French President Emmanuel Macron has paid on 7th June a State visit to the neighbouring Principality of Monaco. It is the first French State visit to Monaco since 1984, between President François Mitterrand and Prince Rainier III (of course, a lot of official contacts and bilateral visits between the two countries have taken place in the meantime, though it was below the protocol level of a State visit).
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene hosted on the evening of Saturday, 7th June a State dinner in the Throne Room of Monaco Princely Palace.
No tiara for the ladies - disappointingly but not unexpectedly. Yet, there were quite a few interesting jewels on Princesses Charlene and Caroline.
HSH the Princess of Monaco wore a pair of large diamond earrings, that I would qualify of "rocaille girandoles" style (though the making is visibly recent). I don't remember whether Princess Charlene has already worn these earrings before, and I don't know if they belong to the Princess (or to the Princely collection), or if they were loaned to the Princess by a jeweller.
HRH Princess Caroline of Monaco, Princess of Hanover, has displayed a nice selection of jewels: besides a small diamond line necklace with a matching bracelet, she wore her pair of cushion-shaped diamond drop earrings, at least one (or maybe two?) of her Chaumet sapphire and diamond wings (pinned at the back of her hair) [correction after Baxter's comment: it a diamond-only jewel, without sapphires], and a nice brooch in the form of a diamond fleur-de-lys suspending a large grey/black pearl in a diamond surround. Has anyone information about this brooch? On the last picture below, she also seems to be wearing on her left hand a ring with a very substantial pearl.
I don't think Princess Caroline's wings contain any sapphires (or blue enamel like Gertrude Whitney's). It appears that there are open spaces through which we see her dress (or hair), as seen in this photo from Chaumet's website.
This would explain why there was no color seen when they were worn by Beatrice Borromeo on one of her wedding gowns.
Thank you, Baxter, for the correction. I had made a confusion with another pair of wing brooches made by Chaumet (which can also be mounted on a tiara frame) which includes blue translucent enamel (which I had erroneously taken for sapphires). But after verification, this blue enamel version was made for Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney in 1910 (source: https://x.com/Chaumet/status/1255904736685035522) and seems to be now part of Chaumet's historical collection.
Obviously, the double wings brooch/tiara was a popular jewellery model in the first half of the 20th century, and Chaumet produced several versions of this jewel, with various stones, or with only diamonds.
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I don't think Princess Caroline's wings contain any sapphires (or blue enamel like Gertrude Whitney's). It appears that there are open spaces through which we see her dress (or hair), as seen in this photo from Chaumet's website .
This would explain why there was no color seen when they were worn by Beatrice Borromeo on one of her wedding gowns.
Thanks for those great photos, Arthur, as well as the original message showing the banquet. Your posts are always so informative and well illustrated.
The artistry of Chaumet's wings is incredible. I'm not sure that the motif is successful as a tiara, but they are a product of their time and are certainly beautiful creations.
I have read in multiple places that Princess Caroline's wings are sapphires. Since she has almost always worn them with blue or black, I can see why we have assumed this. I seem to recall this may have been discussed here previously, but I couldn't be sure since the treasure trove of our archives is no longer available.
I have always been intrigued by this motif. Here's a Dutch example of Wing brooches (in combination with large sapphire elements). Maker and date unknown.
Courtesy: Royal Watcher
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Thank you, Baxter, for the correction. I had made a confusion with another pair of wing brooches made by Chaumet (which can also be mounted on a tiara frame) which includes blue translucent enamel (which I had erroneously taken for sapphires). But after verification, this blue enamel version was made for Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney in 1910 (source: https://x.com/Chaumet/status/1255904736685035522 ) and seems to be now part of Chaumet's historical collection.
Obviously, the double wings brooch/tiara was a popular jewellery model in the first half of the 20th century, and Chaumet produced several versions of this jewel, with various stones, or with only diamonds.
Previous Message
I don't think Princess Caroline's wings contain any sapphires (or blue enamel like Gertrude Whitney's). It appears that there are open spaces through which we see her dress (or hair), as seen in this photo from Chaumet's website .
