King Paul and Queen Frederica of the Hellenes with their three children, from left to right: Prince Constantine, Princess Irene and Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark.
This tiara, probably best known for being the wedding tiara of both Queen Sofía and the Princess of Asturias, is one of the most used pieces of their collection. It is known as the Prussian (due to its origins) or the Hellenic tiara (for the classical Greek design)
The diadem was a wedding present for Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia from her father, Kaiser Wilhelm II. It was made by the Imperial jeweller Koch, in platinum and diamonds.
In 1912 Princess Viktoria Luise met Prince Ernest Augustus of Hanover in Berlin, and a year later married him wearing her father’s present.
Ernest Augustus III, who would become the last reigning Monarch of the House of Hanover as the Duke of Bunrswick, and Viktoria Luise of Prussia, the Duchess of Brunswick, had five children. Their only daughter, Princess Frederika of Hanover, received the Prussian tiara from her mother, and took it with her to Athens when she married in 1938 the Hereditary Prince of Greece.
The Crown Prince and Princess had a daughter just ten months after their wedding, Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark, the current owner of the tiara, maternal granddaughter of the original owner, Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia. Queen Frederica lent the tiara to her first daughter for some of her first tiara events, like her coming out ball and her official picture:
In September of 1961 the King of Greece announced her engagement to the Spanish Prince Juan Carlos. In 1962, Princess Sophia married Prince Juan Carlos of Spain in Athens, wearing the Prussian tiara. And through the now Princess Sofía of Spain, the diadem became part of the Spanish collection.
The Queen has worn this tiara frequently, although she lends it to her daughters and after the marriage of the Prince of Asturias his wife has been practically the only member who was worn it.
The Prussian can be considered an starter tiara, it was a present for a young Princess of Prussia, it was used by a young Princess of Hanover and it was the first tiara a young Princess Sophia of Denmark used in public. The first time the Infanta Cristina attended a State dinner in the Royal Palace, she used this tiara. It is, of course, the first tiara the Princess of Asturias wore.
Since her first tiara event (her wedding) the Princess of Asturias has worn this tiara more times than any of the other two she has used.
More: http://atthespanishcourt.wordpress.com/2011/11/02/the-prussian-or-hellenic-tiara/
Princess Frederika of Greece with her mother the Duchess of Brunswick and her first daughter Princess Sophia in 1938.
Princess Sofia of Spain with her mother Queen Frederica and her newborn daughter the Infanta Elena in 1963.
Friedricke of Greece with mother, Viktoria Luise, duchess of Brunswick and little Pss Sofia, later Queen of Spain.
This is too cute, Queen Frederica of Greece and granddaughter Infanta Elena of Spain
(via alessandrahautumn)
Princess Sofia of Spain with mother, dowager Queen Fredericke of Greece and her firstborn child, infanta Elena.
(via alessandrahautumn)
1968 in La Zarzuela Palace, Madrid. Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofía of Spain with the family of the Princess, Queen Frederika, Princess Irene and the King and Queen of Greece. In 1968 the Greek Royal Family had already left Greece but the monarchy had not been officially abolished.
Baptism of Prince Felipe of Spain. February 1968, Madrid.
Princess Sophia of Greece (current Queen of Spain) plays with her mother’s pearl necklace.
