Princess Astrid has spoken of her happiness at seeing a tiara that meant so much to her family inherited by Norway’s future queen.
Astrid, sister of King Harald, was speaking as Princess Ingrid Alexandra was seen in the diadem for the first time.
Astrid’s pride in her great niece, second in line to the Norwegian throne, was clear as she talked about the tiara which Ingrid Alexandra will wear for the gala dinner marking her 18th birthday.
As the princess was photographed wearing a tiara for the first time, her great aunt said ‘’ It means a lot to me that Princess Ingrid Alexandra has been given this jewellery.’’
The tiara, made of diamond loops that merge together, was bought for Astrid’s maternal grandmother, Princess Ingeborg, by her husband, Prince Carl, who was concerned that his wife’s existing collection was dominated by heavy pieces. He found it at the World Fair in Paris in 1900.
The tiara provides many links with Ingrid’s family tree. Princess Ingeborg was a sister of King Christian X of Denmark and King Haakon VII of Norway while her father was a brother of King Gustav V of Sweden.
Ingeborg often lent the tiara to her daughters. Princess Astrid’s mother, Crown Princess Martha of Norway, wore it during a famous trip to the United States in 1939.
And there was a poignant moment, too, as Princess Astrid recalled the final time that Princess Ingeborg wore the tiara, saying ‘’ The last time my grandmother used it was for my brother’s 21st birthday and government day in 1958.’’
The diadem was inherited by Astrid’s older sister, Princess Ragnhild, who left it to her own children on her death in 2012. They have now given the diadem to Princess Ingrid Alexandra.
It’s a choice filled with history and family links.
