Today marks the 25th Anniversary of the Death of the Countess of Barcelona, who passed away on this day in 2000! The Bourbon-Two Sicilies Princess married to the exiled Pretender to the Spanish Throne inherited several spectacular Royal Heirlooms!
Queen Maria Cristina’s Loop Tiara
Origin: Queen Maria Cristina of Spain, given as a Wedding Gift to Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies in 1935
Notable Appearances: Wedding Gala in Rome in 1935, Infanta Pilar’s Debutante Ball in 1954, the Wedding Ball of Prince Juan Carlos in 1962, the Wedding Ball of Infanta Pilar
Current Location: Now worn by Queen Letizia
Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara
Origin: A Wedding Gift to Queen Victoria Eugenie in 1906, worn by the Countess of Barcelona in the 1950s and 1960s
Notable Appearances: The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953
Current Location: Now worn by Queen Letizia
The tiara of the fleurs-de-lys, which Alfonso XIll gave to Aunt Ena for the wedding, I only wore once in England for the coronation of the Queen, which was in June 1953. When we were going to leave for Westminster Abbey, I had my small tiara on, and then Queen Victoria said to me: No, you have to wear the one with the fleurs-de-lys. And I obeyed. But as soon as it was all over, I gave it back to her. They had given it to her as a gift and the logical thing is that she would have it as long as she lived. Later, when she died, they gave it to me, but I passed it on to Sofia. Aunt Ena continued to wear it for important events and for some precious photographs”.
Mellerio Shell Tiara
Origin: Infanta Isabel ‘La Chata’
Notable Appearances: The Wedding Ball of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip of Greece in 1947
Current Location: Given as a Wedding Gift to Princess Sofia of Greece in 1962
Sapphire Tiara
Origin: Inherited from her grandmother, Princess Marie Isabelle of Orléans, Countess of Paris
Notable Appearances: Princess Sandra Torlonia’s 18th Birthday Gala in 1954
Current Location: The children of the late Infanta Pilar of Spain
Diamond Earrings
Origin: Inherited from her mother, Infanta Luisa of Spain.
Notable Appearances: The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, Infanta Pilar’s Debutante Ball in 1954, the Wedding Ball of Prince Juan Carlos in 1962, the Wedding Ball of Infanta Pilar, the Engagement of her granddaughter, Simoneta Gómez Acebo in 1990
Current Location: Unknown
Queen Isabella II’s Emerald Suite
Origin: Queen Isabella II of Spain, given to the Countess on the birth of King Juan Carlos
Notable Appearances: The Christening of King Felipe VI of Spain in 1968.
Current Location: Simoneta Gómez-Acebo
When Juanito was born, Alfonso XIII gave me a brooch with a huge emerald that had a pair of earrings and ring en suite”.
Pearl Brooch
Origin: Queen Maria Cristina of Spain, given as a Wedding Gift from King Alfonso XIII
Notable Appearances: The Wedding of Infanta Pilar and Luis Goméz-Acebo in 1967, and Infanta Margarita and Carlos Zurita’s Pre-Wedding Reception in 1972.
Current Location: Now worn by Queen Letizia
Ruby Clip Brooch
Origin: A Wedding Gift from King Alfonso XIII
Notable Appearances: The Christening of Infanta Cristina of Spain in 1965
Current Location: Last worn by Queen Letizia
Pearl Bow Brooch
Origin: Inherited from her mother, Infanta Luisa of Spain.
Notable Appearances: The Wedding of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain in 1962
Current Location: Now worn by Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria and Hernani
Pearl Bracelet
Origin: Infanta Isabel ‘La Chata’, given as a Wedding Gift from King Alfonso XIII
Notable Appearances: The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953
Current Location: Given as a Wedding Gift to Infanta Elena
Emerald Brooch
Origin: Inherited from Queen Amélie of Portugal
Notable Appearances: A Dinner at the Spanish Embassy in Lisbon
Current Location: Now belonging to Infanta Cristina of Spain
Strawberry Leaf Brooches
Origin: Queen Maria Cristina of Spain
Notable Appearances: The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and the Wedding of Prince Carlos, Duke of Calabria and Princess Anne d’Orléans in 1965.
Current Location: Now worn by Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria and Hernani
Diamond Brooches
Origin: A Wedding Gift in 1935
Notable Appearances: Not publicly worn
Current Location: Belonging to Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria and Hernani
Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara
Spanish Floral Tiara
Prussian Diamond Tiara
Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Cartier Pearl Tiara
Queen Maria Christina’s Loop Tiara
Mellerio Shell Tiara
Ansorena Fleur de Lys Tiara
The Joyas de Pasar
Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Diamond Earrings
Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Diamond Bracelets
Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Diamond Rivière
Queen Sofia’s Wedding Necklace
Queen Maria Cristina’s Pearl Brooch
