Happy Birthday to Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria, who turns 70 today! The Luxembourg Princess, the elder sister of Grand Duke Henri, studied to be a nurse before she married an Archduke and has worn several spectacular jewels, including the splendid Luxembourg Aquamarine Tiara!
Emerald Peacock Tiara | Luxembourg Aquamarine Tiara | Sapphire Bracelet Tiara | Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara | Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Negligee Brooch
The striking Aquamarine Parure consists of a spectacular Necklace and Pair of Earrings, with a large Bracelet that can be worn as Tiara as well as two Bangles all set with large square and rectangular Aquamarines. The origin of the jewels is unknown, but they appear to be among the gifts given to Princess Josephine Charlotte of Belgium when she married the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg in 1953.
Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte wore the Aquamarine Parure with her Belgian Scroll Tiara for the Belgian State Visit to Luxembourg in 1959 and it was also worn for the Wedding Ball of Prince Juan Carlos of Spain and Princess Sophia of Greece in 1962.
In the late 1970s, Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte wore the Aquamarine Bracelet as a Bandeau Tiara, with the rest of a Parure.
The Aquamarine Bandeau Tiara was worn by Princess Marie Astrid for a spectacular Banquet held at the Palais Grand Ducal during the British State Visit to Luxembourg in 1976.
Following her marriage, the Aquamarine Bandeau Tiara was worn for a handful of occasions by the new Hereditary Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, including the Swedish State Visit to Luxembourg in 1983 and the French State Visit to Luxembourg in 1992.
It also appears that the Aquamarine Tiara was worn by Princess Sibilla, for the Norwegian State Visit to Luxembourg in 1995.
Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte continued to wear the Aquamarine Parure with the Belgian Scroll Tiara for a variety of occasions, including for a State Visit to Spain, a Banquet in Sweden and for the Wedding of Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Count Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth in 1998.
Following the Accession of Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa wore the Aquamarine Tiara and Parure on numerous occasions, including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Dinner at Windsor Castle in 2002, the Luxembourg State Visit to Denmark in 2003, and the Wedding of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in 2004.
In 2012, Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein wore the Aquamarine Bandeau Tiara for the Wedding Gala of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg and Countess Stephanie de Lannoy, and also wore the Earrings for the Wedding Gala of her daughter, Princess Maria-Anunciata of Liechtenstein, in 2021.
Princess Tessy wore the Aquamarine Earrings with the Luxembourg Vine Leaves Tiara for the National Day Gala in 2016.
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa has continued to wear the Aquamarine Tiara and Parure on numerous occasions, including for Crown Princess Victoria’s Wedding Gala in 2010 and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Gala in 20120, as well as other State Visits and National Day Galas.
In 2018, Princess Alexandra wore the Aquamarine Tiara for the for the Luxembourg National Day Gala in 2018.
While she first wore the Parure for King Harald and Queen Sonja’s 80th Birthday Gala in 2017, it wasn’t until the Luxembourg New Years Reception in 2023 that the Aquamarine Tiara was worn by Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie.
More recently, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg wore the Aquamarine Earrings and Tiara as the Bracelet with the Belgian Scroll Tiara for the Luxembourg New Years Reception in 2024. There is no doubt we will continue to see this spectacular heirloom for years to come!
Emerald Peacock Tiara | Luxembourg Aquamarine Tiara | Sapphire Bracelet Tiara | Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara | Grand Duchess Maria-Ana’s Pearl Negligee Brooch
