Happy 90th Birthday to Princess Maria Pia of Savoy, Princess of Bourbon Parma! The eldest daughter of the last King of Italy, who married and divorced a Yugoslav Prince before marrying a Prince of Bourbon-Parma, an heirloom Devant de Corsage belonging to Queen Elena of Italy was turned into this magnificent Ivy Wreath Tiara for Princess Maria Pia 70 years ago!

Ivy Wreath Tiara | Diamond Kokoshnik Tiara | Savoy Ears of Wheat and Flower Tiara | Savoy-Aosta Tiara | Emerald Earrings | Queen Olga’s Diamond Rivière

When Princess Elena of Montenegro was marrying Crown Prince Victor Emmanuel of Italy in 1896, she received several spectacular jewels as wedding gifts. Among the jewels was this magnificent Stomacher/Devant de Corsage composed of pearls scattered across diamond ivy leaves, which Queen Elena wore for a portrait around the turn of the century.

In the 1950s, King Umberto II of Italy had his mother’s Devant de Corsage converted into this striking Tiara by his favourite jeweller Petochi.

Princess Maria Pia first wore the newly created Pearl and Diamond Ivy Wreath Tiara for the spectacular Gala Reception at the Palace Hotel of Estoril ahead of her Wedding.

Princess Maria Pia also wore the Pearl and Diamond Ivy Wreath Tiara for another Gala Reception at the Castro Guimarães Museum in Cascais, on the eve of her Wedding to Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia.

A few years later, Princess Maria Pia wore the Ivy Wreath Tiara for a legendary Le Bal at the Palace of Versailles near Paris in 1960.

Later that year, the Pearl and Diamond Ivy Wreath Tiara was worn by Princess Maria Beatrice for the Wedding Ball of King Baudouin and Doña Fabiola de Mora y Aragón at the Royal Palace of Brussles.

However, Princess Maria Pia wore the Ivy Wreath Tiara the following evening, along with Princess Olga’s Emerald Earrings for the Wedding Ball of King Baudouin and Doña Fabiola de Mora y Aragón at the Musée du Cinquantenaire in Brussels.

Two years later, the Pearl and Diamond Ivy Wreath Tiara was worn by Princess Maria Gabriella for the Wedding Ball of Prince Juan Carlos of Spain and Princess Sophia of Greece at the Royal Palace of Athens in 1962.

Princess Maria Pia seems to have worn the Pearl and Diamond Ivy Wreath Tiara on a couple of occasions though the 1960s, following which it has disappeared from public view. While the ultimate fate of the Tiara is unknown, it is likely it was quietly sold off.

Ivy Wreath Tiara | Diamond Kokoshnik Tiara | Savoy Ears of Wheat and Flower Tiara | Savoy-Aosta Tiara | Emerald Earrings | Queen Olga’s Diamond Rivière

Ivy Wreath Tiara

Diamond Kokoshnik Tiara

Savoy Ears of Wheat and Flower Tiara

 Savoy-Aosta Tiara

Queen Olga’s Diamond Rivière

Emerald Earrings

Queen Margherita’s Musy Tiara