Earlier this week, Queen Mary of Denmark wore a significant 200-year old Royal Heirloom at the Gala Dinner hosted by the German President at Schloss Bellevue to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Nordic Embassy Complex in Berlin.
The striking Bracelet is composed of nine rows of oriental 213 pearls with a miniature portrait of the Duchess of Leuchtenberg surrounded by three rows of diamonds.
While the exact date of the bracelet’s creation is unknown, it likely dates back to the magnificent Napoléonic Court, which Princess Augusta of Bavaria entered as the daughter-in-law of Empress Josephine, and retained her jewels after the fall of Napoléon, when her husband became the first Duke of Leuchtenberg.
The Pearl Bracelet with the Duchess of Leuchtenberg’s Miniature came into the possession of her daughter, Queen Josefina of Sweden and Norway, who left the Bracelet to her granddaughter, Queen Lovisa of Denmark, who added the Bracelet to the entailed Løsørefideikommis, the Danish Royal Property Trust which is for the sole use of the Danish Queen.
The Duchess of Leuchtenberg’s Pearl Bracelet was a favourite of Queen Ingrid of Denmark, who was also a descendant of the Duchess of Leuchtenberg, usually paired with the Danish Pearl Poiré Tiara on several notable occasions.
In the early years of her reign, the Pearl Bracelet with the Duchess of Leuchtenberg’s Miniature was often worn by Queen Margrethe II, most notably with the Pearl Poiré Tiara for her First Official Portraits and for several notable State Visits over the years, though made only a few appearances in recent decades. However, the Bracelet was loaned out to exhibitions on a couple of occasions, most recently in 2022.
Now, the Pearl Bracelet with the Duchess of Leuchtenberg’s Miniature was worn by Queen Mary for the Gala Dinner hosted by the German President at Schloss Bellevue to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Nordic Embassy Complex in Berlin, a fitting tribute as Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway are also descendants of the Duchess of Leuchtenberg, who was a German Princess.
Empress Joséphine’s Diamond Tiara
Leuchtenberg Sapphire Parure
Diamond Tiara
Swedish Cameo Parure
Emerald Parure
The Norwegian Emerald Parure
Queen Josefina’s Diamond Tiara
The Jewels of the Queens of Denmark
The Danish Emerald Parure
The Danish Pearl Poiré Tiara
The Danish Ruby Parure
Wedding Tiara
Diamond Necklace Tiara
Midnight Tiara
Antique Diamond Parure
‘Belle Epoque’ Diamond Earrings
Wedding Earrings
Diamond Fringe Earrings
Aquamarine Jewels
Amethyst Earrings
Connaught Sapphire Brooch
Diamond Flower Brooch
Antique Turquoise Parure
Diamond Flower Earrings
Ole Lynggaard Brooch
