European Royals

The royal wedding of an obscure prince and princess that ended up creating a new monarchy

Almost 120 years ago, a prince and princess stepped off a ship and set a new monarchy afloat. Just a few months before their arrival, neither had had any expectation of a crown. But in November 1905, Prince and Princess Carl of Denmark began their sea journey to a new life where they became king and queen. Their path to a throne began nine years earlier in a very Victorian wedding. However, the…
Read more
Denmark

The sparkling royal jewels that were first seen at the coronation of Napoleon

The ruby has been used as a symbol of royalty for centuries. Today we’re looking at the history behind the most famous ruby tiara in the Danish Royal Family’s collection: the Danish Ruby Parure. Now most closely associated with Crown Princess Mary, who has worn the tiara exclusively since her 2004 wedding, the Danish Ruby Parure has been used by a long line of European queens while the…
Read more
European Royals

The first royal Letizia: mother of Napoleon

Queen Letizia has made her mark on the royal scene over the past two decades and her name counts as one of the more unusual among royalty. But the Queen of Spain isn’t the first Letizia on the regal scene. Two hundred years ago, the man who dominated Europe and made himself Emperor of France gave an important royal title to his mother. And as he made that declaration, Letizia Ramolino became…
Read more
Denmark

The engagement ring presented to a princess as a reminder of the country she left behind

An engagement ring can have a special meaning, and royal engagement rings are no different. When it came time for Prince Joachim of Denmark to propose to his French girlfriend, Marie Cavallier, he did so with a unique engagement ring that he knew would hold a special place in Marie’s heart and his. The Prince chose a gold band with a ruby, diamond and sapphire to present to his future…
Read more