Happy Birthday to Queen Sonja of Norway, who turns 86 today! The artistic commoner who became the first Norwegian-born Queen of Norway, Queen Sonja’s jewellery collection includes a nice mix of heirloom jewels and modern acquisitions, among them is her versatile Modern Gold Tiara!
The Norwegian Emerald Parure | Queen Josefina’s Diamond Tiara | Queen Maud’s Pearl Tiara | Modern Gold Tiara | Diamond Circlet | Diamond Chandelier Earrings | Drapers’ Company Brooch | Emerald Bead Suite | Diamond Filigree Brooch | Norwegian Royal Tiaras
In 1997, King Harald gifted this striking modern Gold Tiara and Parure to Queen Sonja to mark her 60th Birthday, likely as compensation for jewels stolen at Garrard in 1995. Composed of curved gold strips with tiny diamonds leading to an interchangeable central element that can be just gold and diamonds, two orange topazes or a large green tourmaline. There is a Gold Choker Necklace with a versatile central element as well as more substantial necklaces in topaz and tourmaline.
Queen Sonja debuted the topaz version of the Modern Gold Tiara on the Norwegian State Visit to Romania in 1999, when it was worn with a gold and topaz necklace and a pair of earrings.
Five years later, Queen Sonja debuted the tourmaline version of the Tiara and its necklace and earrings on the Norwegian State Visit to Greece, which was also worn on the State Visit to Singapore with the gold choker later that year. A few days later, Queen Sonja wore the topaz version of the Tiara for a State Visit to Vietnam, when that gold choker was worn with a topaz central element.
In 2007, Queen Sonja wore the tourmaline version of the Modern Gold Tiara with its suite for the Brazilian State Visit to Norway, and the following month, the topaz version was worn for the Norwegian State visit to Germany. By then, Queen Sonja had established a pattern of reserving the Tiara for State Visits to and from Republics, where the Banquets were much less formal, sometimes just suits and ties for the men so Queen Sonja prefers this light modern piece than one of the more historic royal heirlooms.
Queen Sonja wore the tourmaline version of the Modern Gold Tiara and the tourmaline suite for the Vietnamese State Visit to Norway in 2008, which was the same combination worn with Queen Sonja’s ‘big bird’ gown for Prince Henrik’s 75th Birthday Gala at Fredensborg Palace in 2009.
The following year, Queen Sonja debuted a new central element, this one set with gold and diamonds, which as worn for the Norwegian State Visit to Slovakia in 2010, and two years later, was worn on the Norwegian State Visit to Poland.
The most recent appearance of the Modern Gold Tiara, in the gold and diamond version with the choker, earrings, and one of Queen Alexandra’s Maltese Crosses, was for the Singaporean State Visit to Norway in 2016. As it is such a divisive piece, with many calling it the Wonder Woman or Star Wars Tiara, it remains to be seen when the Modern Gold Tiara will make another appearance!
The Norwegian Emerald Parure | Queen Josefina’s Diamond Tiara | Queen Maud’s Pearl Tiara | Modern Gold Tiara | Diamond Circlet | Diamond Chandelier Earrings | Drapers’ Company Brooch | Emerald Bead Suite | Diamond Filigree Brooch | Norwegian Royal Tiaras