This would explain why there was no color seen when they were worn by Beatrice Borromeo on one of her wedding gowns.
The jewel display was odd as were the seating / placement arrangements: Caroline more prominent in both departments than Charlene.... After all these years it shows that she's still not comfortable in her role: No tiars, no historical jewels, no leading role during visits with guests (she looks terribly lost, even in a swimming pool) no attempt to fall in line with the European royal (social) customs.... what a waste. It seems to me that Charlene accepts that Caroline has precedence over her at these events because at least she knows what to do, how to behave and wear jewels....
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French President Emmanuel Macron has paid on 7th June a State visit to the neighbouring Principality of Monaco. It is the first French State visit to Monaco since 1984, between President François Mitterrand and Prince Rainier III (of course, a lot of official contacts and bilateral visits between the two countries have taken place in the meantime, though it was below the protocol level of a State visit).
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene hosted on the evening of Saturday, 7th June a State dinner in the Throne Room of Monaco Princely Palace.
No tiara for the ladies - disappointingly but not unexpectedly. Yet, there were quite a few interesting jewels on Princesses Charlene and Caroline.
HSH the Princess of Monaco wore a pair of large diamond earrings, that I would qualify of "rocaille girandoles" style (though the making is visibly recent). I don't remember whether Princess Charlene has already worn these earrings before, and I don't know if they belong to the Princess (or to the Princely collection), or if they were loaned to the Princess by a jeweller.
HRH Princess Caroline of Monaco, Princess of Hanover, has displayed a nice selection of jewels: besides a small diamond line necklace with a matching bracelet, she wore her pair of cushion-shaped diamond drop earrings, at least one (or maybe two?) of her Chaumet sapphire and diamond wings (pinned at the back of her hair) [correction after Baxter's comment: it a diamond-only jewel, without sapphires], and a nice brooch in the form of a diamond fleur-de-lys suspending a large grey/black pearl in a diamond surround. Has anyone information about this brooch? On the last picture below, she also seems to be wearing on her left hand a ring with a very substantial pearl.
Looking at the pictures they chose a different way of placing people. The Sovereign Prince and Princess were at the centre of the table under the portrait of Charles III. The president was to the prince's left and Madame Macron to the princess'right. That meant that the second lady from Monaco was placed to the left of the president. Why they opted for this seating arrangement i don't know, but Charlene was definately in the top position.
I do lament the fact she does not wear tiara's when she has two beautiful personal pieces gifted to her by her husband and if the labels on the jewels displayed at several exhibitions are right she should also have access to historic Monegask jewels.
As for her looking lost, that might be a language issue. Charlene had some trouble learning French and i don't know how comfortable she feels speaking it these days. As a former athlete herself she always seems more comfortable around athletes, children or people on a sportfield than during formal events. Maybe not ideal for a Sovereign Princess of Monaco but actually very fitting as the wife of a man who participated several times at the Olympic Games and is a sports enthousiast.
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The jewel display was odd as were the seating / placement arrangements: Caroline more prominent in both departments than Charlene.... After all these years it shows that she's still not comfortable in her role: No tiars, no historical jewels, no leading role during visits with guests (she looks terribly lost, even in a swimming pool) no attempt to fall in line with the European royal (social) customs.... what a waste. It seems to me that Charlene accepts that Caroline has precedence over her at these events because at least she knows what to do, how to behave and wear jewels....
Previous Message
French President Emmanuel Macron has paid on 7th June a State visit to the neighbouring Principality of Monaco. It is the first French State visit to Monaco since 1984, between President François Mitterrand and Prince Rainier III (of course, a lot of official contacts and bilateral visits between the two countries have taken place in the meantime, though it was below the protocol level of a State visit).
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene hosted on the evening of Saturday, 7th June a State dinner in the Throne Room of Monaco Princely Palace.
No tiara for the ladies - disappointingly but not unexpectedly. Yet, there were quite a few interesting jewels on Princesses Charlene and Caroline.
