The Danish Ruby Parure Tiara

The Danish Ruby Parure began its life in the hands of Désirée Clary, the future Queen of Sweden.

Her husband, then still only Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte, ordered the suite for Emperor Napoleon’s coronation from a jeweller in Paris. The entire suite consisted of a necklace, earrings, a brooch, and hair ornaments. Désirée wore the parure as she carried the new Empress Joséphine’s veil and handkerchief on a pillow during the coronation.

Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images

The parure’s next owner was Désirée’s daughter-in-law, Joséphine of Leuchtenberg. She gave the parure to her granddaughter Princess Louise when she married the future King Frederick VIII of Denmark. This was fitting as the colours of the set matched the colours of Denmark.

Embed from Getty Images

Since then, it has remained in Denmark. It was Queen Ingrid who transformed the two hair ornaments into a full-blown tiara. She bequeathed the set to the future King Frederik X of Denmark upon her death in 2000. His future wife, Mary Donaldson, wore the set shortly before their wedding in 2004. The set has become one of Mary’s most-worn jewels.1

Embed from Getty Images

The post The Danish Ruby Parure Tiara appeared first on History of Royal Women.