And here we are again…time for a Battle. Side note: anyone remember Celebrity Deathmatch from MTV in the 90s? For some reason this reminds me of that…without the death or bad claymation…
As The Handbag suggested over on the Japanese Abdication post we are going to put some star tiaras up against each other.
Máxima’s Wedding Tiara
Starting with my fave star tiara, the Wedding Tiara of Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti. Worn for her wedding to Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, The Prince of Orange on February 2, 2002; Maxima took the base of the Pearl Button Tiara, and topped it with Queen Emma’s Diamond Star Brooches, she created her own special tiara for the day.
Benedikte’s Star and Pearl Tiara
Princess Benedikte of Denmark inherited this tiara upon her mother’s death in 2000. Queen Ingrid inherited this tiara from her grandmother, Queen Victoria of Sweden (originally Princess of Baden). Victoria was given the tiara by her mother-in-law, Queen Sofia, who in turn was gifted the tiara for her wedding to Crown Prince Oscar of Sweden in 1857. The tiara features alternating stars and pearls, set on diamond spikes.
The Meiji Scroll Tiara
We briefly talked about this one over in the Abdication post, but let’s get some deeper history. This one is said to be by Chaumet, dating from around 1885 or so. This one is reserved for the Empress alone, and every Empress from Empress Shōken on has worn it. Empress Shōken was the one who replaced the diamond toppers with stars (a woman after my own heart). Empress Kōjun, consort of Emperor Hirohito, also wore this version.
Housekeeping note: The United States has a holiday on Monday, 25 May and The Handbag will be taking the day off. We will return on Tuesday, 26 May!