenborg Castle. They are not allowed to leave the country and can only be worn by the Queen.

Nina Spiridonova