HSH the Princess of Monaco wore a pair of large diamond earrings, that I would qualify of "rocaille girandoles" style (though the making is visibly recent). I don't remember whether Princess Charlene has already worn these earrings before, and I don't know if they belong to the Princess (or to the Princely collection), or if they were loaned to the Princess by a jeweller.
HRH Princess Caroline of Monaco, Princess of Hanover, has displayed a nice selection of jewels: besides a small diamond line necklace with a matching bracelet, she wore her pair of cushion-shaped diamond drop earrings, at least one (or maybe two?) of her Chaumet sapphire and diamond wings (pinned at the back of her hair) [correction after Baxter's comment: it a diamond-only jewel, without sapphires], and a nice brooch in the form of a diamond fleur-de-lys suspending a large grey/black pearl in a diamond surround. Has anyone information about this brooch? On the last picture below, she also seems to be wearing on her left hand a ring with a very substantial pearl.
Very generous of you but Caroline was seated next to Marcon to ensure he could actually converse (and) in French... and Charlene could chit chat with Brigitte in English. That was the reason for this odd seating arrangement.
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Looking at the pictures they chose a different way of placing people. The Sovereign Prince and Princess were at the centre of the table under the portrait of Charles III. The president was to the prince's left and Madame Macron to the princess'right. That meant that the second lady from Monaco was placed to the left of the president. Why they opted for this seating arrangement i don't know, but Charlene was definately in the top position.
I do lament the fact she does not wear tiara's when she has two beautiful personal pieces gifted to her by her husband and if the labels on the jewels displayed at several exhibitions are right she should also have access to historic Monegask jewels.
As for her looking lost, that might be a language issue. Charlene had some trouble learning French and i don't know how comfortable she feels speaking it these days. As a former athlete herself she always seems more comfortable around athletes, children or people on a sportfield than during formal events. Maybe not ideal for a Sovereign Princess of Monaco but actually very fitting as the wife of a man who participated several times at the Olympic Games and is a sports enthousiast.
Previous Message
The jewel display was odd as were the seating / placement arrangements: Caroline more prominent in both departments than Charlene.... After all these years it shows that she's still not comfortable in her role: No tiars, no historical jewels, no leading role during visits with guests (she looks terribly lost, even in a swimming pool) no attempt to fall in line with the European royal (social) customs.... what a waste. It seems to me that Charlene accepts that Caroline has precedence over her at these events because at least she knows what to do, how to behave and wear jewels....
Previous Message
French President Emmanuel Macron has paid on 7th June a State visit to the neighbouring Principality of Monaco. It is the first French State visit to Monaco since 1984, between President François Mitterrand and Prince Rainier III (of course, a lot of official contacts and bilateral visits between the two countries have taken place in the meantime, though it was below the protocol level of a State visit).
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene hosted on the evening of Saturday, 7th June a State dinner in the Throne Room of Monaco Princely Palace.
No tiara for the ladies - disappointingly but not unexpectedly. Yet, there were quite a few interesting jewels on Princesses Charlene and Caroline.
HSH the Princess of Monaco wore a pair of large diamond earrings, that I would qualify of "rocaille girandoles" style (though the making is visibly recent). I don't remember whether Princess Charlene has already worn these earrings before, and I don't know if they belong to the Princess (or to the Princely collection), or if they were loaned to the Princess by a jeweller.
HRH Princess Caroline of Monaco, Princess of Hanover, has displayed a nice selection of jewels: besides a small diamond line necklace with a matching bracelet, she wore her pair of cushion-shaped diamond drop earrings, at least one (or maybe two?) of her Chaumet sapphire and diamond wings (pinned at the back of her hair) [correction after Baxter's comment: it a diamond-only jewel, without sapphires], and a nice brooch in the form of a diamond fleur-de-lys suspending a large grey/black pearl in a diamond surround. Has anyone information about this brooch? On the last picture below, she also seems to be wearing on her left hand a ring with a very substantial pearl.
on June 8, 2025, 5:00 pm
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