How's this for a surprise Jubilee guest -- Alexandra!  In the Alexandrine Diamond Drop Tiara!  I do so love when former royal spouses stay friendly -- and continue to wear their tiaras out and about!

PHOTO CREDITS: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

HRH The Crown Prince of Denmark and Miss Mary Donaldson
May 14, 2004

Our last major tiara wedding before Crown Princess Vic's big day was the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Tasmanian-born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson.  The two met during the Sydney Olympics in 2000, fell in love, and got hitched four years later.

Frederik and his Aussie bride have two children: Prince Christian (who will one day be king) and Princess Isabella, the first Danish princess born in a generation.  Mary has transformed from an everyday girl to a glamorous crown princess, and this wedding was definitely high on the glamour factor as well: we've got more than thirty tiaras on parade here, many of which are brand-new to the blog.  A good trial run for Victoria's wedding, no doubt!  Enjoy!

Wedding Hatters

Alexandra chose her usual tiara -- the Alexandrine Diamond Drop Tiara -- for one of her last major functions as a member of the Danish royal family.  (She and Joachim announced their separation in September 2004 and divorced in April 2005.)

I love the way the tiara just sits on top of Alexandra's hair here -- it looks so old-fashioned and regal.  So sad that the tiara is no longer in royal hands -- here's hoping that Alexandra gives it to one of her future daughters-in-law one day!

(Also, a Pepto-Bismal pink capelet?  Yikes!)

Good lord, Alexandra was an elegant princess, wasn't she?  It's easy to see why some people thought of her as a sort of Nordic Princess Di.

The tiara here is, of course, the Alexandrine Diamond Drop Tiara, the same sparkler Alex wore during the entire duration of her marriage to Prince Joachim.  I rather like it with this metallic gala dress -- it sets of the delicate tiara nicely.

Here's a brand-new princess for the blog -- Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who was a princess back in 2004, but is a countess these days.  Alexandra is the ex-wife of Prince Joachim, who is now married to Princess Marie.  Joachim and Alexandra have two sons, Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix.

Alexandra's tiara is a Danish heirloom -- it's the Alexandrine Diamond Drop Tiara.  The delicate art nouveau piece features tiny teardrop-shaped diamonds hanging en tremblant from arches.  It was made in the early 1900s for Queen Alexandrine of Denmark, who passed the sparkler on to her son, King Frederik IX, after her death.  It was the first tiara worn by Queen Margrethe, who received it as a birthday gift when she turned 18; Margrethe then gave the tiara to her daughter-in-law as a wedding present. 

Alexandra wore it on her wedding day, and it was, I believe, the only tiara she wore during her marriage.  When she and Joachim divorced, Alexandra kept the tiara (it was her personal property) -- so we probably won't be seeing it again at royal events anytime soon!