Royal Guests and Relatives from around Europe joined the Italian and Yugoslav Royal Families to celebrate the Wedding of Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia and Princess Maria Pia of Savoy in Cascais on this day in 1954, 70 years ago, following a Ball at the Palace Hotel in Estoril and a Gala at the Castro Guimarães Museum in Cascais!
Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, son of Prince Paul of Yugoslavia and Princess Olga of Greece, married Princess Maria Pia of Savoy, daughter of King Umberto II of Italy and Princess Marie Jose of Belgium, in Cascais following a Ball at the Palace Hotel in Estoril and a Gala at the Castro Guimarães Museum in Cascais. The couple had four children, two sets of twins, before divorcing in 1967.
Princess Maria Pia wore the Savoy Ears of Wheat and Flower Tiara
King Umberto II and Queen Marie José of Italy
Princess Olga of Yugoslavia (wearing her Emerald Earrings and Diamond Rivière)
Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (in the Vladimir Pearl Earrings), the Duke of Kent, and Princess Alexandra of Kent
The Duke and Duchess of Braganza
The Count and Countess of Paris
The Prince and Princess of Hanover
King Umberto II and Queen Marie José of Italy hosted the magnificent Ball at the Palace Hotel in Estoril, two days before Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, son of Prince Paul of Yugoslavia and Princess Olga of Greece, married Princess Maria Pia of Savoy, daughter of King Umberto II of Italy and Princess Marie Jose of Belgium. Sir Chips Channon described the scene:
We left punctually and drove to Estoril to the royal reception. No difficulty; a short wait in the crowded of the hotel where we gaped at friends and stared at their jewels etc. At last, the doors were flung open and Adolfo Caracciolo, who was acting as sort of self-appointed chamberlain, ushered us in: we were the first guests, and there stood directly in front of us Alexander, Maria Pia, the Italys, and Paul and Olga, heading a line of 110 royalties all in a line. Poor Mollie had to curtsey 110 times. Princess Olga looked wistful but very beautiful.
The King of Italy enjoying everything; the bride happy; Alexander bewildered; Prince Paul in a dream state. All very pleased to see us. The Queen of Italy, although supposed to be nearly blind, remarked as I bowed: ‘I know who you are, you are Chips!’ The Crown Prince of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele is a fair, sweet-faced boy.
We moved about amongst the royalties for three hours, gossiping etc. One large buffet opened on to another, where I found the younger ones including Eddie of Kent who clung to me rather pathetically remarking that there were ‘too many foreigners’! He is an angelic creature, dear, gentle, insinuating, altogether charming … The gorgeous buffet, the nodding tiaras, the glamorous royalties – Hessens, Hohenlohes, Hanovers etc. mingling in the excited over-dressed, much-jewelled crowd …. the hours passed.”
Prince Alexander and Princess Maria Pia (wearing her Ivy Wreath Tiara)
King Umberto II and Queen Marie José of Italy (wearing Queen Margherita’s Musy Tiara)
Princess Olga (in the Greek Ruby Parure) and Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (aunt of the groom, wearing the Kent City of London Fringe Tiara and her Diamond Girandole Earrings)
Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria and Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria (in Queen Giovanna’s Bracelet Bandeau) with Princess Maria Francesca of Savoy and Bourbon-Parma (wearing her Diamond Tiara).
The Duke of Kent, and Princess Alexandra of Kent (wearing Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau and her Pearl and Diamond Necklace), Countess Helene zu Törring-Jettenbach and Princess Elisabeth of Yugoslavia.
Princess Anne, Duchess of Aosta (cousin, in the Savoy-Aosta Tiara)
Princess Irene, Duchess of Aosta (cousin, in her Diamond Tiara)
The Count and Countess of Barcelona (wearing Queen Maria Cristina’s Loop Tiara)
The Spains obviously eat too much; are puffed up and look old beyond their years …. The Infanta Maria Cristina presented me to the Count of Barcelona as ‘Mummy’s boyfriend!’ He laughed.
The Duke and Duchess of Braganza (wearing her Diamond Bandeau Tiara)
The Count and Countess of Paris (in the Orléans Sapphire and Pearl Tiara) and Princess Isabelle of Orléans (wearing the Action Française Tiara)
The Princess of Hanover (wearing her Diamond Necklace Tiara)
Infanta Maria Cristina of Spain (wearing Infanta Isabel’s Emerald Tiara)
The Prince and Princess of Ligne (in the Turquoise Tiara)
The Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch (wearing the Buccleuch Turquoise Tiara and Parure)
“Mollie magnificent in red and wearing her turquoise parure (Walter having refused to let her bring out grander jewels); Walter with his stars and orders, and I wearing my Yugoslav white eagle for the first time; Maria Palmela tiaraed. A very elegant dinner, but too-rich food. Gratin atmosphere – English photographs of royalties and friends on all the tables etc.
After the Ball at the Palace Hotel in Estoril, there was a glittering Gala Reception at the Castro Guimarães Museum in Cascais on the eve of the Wedding of Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, son of Prince Paul of Yugoslavia and Princess Olga of Greece, and Princess Maria Pia of Savoy, daughter of King Umberto II of Italy and Princess Marie Jose of Belgium.
Prince Alexander and Princess Maria Pia (wearing her Ivy Wreath Tiara)
Queen Marie José of Italy (wearing Queen Margherita’s Musy Tiara)
Princess Olga (wearing her Diamond Kokoshnik Tiara, Diamond Rivière, Diamond Earrings and Crown Brooch)
Queen Giovanna of Bulgaria (wearing the Bulgarian Fleur-de-Lys Tiara)
Princess Anne, Duchess of Aosta (cousin, in the Savoy-Aosta Tiara) and Princess Irene, Duchess of Aosta (cousin, in her Diamond Tiara)
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
Beauharnais Pearl Tiara
Bow Brooch
Sapphire Necklace
Diamond Earrings
Savoy Knot Brooches
Queen Margherita’s Pearl Bracelet Bandeau
Queen Margherita’s Musy Tiara
Savoy Tourmaline Tiara
Queen Marie-José’s Sapphire Necklace
Savoy Ears of Wheat and Flower Tiara
Italian Royal Tiaras
Savoy Tourmaline Tiara
Queen Elena’s Emerald Tiara
Queen Margherita’s Musy Tiara
Savoy Knot Tiara
Diamond Wreath Tiara
Pearl Bracelet Bandeau
