Posted by JohnPete on July 5, 2013, 9:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Queen Mathilde"
Princess Lillian obviously had easy access to the Nine Provinces, as she wore it broken down on a few occasions. The concept that only the queen may wear it seems a little thin. What was to keep her from wearing it, perhaps as a last minute idea? What could happen? An arrest?
--Previous Message-- : : In 1993 queen Fabiola gave the nine : provinces tiara to the new queen Paola as : far as I remember. She could have kept it : for her. : : : --Previous Message-- : Mathilde and Claire are ladies whom happen : to : be married to sons from Fabiola's late : husband's brother. With other words, there : is no any blood relationship and at best a : remote in-law relationship. : : This does not prevent Queen Fabiola to make : arrangements for her jewels, if she wants. : The relationship of the late Princess : Lilian, Duchess of Halland, to Crown : Princess Victoria of Sweden is even more : distant (Victoria is a daughter to her late : husband's nephew) and this did not prevent : the transfer of beautiful jewels to her. : : Sweden has the luck that there are no (or : very moderate) succession taxes. In Belgium : these taxes are hefty, for sure in a : situation where there is no blood : relationship. Queen Fabiola is busy with : Foundations (and undeservedly criticized for : that, she does nothing illegal) and we need : to see how this all works out. Mathilde has : nothing to 'win' with a bequest which cost : her an enormous sum in succession taxes. The : best hope is that Queen Fabiola will give : jewels as a cadeau to the new Queen, but she : could have done so to Queen Paola, her : sister-in-law, and never did. : : : : :