Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
Happy Birthday to the Duchess of Braganza, who turns 58 today! The Portuguese aristocrat, who grew up between Portugal, Angola, and Brazil, marrying Dom Duarte Pio, pretender to the defunct Portuguese throne, Dona Isabel owns several spectacular jewels, of which we are featuring one of the most significant modern ones in her collection: the Moroccan Diamond Suite!
Queen Amélie’s Diamond Tiara | Diamond Bandeau Tiara | Diamond Choker Tiara | Floral Necklace Tiara | Moroccan Diamond Suite | The Portuguese Royal Tiaras
On the occasion of Dona Isabel’s Wedding to Dom Duarte Pio, the Duke of Braganza, in 1995, the Moroccan Royal Family presented the bride with a Suite, comprising a necklace and matching earrings, combining gold and diamonds in an intricate openwork design interspersed with floral motifs. This modern Diamond Suite soon become a favourite of the Duchess, who has been wearing it extensively throughout the decades.
With deep familial connections to European royal houses, especially the Catholic branches, the Braganzas are frequent attendees at high-profile celebrations and weddings. On such occasions, Dona Isabel has often turned to her Moroccan Diamond Suite. Notable appearances include the Wedding of Archduke George of Austria and Duchess Eilika of Oldenburg in 1997, and the Wedding of the then Prince of Asturias and Doña Letizia Ortiz in 2004.
In 2021, the Duchess paired her Antique Diamond Bandeau Tiara with the Modern Diamond Suite for the Wedding Gala of Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and Princess Victoria Romanovna.
The year after, Dona Isabel repeated the same jewel combo for a State Banquet offered by the President of the Portuguese Republic in honour of the Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg at the Ajuda National Palace in Lisbon.
There is no doubt we’ll continue to see the Diamond Suite for years to come! Most likely worn by a second generation of Braganza ladies formed by the couple’s only daughter, Infanta Maria Francisca, and the future wives of the Prince of Beira and Infante Dinis.
Queen Amélie’s Diamond Tiara | Diamond Bandeau Tiara | Diamond Choker Tiara | Floral Necklace Tiara | Moroccan Diamond Suite | The Portuguese Royal Tiaras
This article was written by assistant editor, David Rato, who runs the Spanish Royal Jewels account on Instagram!