The Swedish Royal Family’s Stunning Tiaras
It's no secret that royal families like pretty, shiny, expensive things. Opulence and grandeur is what it's all about - and the love of the good common folk, of course. The Swedish Royal family often fall second to the never-ending media circus that surrounds their British equivalent, but that doesn't change the fact that they came to drip.
State dinners, weddings, banquets - they're all only complete when one has a sparkling diamond tiara on one's head. Join us as we take a look at some of the most beautiful pieces tucked away in the family vault.
The Baden Fringe
When it comes to tiaras, Crown Princess Victoria has a personal favorite. The brunette beauty has been spotted wearing the famous 19th century Baden Fringe Tiara on many occasions. In 1881, Princess Victoria of Baden received the beautiful piece from her parents.
Made up of diamond sunray motifs, the tiara can be detached from its frame and worn as a necklace. While many other members of the family have worn the Baden Fringe over the years, Victoria has been its primary owner for the last 15 years. In fact, when a Barbie doll was made in her image, it even had its very own version!
Connaught "Forget-Me-Not" Tiara
What's better than diamonds and flowers? This utterly stunning eye catcher goes by the name of the Connaught "Forget-Me-Not". It was made by E. Wolff & Co. in 1905, for the wedding of Princess Margaret of Connaught. Her parents gifted her the impressive headbands, which features diamond-encrusted wreaths of forget-me-nots.
The diamond pendants can be taken off to be worn as a necklace, which Princess Madeleine does frequently. Like some other favorite tiaras among Sweden's royalty, it can be deconstructed and worn as an entire necklace, although this doesn't happen often. Presumably it's just too expensive to be messed with!
Leuchtenberg Sapphire Tiara
The Leuchtenberg Sapphire Tiara has some impressive history to go with it. Napoleon gifted it to his step-daughter-in-law, Princess Augusta of Bavaria, Duchess of Leuchtenberg. Augusta passed it down to her daughter, Queen Josefina and it has been worn by all Queens of Sweden since Victora.
While it's graced the heads of many royals in the past, these days it's reserved solely for use by Queen Silvia. Her Majesty typically wears the stunning sapphire encrusted band to the Nobel Prize Awards. It's widely recognized as one of her favorite tiaras, thanks in part to its flexibility which makes it easy to transport.
Queen Sofia's 9-Prong Tiara
It's not always easy wearing a tiara. In fact, some of them can be so uncomfortable that it's tempting to leave them in the vault never to be seen again. However, when they're this beautiful, it would be a crime to not be photographed wearing it.
This 9-pronged tiara belonged to Queen Sofia and has subsequently made its way from Queen to Queen ever since. Queen Silvia wears it to special events, although reportedly doesn't like how stiff and inflexible it is. It has been lent to the King's sisters and aunt, Princess Lillian in the past, too. More often than not, it makes an appearance at Nobel Prizes and grand banquets.
The Cameo Tiara
Not every tiara in the collection is dripping with diamonds. The Cameo Tiara has the distinction of being the oldest tiara in the vault. Napoleon gave the stunning pearl and gold piece to Empress Josephine of France around 1809. It then fell into the hands of her granddaughter, Queen Josefina of Sweden.
It enjoyed a brief stint outside of the main royal family before being loaned to Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden. She, in turn, left it to her daughter-in-law Princess Sibylla. Queen Silvia wore it to her own wedding in 1976, while Crown Princess Victoria wore it at her wedding in 2010.
The Laurel Wreath Tiara
The Laurel Wreath Tiara was another wedding gift, this time for Princess Margaret of Connaught. The Princess wore the two-tiered diamond headband for her wedding to Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf in 1905 after it was gifted to her by her husband's grandmother, Queen Sofia. When she died young in 1920, it was left to her son, Prince Bertil.
Bertil's wife, Lillian Craig, wore it to her own wedding before leaving it to Princess Victoria when she passed away in 2013. The Princess has worn it several times, including the the wedding banquet of Princess Madeleine, as pictured above.
Napoleonic Cut-Steel Tiara
Who needs a crown when you've got something this beautiful to slip on? The Napoleonic Cut-Steel Tiara could tell some stories. Its history is as rich as the family it belongs to. Queen Silvia found the tiara by chance, when she was sorting through the cupboards of the palace after her marriage.
Originally made for Queen Hortense of Holland, the steel and diamond tiara was brought back to Sweden by her niece, Queen Josefina. The King's sisters have also worn it at certain points, but it remains a favorite of Crown Princess Victoria. As it's less heavily adorned with jewels and diamonds than some of its contemporaries, it's easier to wear.
