Queen Matilde’s Most Dazzling Royal Jewels Revealed!

The Magnificent Jewels of Queen Mathilde of Belgium Queen Mathilde of Belgium, born on January 20th, 1973 in Uekel, made history as the first Belgian-born Queen Consort. She rose to prominence in 1999 upon her marriage to Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant, captivating the nation with her elegance and charisma, which drew comparisons to Britain's Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Since becoming Queen Consort in 2013, she has embodied modern royalty, blending beauty, intelligence and grace, earning a special place in the hearts of Belgians. Queen Mathilde's impeccable taste in fine jewellery beautifully complements her regal persona. While the Belgian royal family possesses a more modest collection compared to other monarchies, Queen Mathilde's growing interest has expanded their treasure trove beyond inherited pieces in Queen Fabiola's enigmatic jewellery box, creating a legacy for future generations. Her collection boasts exceptional pieces, including her engagement ring, the historic Nine Provinces tiara, and a wide variety of earrings and brooches. Notably, Prince Philippe gifted her a historic brooch on her 42nd birthday, and another exquisite jewel to mark their 10th wedding anniversary. Without further ado, let's delve into Queen Mathilde's lesser-known yet remarkable jewels, highlighting the unique treasures that are seldom discussed, including the special gift she received on the birthday of her first child. Let's start with some of her show-stopping rings. After three years of secretly dating, Prince Philippe made their relationship official with a royal engagement announcement at the Royal Palace of Brussels in December 1999. Ruby Diamond Ring King Philippe commissioned a dazzling and exquisite engagement ring from the renowned Belgian jeweller Wolfers, featuring a stunning dark red Burmese ruby at its heart, Surrounded by a brilliant halo of sparkling diamonds, this masterpiece is set on a thick yellow gold band, further adorned with fine diamonds, creating a breathtaking effect. The centre stone, a 2.4 carat oval-cut ruby, is encased by a radiant array of diamonds, each one contributing to the ring's dazzling brilliance, making an unforgettable symbol of love, and its timeless beauty continues to set trends for coloured engagement rings around the world. Queen Matilda has been seen wearing this vintage-inspired, show-stopping ring at several pivotal public events. The ring graced her hand during the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands in Amsterdam in April 2013, and during a royal visit to Paris in October 2012, where its brilliance was on full display. Sapphire Diamond Ring King Philippe has never been shy in expressing his love for Queen Matilda, and for their 10th wedding anniversary, he once again turned to the renowned jeweller Wolffers to create a spectacular gift. In July 2009, he presented her with an exquisite sapphire and diamond ring, featuring a stunning oval-cut 10-carat sapphire as the centrepiece, replacing her usual ruby ring on the same hand. The sapphire is set in a sleek platinum band, encircled by white diamonds, which continue halfway down the band, adding to the ring's dazzling beauty. Recently, the ring seems to have been updated, now showcasing a larger round sapphire set on a sleek platinum band accented with diamonds. Its refined design is reminiscent of Princess Diana's iconic sapphire engagement ring, exuding timeless elegance and simplicity. Queen Matilda has been seen wearing this sapphire ring at several notable events, including Belgian National Day 2019, Bruxelles Formation of the Department of Language, April 2024 and Locheren in November 2014. Moving on to Belgium's royal tiaras, traditionally reserved for queens, they carry profound significance, symbolising the nation's deep admiration for Queen Matilda. Among these treasures is the exquisite tiara thoughtfully crafted by Belgian aristocrats as a wedding gift to honour her, the Wolffers Tiara. This historical tiara dates back to the grand wedding of King Baudouin of Belgium and Queen Fabiola in 1960. A dazzling and radiant piece, it was a wedding gift from the jewellers of the Antwerp diamond industry, who commissioned the renowned Belgian jeweller Wolffers to create this magnificent tiara, using more than 250 diamonds. The tiara is truly unique, designed not only as a diadem but also as a necklace, offering versatility. It features two rows of interconnected diamond layers, with seven arches in a three petal motif, with the centre arch being the largest and the motifs gradually decreasing in size from the middle to the sides. Before her passing in 2014, she privately passed down some of her jewellery, including this tiara to Queen Matilda. Queen Matilda first wore the tiara in 2015 at an official dinner at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. She also wore it during the Australian visit to Belgium in 2018, and for the state banquet at Leken in June 2023, where she transformed it into a necklace for the visit of the King and Queen of the Netherlands, also seen on Third Generation, the Duchess of Brabant at the birthday celebration of Prince Christian of Denmark in 2023. One of the most versatile tiaras in Belgium's royal history, the Meander Tiara was a wedding gift from the Belgian government to Princess Astrid of Belgium when she married Crown Prince