Earlier this week, Queen Mary of Denmark brought out Queen Caroline Amalie’s Gold and Cameo Tiara for the first time in over 140 years, which was hidden in plain sight for years in a corner cabinet on the visitor route at the Amalienborg Palace Museum and will now go on permanent display in the Treasury under Rosenborg Castle!

Composed of eleven semi-precious cameos set in carved gold, this Tiara was created around 1820 for the future Queen Caroline Amalie using souvenirs collected by her husband, the future King Christian VIII on their visit to Italy between 1819 and 1821.

The tiara was created around 1820 for Caroline Amalie, who was married to Christian VIII, the regent of Denmark from 1839 to 1848. The 11 set gems were collected by her husband during the couple’s trip to Italy in 1819-1821, where they visited Rome and the ancient excavations in Pompeii, among other places. The jewelry reflects the classicist taste of the time and was intended for everyday use rather than the more showy diamond jewelry.

There are a couple of example of Tiaras set with cameos or semi-precious stones that originate from the Napoleonic Court, most famously the Swedish Cameo Parure, but a more similar example to this Gold Tiara would be Princess Astrid of Norway’s Gold Bandeau Tiara, which also dates from around the 1820s.

While she was never depicted wearing this Tiara, Queen Caroline Amalie’s notable contribution to the Danish Crown Jewels is the creation of the Danish Emerald Parure, the Crown Diamond Parure, Crown Pearl and Ruby Parure, and the Rose-cut Diamond Parure in 1840. Queen Caroline Amalie remained close to the Royal Family after the King’s death, which as headed first by her stepson, King Frederick VII, and then King Christian IX, alongside her niece, Queen Louise, who seems to have inherited the Gold Tiara upon her death in 1881.

Kalle Royal

While Queen Caroline Amalie’s Gold Tiara was not worn like the other Gold and Cameo Tiaras, it was not languishing in the vaults, instead being displayed in a cabinet on the visitor route at the Amalienborg Palace Museum, where it was mostly overlooked, but we distinctly remember seeing it there in 2020, though these images were kindly shared by our friend Kaspar.   

Princess Caroline Amalie’s gold bracelet and diadem, which are inlaid with souvenirs from the journey to Rome- the bracelet with a so-called cameo of Prince Christian (VI) Frederik (signed Pestrini of Rome) and the diadem with precious stones from ancient relics.

Queen Mary wore Queen Caroline Amalie’s Gold Tiara with Princess Vilhelmine Marie’s Bracelet and the Earrings and Brooch from Countess Danner’s Parure, which belonged to the wives of King Frederick VII, for the State Banquet held by Finnish President Alexander Stubb at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki.

 It is customary for the royals to use jewelry from the Royal Collection. And the Queen’s choice of these historic pieces marks a rare display of the Royal House’s cultural heritage. Both pieces of jewelry have become part of the Royal Collection through inheritance and gift, where they are part of the museum’s distinguished collection.

After this State Visit, Queen Caroline Amalie’s Gold Tiara will not return to Amalienborg Palace and will instead join the Danish Crown Jewels and other heirlooms on permanent display in the Treasury under Rosenborg Castle.

The Jewels of the Queens of Denmark

The Danish Emerald Parure

The Danish Pearl Poiré Tiara

The Danish Ruby Parure

Danish Diamond Bandeau

Wedding Tiara

Diamond Necklace Tiara

Queen Caroline Amalie’s Gold Tiara

Midnight Tiara

Danish Diamond Rivière