Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
Happy Birthday to Princess Benedikte of Denmark, the Dowager Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, who turns 81 today! The sister of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Princess Benedikte has a huge jewellery collection, which includes Queen Ingrid’s Diamond Fan Earrings!
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Fringe Tiara | Queen Sofia’s Pearl and Star Tiara | Diamond Floral Tiara | Diamond Fan Earrings | Diamond Sautoir | Amethyst Suite | Diamond Stars | Sapphire Brooch
Originally worn by Queen Ingrid, these diamond earrings featuring graduated fringes of marquise-cut diamonds in a fan motif of antique design have an unknown provenance, but might have been inherited from her British or Swedish relatives.
Queen Ingrid most notably wore the Diamond Fan Earrings with the Khedive of Egypt Tiara and Queen Victoria of Sweden’s Diamond Stars for a series of portraits around the mid-1940s.
The Diamond Fan Earrings were loaned out to Princess Benedikte as early as a State Visit to the Vatican in 1964 and with Queen Sofia’s Pearl and Star Tiara for the Wedding of Queen Margrethe in 1964.
However, Princess Benedikte didn’t actually receive the Diamond Fan Earrings until her 40th Birthday in 1984, and didn’t regularly wear them until around the time of her 25th Wedding Anniversary in 1993, when they were paired with the Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Fringe Tiara and her section of Queen Alexandrine’s Diamond Sautoir.
The Diamond Fan Earrings have been favourites for weddings, including the Wedding of her niece, Princess Alexia of Greece, the Wedding of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, the Wedding of her nephew, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, the Wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, and the weddings of her daughters Princess Alexandra and Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.
Princess Benedikte has continued to wear her Diamond Fan Earrings at a variety of important gala events, including Crown Prince Frederik’s 50th Birthday Gala Dinner at Christiansborg Palace, Princess Benedikte’s 75th Birthday Gala Dinner, and Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee Banquet among others. There is no doubt the Diamond Fan Earrings will be worn for years to come!
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Fringe Tiara | Queen Sofia’s Pearl and Star Tiara | Diamond Floral Tiara | Diamond Fan Earrings | Diamond Sautoir | Amethyst Suite | Diamond Stars | Sapphire Brooch