Leopold in 1926. Initially designed by Van Bever in Antwerp, the tiara featured a meander base adorned with eleven large yellowish round diamonds, representing the nine Belgian provinces, crafted using diamonds from Congo. In 1934, Princess Astrid added interlocking diamond arches above diamonds to the design, achieving a fuller look. It can be worn as a bracelet, choker, bandeau and necklace. The meander base, studded with diamonds, is detachable from the arches and top diamonds, and Princess Astrid wore it separately as a bandeau in a 1920s portrait, and at the wedding of Crown Prince Umberto of Italy in 1930. Queen Fabiola wore the tiara on her wedding day as a tribute to her mother-in-law, and continued to wear it in various forms for grand occasions throughout her life. The tiara was later inherited by Queen Matilda, who wore it as a bandeau in her first official portrait as Queen of Belgium in 2013. She debuted the full version at Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's 75th birthday celebration in 2015, and again in 2023, pairing it with the Wolffers tiara as a necklace for a state banquet at Leken, attended by the Dutch royal family. A heartfelt wedding gift from Belgian aristocrats in 1999, this stunning tiara cum necklace boasts a unique design of 21 intricately twisted diamond-studded leaf motifs in varying sizes. Crafted in platinum by Henel and Sons in 1912, the tiara features scattered, brilliant-cut diamonds that create a dazzling interplay of light and elegance. Queen Matilda has worn this piece countless times, making it one of her most iconic jewels, both as a tiara and a necklace. Notable appearances include the official dinner in Warsaw in 2015, the state banquet at Leken in 2017, the 2004 wedding of the Crown Prince of Denmark in Copenhagen, and as a necklace at the 2011 wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The tiara remains a regular fixture at state banquets in Leken, showcasing its timeless charm and breathtaking beauty year after year. She often repurposed her tiaras, wearing them as necklaces on occasion, but was also frequently spotted adorned with exquisite diamond necklaces and earrings. Graff Foliage Diamond Necklace The classic butterfly necklace in white gold showcases the elegant form of a butterfly, adorned with pear-shaped and marquise diamonds, arranged in a radiant ribbon around the neck. Beneath, a cluster of five diamond butterflies delicately dangle, gracing the décolletage with their enchanting sparkle. This beauty is designed by British jeweller Graff. The Queen first wore this mesmerising piece sparkling her way through, featuring pear-shaped marquise and round diamonds totalling approximately 17 carats, at a gala dinner celebrating Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway's 18th birthday in 2022. She later paired it with a deep red velvet gown during her state visit to Germany in 2023, and again this April 2024 during her state visit to Luxembourg, each time dazzling with its captivating brilliance. Diamond and Pearl Choker Since 2000, Queen Matilda has been seen wearing an exquisite diamond and pearl choker. Earlier in her life, she owned another diamond choker set in gold, which she frequently wore during her engagement to Crown Prince Philippe and in the early years of their marriage. Over time, she added a stunning seven-strand pearl choker featuring diamond-set bands. This vintage piece, measuring 13 inches in length, includes a slide-lock clasp crafted from 18-carat gold. The pearls are beautifully matched, predominantly oval in shape, with each section separated by intricate 18-carat gold and diamond detailing. Queen Matilda has showcased these elegant chokers on numerous significant occasions, including the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the Te Deum Mass in the Cathedral during Belgium's National Day in 2010, and the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Matilda, known for her love of earrings, often shines at royal events and galas, effortlessly wearing them as standalone pieces. But before that, if you're liking our content, don't forget to like and subscribe to our channel for the most exciting jewel stories. Diamond Fringe Earrings The earrings feature a diamond semi-circle E design, with five diamond-fringed tassels gracefully dangling from a nautilus-style stud. These earrings have become a staple in Queen Matilda's jewellery collection, often seen on many of her joyous occasions. She wore them at the inauguration dinner in the Netherlands in 2013, and they have since remained an important piece in her collection. The earrings were also worn during Queen Beatrix's abdication dinner and the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander, further cementing their significance in her royal jewellery repertoire. Diamond Scroll Earrings The diamond scroll earrings are likely to remain a cherished part of Queen Matilda's collection for many years to come. Around 2003, then-Crown Princess Mathilde received the earrings as a gift from her husband, Crown Prince Philippe, to mark the birth of Princess Elizabeth. The earrings, crafted from diamonds and cognac diamonds, which can reportedly be replaced with emeralds, are designed in an E shape. The first public appearance of the diamond scroll earrings was during the Norwegian state visit to Belgium in 2003, and they quickly became a favourite of the Crown Princess. She wore them at numerous