The Modern Fringe
Most of us can hope to get a Target gift card for our wedding day, or maybe a sentimental old brooch. Customs are a little different for the Swedish Royals, who traditionally give diamond tiaras. The Modern Fringe was given to Queen Silvia by her husband, King Carl XVI Gustaf in the '80s.
Queen Silvia adored the tiara, wearing it more frequently than most of her other pieces. Princess Madeleine started wearing it more frequently in recent years, even donning it at her wedding in 2013. It was then officially announced that the Modern Fringe had been gifted to the Princess for her big day.
The Aquamarine Kokoshnik
Possibly one of the most breathtakingly unique items in the collection, the Aquamarine Kokoshnik is a jaw-dropping piece. Gifted to Crown Princess Margaret to her son on her passing, it fell to Princess Margretha in 1964. Her eldest daughter wore it at her 1998 wedding, but after that, it seemingly disappeared.
No one wore the tiara for years until it reappeared again in 2010 when Princess Margretha wore it to Crown Princess Victoria's wedding. Since then, the Aquamarine Kokoshnik has seen the light of day several times, with both Princess Christina and Princess Madeleine making good use of it.
The History Behind Princess Sofia's Tiara
She may have been a "commoner" when she married Prince Carl in 2015, but Sofia knows how to rock a tiara. Given to her by Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf when she tied the knot, this stunning diamond tiara with emerald points was originally a necklace.
Reportedly, the necklace was a gift to Queen Silvia from a Thai prince, but it was converted into a tiara. Princess Sofia wore the tiara to many of her early events as a Royal, but has since branched out. The tiara hasn't been seen in quite some time, but is sure to make a triumphant comeback at some stage.
The Cut-Steel Bandeau
This understated, elegant piece comes from the same collection as the Napoleonic Cut-Steel Tiara. The Cut-Steel Bandeau is perfect for special events, while also looking refined. The item was first seen fairly recently when Crown Princess Victoria wore it in 2012.
Since then, it's resurfaced a few times. Princess Sofia wore it to the 2016 Nobel Prize Ceremony, and again the following year to a state dinner. Although it isn't a popular tiara among the Royals (who tend to go for bold, diamond-encrusted pieces) it's a strong addition to the collection that works exceedingly well with Sofia's fair complexion and dark hair.
Edward VII Ruby Tiara
Margaret of Connaught was an extremely lucky bride. Her aunt and uncle, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom sent across this ruby tiara with a matching necklace. It was left to her son, Prince Sigvard, who sold it to his father after losing his title for marrying a commoner.
There was some family disagreement over who should be the rightful owner of the tiara, even after King Carl XVI Gustaf bought it. The piece was then kept out of public view for many years until Queen Silvia started wearing it again in the late '00s. The towering tiara makes a powerful statement but isn't often worn these days.
The Four-Button Tiara
The Four-Button Tiara looks quintessentially '60s...and that's because it is. It was commissioned by King Carl XVI Gustaf to be worn by his four sisters - hence the number of diamond flowers. Although typically used by the minor members of the household, it sometimes gets a big mention.
Crown Princess Victoria has been spotted wearing it several times, as has Princess Sofia. The statement piece goes a long way, catching the light beautifully and popping in pictures. Considering its history, it's probably a sentimental item in the collection for the King and his family who remain a tight unit. All five siblings are still living.
The Braganza
Queen Silvia isn't one for shying away from the jewel cabinet. In fact, the more she can pack on at one time, the better. Some members of the family tend to shy away from the larger pieces, but Queen Silvia loves them.
In particular, she's a fan of the Braganza, a five-inch tall heritage piece handed down through the generations. It originally belonged to Queen Josephine's sister, Empress Amelie of Brazil. Clearly, expensive taste runs in the family. The swirling, intricate patterns and sheer size of the Braganza make it one of the most treasured tiaras in the vault.
Princess Desiree's Tiara
It's all about who you know in the tiara business. As we've seen, these pieces get handed down from generation to generation. Queen Louise wore this Art Deco-inspired tiara in the '20s and '30s, before passing it on to the Haga Princesses, who wore it in the '50s and '60s.
Queen Louise then gifted the tiara to Princess Desiree, sister of current King Carl XVI Gustaf, for her wedding to Baron Sifverschiold. The Princess doesn't wear it often. In fact, out of all the Swedish tiaras, it's possibly the most seldom seen. She did break it out three years ago for her brother's 70th birthday celebrations, though.
