From the 1960's royal brides often did not receive (new) expensive jewels upon their marriage. Gone were the days that royal parents commissioned jewellers to create grand tiaras or parures and the aristocracy still had money to splash on lavish gifts to confirm their status. In some countries this trend started even earlier. In the Netherlands it started with Emma marrying Willem III in 1879. She came into the marriage with hardly any jewels. Her family was well connected but not wealthy. And as far as we know she did not receive very lavish gifts from other royal cousins / houses. Willem was not exactly popular in royal circles. We only know of two sets of diamond stars Emma received from her new in-law family. Luckily for her she received a pretty impressive national wedding gift and her ancient husband placed large orders for jewels. What Wilhelmina received in 1901 from family or other royal houses, including her in-laws the Mecklenburg-Schwerins, we do not know but it can't have been much. She also received a very impressive national wedding gift (parure). Juliana was said to have received some Aquamarine earrings from her mother in law but those might have been a hand me down or were bought using Wilhelmina's money. Even Bernards wedding gift to Juliana and the engagement ring were (later) paid from his royal allowance (Wilhelmina). Juliana did receive a nice gift from the inhabitants of the Dutch Indies. The Von Biesterfelds were penniless. Same goes for the Von Amsbergs and the family was reduced to very distant cousins so the gift of giving faded accordingly.

The dispersement of royal jewels in especially Belgium is tragic but the result of family dynamics, wealth decline and sheer recklessness. It was wonderful to see that Mathilde received a versatile piece from the Belgian aristocracy for her wedding to Filip.

In Monaco Albert should not have bothered to commission jewels for his wife. The pieces are absolutely ghastly and Charlene never wears them. Which I understand perfectly . The good stuff is owned by Caroline. Although some sources claim the pearl tiara and the diamond flower wreath are (now) actually the property of Albert. Anyway.