Friday, May 25, 2012

Flashback Friday: Märtha Louise and Ari's Wedding Guests

Before we end what is turning out to be unofficial Märtha Louise and Ari week here, it's time to take a glimpse at one of the things that makes a Scandinavian royal wedding so wondrous: the royal guests and their tiaras.

Left to Right: Queen Sonja, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Astrid, Princess Ragnhild of Norway
Having worn her biggest tiara for her son's wedding a few months before, Queen Sonja went with her second most impressive piece for her daughter's nuptials: Queen Josephine's Diamond Tiara. Mette-Marit chose to relive her wedding day in her Diamond Daisy Tiara (and a fairy princess gown). Märtha Louise's aunts stuck to tiaras in their own collections, the Vasa Tiara for Astrid and the Boucheron Loop Tiara for Ragnhild (it formerly belonged to her grandmother, Princess Ingeborg).

L to R: Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Madeleine, Princess Christina of Sweden
In her mother's absence, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden upgraded to one of the family's tiaras she only wears sporadically, Queen Josephine's Amethyst Tiara. Princess Madeleine wore the tiniest tiara she has, her aquamarine bandeau, but she amped up the diamond factor by wearing the drops from the Connaught Diamond Tiara on a necklace. Their aunt Princess Christina wore her blink-and-you'll-miss-it small diamond and pearl tiara.

L to R: Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
I'm sure Märtha Louise, with all her symbolism and whatnot, appreciated Queen Margrethe's sentimental choice: the heart shapes of the Baden Palmette Tiara. Margrethe's niece Princess Alexandra was also in attendance, wearing her mother Princess Benedikte's floral tiara.

L to R: Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, the Countess of Wessex
Máxima relived her own wedding (which happened just a few months before) with her wedding tiara, as did Sophie Wessex. But Máxima came in one her best outfits, an orange Valentino from her pre-wedding ball, while Sophie...did not. She is, however, ready for a game of backgammon, just in case the ceremony got boring.

L to R: Princess Astrid of Belgium, Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg
And finally, Princess Astrid wore the Savoy-Aosta Tiara from her husband's family and a wrap with festive drapery tassels; Princess Sibilla borrowed the Belgian Scroll Tiara from her mother-in-law, Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte.

Who do you think had the best tiara?

Photos: VG/Scanpix/NRK/Hola/Adressa