Happy 20th Anniversary to Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium, who got married on this day in 2003! The British-Belgian bride received some splendid gifts when she married the youngest son of King Albert and Queen Paola, the most spectacular of which was her Wedding Tiara!
Belgian Royal Jewels
King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium purchased a a delicate antique diamond tiara as a wedding gift for Claire Coombs, an unprecedented decision, since the now Queen Mathilde received her Laurel Wreath Tiara from the Belgian Nobility, while Queen Fabiola and Queen Paola inherited Jewels from Queen Astrid.
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Princess Claire wore her new Tiara for the first time on her Wedding Day, with a pair of Pearl Earrings which were a wedding gift from Queen Paola’s family, and a NATAN gown, which inspired Princess Mia’s Wedding Dress in ‘The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement’ released the following year.
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Princess Claire wore the Wedding Tiara again just a week after the wedding, for a State Banquet in honour of the Norwegian King and Queen at the Royal Palace of Brussels in 2003.
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The following year, Princess Claire wore her Wedding Tiara for the Wedding of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark in 2004, which was the only time it was worn abroad.
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Princess Claire usually wore the Wedding Tiara for State Banquets at the Royal Castle of Laeken, like for the Portuguese State Banquet in 2005, and the State Banquet held during the Dutch State Visit to Belgium in 2006, which was its last public appearance.
In 2010, Princess Claire debuted a new Pearl and Diamond Tiara at the Wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, which was followed by an appearance at the Wedding Ball of Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco in 2011 and at the Wedding Gala of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg and Countess Stephanie de Lannoy in 2012, as well as during the French State Visit to Belgium in 2018. It is unknown if the wedding tiara still exists and Princess Claire acquired a new one, or if the older one was sold or traded to buy the Pearl and Diamond Tiara. With the Dutch State Visit to Belgium this Summer, we are sure to see Princess Claire attending, and hopefully, that may answer some questions.
Belgian Royal Jewels
