Happy Birthday to Princess Diane of Orléans, Duchess of Württemberg, who turns 85 today! The fascinating Orléans Princess, a successful artist and sculptor, who is now the grandmother of the Head of the House of Württemberg, Princess Diane has worn the obscenely massive Württemberg Sapphire Tiara for decades!
Württemberg Sapphire Tiara | Württemberg Ruby Tiara | Württemberg Diamond Tiara | The Württemberg Royal Tiaras
The exact origin of this massive Sapphire and Diamond Floral Tiara, along with the sapphire and diamond Necklace, large pendant Earrings, and a massive Sapphire Brooch, is unknown, but it is likely an heirloom of the Ducal Branch of the House of Württemberg, and may have originated from their marriages to generations of Austrian Archduchesses or an older Orléans Heirloom from Princess Marie of Orléans, Duchess Alexander of Württemberg, the daughter of King Louis Philippe of the French and Queen Marie Amelie.
The Sapphire Tiara and Parure were most notably worn by Archduchess Rosa, the Duchess of Württemberg for the Wedding Ball of her son, Duke Carl of Württemberg, and Princess Diane of Orléans at Schloss Altshausen in 1960.
Two years earlier, Archduchess Rosa had worn the Sapphire Tiara and Parure for the Wedding Ball of Prince Antoine of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and her daughter, Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg, in 1958.
Archduchess Rosa also wore the Sapphire Parure with a Diamond Scroll Tiara for the Wedding Ball of Prince Juan Carlos of Spain and Princess Sophia of Greece in 1962.
Archduchess Rosa was photographed wearing the Sapphire Tiara and Parure on numerous occasions through the 1950s and 1950s, cementing its reputation as the ‘big gun’ Tiara of the Württemberg Vaults.
Princess Diane wore the Sapphire Earrings and Brooch for a Service and Party held at Schloss Altshausen to celebrate her Silver Wedding Anniversary in 1985.
Princess Diane was notably pictured wearing the Sapphire Tiara and Parure for the Wedding Ball of her daughter, Duchess Mathilde of Württemberg, and Hereditary Count Erich of Waldburg zu Zeil and Trauchburg at Schloss Altshausen in 1988.
Princess Diane also wore the Sapphire Tiara and Parure for the Wedding Ball of her son, Duke Philipp of Württemberg, and Duchess Marie-Caroline in Bavaria at Schloss Nymphenburg in 1991.
Most notably, the Württemberg Sapphire Tiara and Parure were worn by Princess Diane of Orléans, the Duchess of Württemberg for the Wedding Ball of her son and heir, Duke Friedrich of Württemberg, and Princess Marie of Wied in 1993. Hopefully, we will see this magnificent heirloom worn again soon!
Württemberg Sapphire Tiara | Württemberg Ruby Tiara | Württemberg Diamond Tiara | The Württemberg Royal Tiaras