galas and banquets, including the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in 2004, and King Bumibola Dulyade's diamond jubilee reception in 2006. Queen Fabiola's Tunisian Earning The earrings were purchased by King Boudouin as a gift for Queen Fabiola while they were on holiday in Tunisia in the late 1960s. Designed in a stunning dandelion style, they feature a combination of diamonds and emeralds set in yellow gold. Unlike some other pieces, Queen Fabiola did not wear the Tunisian perue during her widowhood. However, before her passing, she passed the perue on to her niece-in-law, now Queen Mathilde of Belgium. In 2013, the then-Crown Princess wore the earrings at a gala following the inauguration of the King of the Netherlands. They were also worn during the Belgian state visit to Poland in 2015. Diamond Scrolls Cartier Another breathtaking pair of diamond earrings in Queen Mathilde's collection are from Cartier, featuring diamond loops and scrolls with a diamond drop. These twisted design earrings have been in her possession for over a decade. The elegant and glamorous look they provide was clearly evident when she paired them with an embroidered jacket for her visit to the Brotherhood of Saint Sebastian in Bruges. She was first seen wearing them during Belgium's National Day celebrations in 2007, and again in 2016 during an official visit to the Netherlands. More recently, she wore them in 2020 for a photoshoot for the Royal Christmas Card. Discover the royals we can't overlook when it comes to her most iconic brooches, especially the one that sparked quite a buzz. Let's dive in. Butterfly Brooch This exquisite diamond-studded brooch, crafted around the 1900s, was later acquired at auction from Drew in 2014 for €8,400 by French jeweller Martin Dudafoir. Made of platinum and openwork white gold, it is adorned with old-cut cushion-shaped diamonds, including seven larger stones and rose-cut diamonds. The design features intricate motifs of scrolls, foliage and stylised flowers. Queen Mathilde first wore this stunning brooch to secure her sash during the state visit to Denmark in March 2017. It quickly became one of her signature pieces, seen on numerous occasions and is believed to have been personally purchased by her. She subsequently wore it during the Australian state visit to Belgium in 2018, at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022, King Charles III's coronation in 2023, and most recently as a hair ornament during the state visit to France in 2024. Diamond and Pearl Brooch The diamond and pearl brooch of Queen Mathilde is a delicate and elegant piece of jewellery that has been a notable part of her collection. The brooch is lens-shaped with lacy, fan-like end sections. At its centre it features a larger round diamond, with round pearls set on either side. This stunning brooch has been worn by the Queen on various occasions, both as a brooch and as a headpin. One of the most significant moments when it was publicly seen was on 20th January 2015, during an EU reception that coincided with the Queen's Mathilde birthday. The brooch has also been worn by the Queen during other prominent events, such as her visit to Paris in 2016, where she paired it with a striking blue dress, also as a headpin during the 2016 state visit to the United Kingdom, and during her visit to the New Bank building in Brussels in 2022. Golden Leafs Brooch by Natan This exquisite gold leaf brooch, approximately 18 carats, originally debuted as a necklace worn by Queen Mathilde in 2015 at a Royal reception for suppliers holding the Royal Warrant of Appointment at the Royal Palace in Brussels. Later redesigned by Natan into an artistically huge three-leaf cluster brooch at the Queen's request, it made its first appearance in its new form at the St Michael and St Gudula Cathedral during Belgium's National Day in 2022, perfectly paired with a deep dress. Last year she highlighted Belgium's Egyptology legacy while wearing this magnificent brooch, earning widespread admiration for her sophisticated look. Diamond Fringe Brooch The Belgian royals acquired the stunning waterfall diamond brooch in the 1980s, although it dates back to the 19th century. It was sold at auction in Geneva in 1983, and shortly after it made its public debut on Queen Fabiola. It is believed that King Baudouin purchased it for Queen Fabiola, his beloved wife. The brooch, designed with cascading diamonds in a waterfall-like pattern, features intricate flowing diamond strands that create a graceful and elegant effect. It is set with numerous diamonds, creating a frosty, icy appearance that adds to its breathtaking allure. Queen Mathilde developed a deep affection for this brooch and wore it even before it was personally handed over to her by Queen Fabiola before her death in 2014. Queen Mathilde showcased the brooch at the pre-inauguration dinner in the Netherlands in 2013, pairing it with her diamond laurel wreath tiara. Its significance is further highlighted as it appeared on her sash in her first official portrait as Queen the same year. Queen Mathilde's jewellery collection embodies elegance, modernity and a deep connection to royal heritage. Despite its modest size, each piece tells a story of tradition and grace, which jewel from her limited collection amazed you the most? Let us know in the comments and don't forget to like, share and subscribe to our channel. Thanks for watching and see you next time.