Queen Beatrix ruled the Netherlands for 33 years; she took the throne in 1980 upon the abdication of her mother, Queen Juliana. She chose to abdicate in 2013 with her son, Willem-Alexander, taking the throne. Queen Beatrix held a special gala the night before her abdication and wore a unique tiara, the Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara.
Beatrix has a long history with the Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara, as she wore it for her 1966 wedding to Claus van Amsberg. However, the tiara’s history dates back much further.
The tiara was created by Dutch jeweller Royal Van Kempen en Begeer in 1897 for the new Queen Wilhemina’s reign. It is thought that it may be based on an earlier design from one of Queen Sophie of Württemberg’s tiaras.
The tiara features diamonds, round pearls, and pear-drop pearls.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis is a unique tiara as it can be worn in four different settings. The first setting includes all eleven pear-drop pearls, the second uses five of the pear-drop pearls, the third setting uses six, and the final and fourth setting does not have any of the pear-drop pearls.
Beatrix chose to wear the full eleven pearl setting for her wedding, but for her pre-abdication gala, she wore the five pearl setting.
Queen Maxima, Beatrix’s daughter-in-law, has now worn the tiara multiple times.