Princess Christina's Tiara
Elsa Cedergren was given this sweet pointed tiara by her grandmother, Queen Sophia. Elsa than handed it down to her goddaughter, Princess Christina as a coming-of-age 18th birthday present. Princess Christina adored the tiara and wore it frequently until it was stolen.
Thieves managed to get hold of the precious item during a robbery in 2012. Sadly, it was a friend of the family that committed the crime. The perpetrator sold different items of jewelry before throwing the invaluable diamond and pearl tiara into the Stockholm River. Despite attempts to find it, it has never been retrieved.
Princess Sofia's Wedding Tiara
When she married into the Swedish royal family in 2015, Sofia was a model. Much like Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, she was considered a "commoner". However, her in-laws King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia didn't seem to mind.
They gifted her this stunning tiara, which originally had emeralds in it. Pictured here at the 2017 Nobel Prize Award ceremony, Princess Sofia opted to switch the emeralds out for pearls. The Art Deco-inspired piece certainly glows, just like its owner!
The Six-Button Tiara
This showstopper supposedly contains six of the buttons that adorned the crown of King Carl XIV at his 1818 coronation. The beautiful tiara was allegedly commissioned for Princess Lilian but was also worn by other members of the family.
Crown Princess Victoria and her sister, Princess Madeline have also worn the Six-Button to various events. Princess Christina frequently donned it after the theft of her own tiara. Considering the thick band and the two heavy layers of diamonds, followed by the six round buttons, it can't be a particularly easy thing to wear, especially for long banquets and state dinners.
Napoleonic Amethyst Tiara
Unlike many tiaras that can be turned into necklaces, the Napoleonic Amethyst Tiara started out as a necklace. It belonged to the famous Empress Josephine of France. Beautiful amethyst stones are cased in diamonds, making it a particularly heavy piece. Queen Silvia turned it into a tiara not long after her marriage.
Most of the Royal women have worn it at some point, including Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Madeleine, and Princess Sofia. Unlike some of the other pieces we've mentioned, the Napoleonic Amethyst Tiara isn't particularly favored by one Royal over the rest, perhaps due to its sheer weight.
Princess Madeleine's Aquamarine Band
Little is known about this understated and simple tiara that Princess Madeleine wore to a family wedding in 2002. Standing next to her brother, the young Princess matched her tiara to her dress. Pictures of it before or since seem to be non-existent, suggesting it's not a particularly important tiara.
With just one aquamarine stone set in the center, this tiara is more like a headband than the others we have seen. Perhaps unwilling to upstage the bride on her big day, Princess Madeleine could've commissioned the item for a single-use purpose only. While pretty in its own way, it lacks the grandeur of others we've seen.
The Small But Breathtaking Pearl Circle Tiara
This lesser-known tiara has a long history among Swedish royalty, beginning with Princess Birgitta. In 1960, the famed Haga Princess announced her engagement to Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern, Germany. For the wedding, King Gustaf VI Adolf and Queen Louise gifted Birgitta with the Pearl Circle Tiara.
The tiara features seven pearl circles, each with a pearl-and-diamond flower in the center. Like other royal crowns, this beauty was made by C.F. Carlman. Princess Birgitta has passed the pearl circle on to other royal family members, such as her daughter, Princess Désirée, and Princess Madeleine of Sweden.
Countess Marianne's Diamond And Pearl Tiara
The Princess of Bernadotte, Countess Marianne Bernadotte of Wisborg, is the last surviving aunt of King Carl XVI Gustaf. She's a beloved family member to the Swedish royals and attends most of their events. As such, her iconic diamond and pearl tiara deserves a mention.
Unlike other royal tiaras, Countess Marianne's crown was her personal property and not a passed-down heirloom. That didn't stop her from wearing her crown to the wedding of Princess Victoria, the wedding of Prince Carl Philip, and the Nobel Prize Banquet. Marianne reportedly received the diamond and pearl headpiece from her mother-in-law for her wedding in 1961.
Queen Josephine's Diamond Tiara
Queen Josephine married King Oscar I and ruled during the 1840s and 1850s. She passed down her enormous, decadent crown to Princess Louise, who eventually became Queen of Denmark. Queen Louise then gave it to her granddaughter, Queen Märtha of Norway. Although the tiara remains with the Norwegian monarchy, it is a Swedish jewel through heritage.
The diamond tiara features a diadem of floral and laurel designs weaving throughout the crown, plated in silver and gold. The crown itself stems from the Napoleonic era: it was made for Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon and Queen Josephine's grandmother.
