Queen Mary of Denmark celebrated her first year as monarch in spectacular fashion, unveiling a dazzling tiara repurposed from a historic diamond belt.
The Australian royal, 52, known for her love of traditional headbands, has given new life to the unique accessory.
In a video shared by Amalienborg Palace on Tuesday, Mary is seen bare-faced and casually styled, meeting with the jeweler to try on the reimagined Rose Stone tiara.
The brilliant transformation is a nod to tradition, as the Danish Royal Family continues its centuries-old practice of reshaping the crown jewels to suit the times.
“The frame on which the pink stones of the new diadem are mounted was created by jeweler Matías Hasbo Dinesen in consultation with the Queen and the Royal Danish Collection,” the Instagram caption read.
‘The pink stone set was created in 1840 as a chain mounted around a corseted waist with a large pendant, the corsage, in the middle. The pendant can be split and used separately as independent brooches.’
In fact, Queen Lovisa, wife of Frederick VIII, appears with the “belt” in a portrait from 1911, exhibited in the National History Museum of Frederiksborg Castle.
Queen Mary of Denmark has marked the end of her first year as monarch in spectacular fashion by transforming a historic belt into a dazzling new tiara.
Queen Lovisa of Denmark wore the diamonds in their original form, a belt, in 1911.
The Crown Jewels at the disposal of Mary, as Queen, include four jewels that are considered among the most significant treasures of the monarchy.
These jewels, which must remain in Denmark, include brilliant-cut diamond settings, emerald settings, pearl and ruby settings, and rose-cut diamond settings. Each garment is surprisingly versatile and can be separated to mix and match individual pieces.
Of the four, only the emerald set includes a matching tiara. Mary debuted the emerald jewels in gala portraits published in April, pairing them with a green Birgit Hallstein dress.
Mary’s new tiara was crafted using the largest stones in the rose-cut diamond setting, which has been the least worn ornament by previous Danish queens.
One notable occasion was in 1991, when Queen Margaret wore elements of the set during a state visit by Norwegian royalty.
She shortened the necklace and pinned the set’s four brooches to her dress.
In 1840, Queen Caroline Amalie commissioned CM Weisshaupt to create the rose-cut parure, incorporating diamonds that once belonged to Princess Charlotte Amalie, sister of King Christian VI.
It includes a long chain originally designed to be worn as a belt around the Queen’s corseted waist, a style popular in the 1840s. However, the waist chain fell out of fashion and was rarely worn by later monarchs.
The Crown Jewels at the disposal of Mary, as Queen, are made up of four jewels, including the rose-cut set.
In 1991, Queen Margaret wore elements of the set during a state visit by Norwegian royalty.
The rose-cut set was made in 1840 at the request of Queen Caroline Amalie by CM Weisshaupt, using diamonds that belonged to Princess Charlotte Amalie, sister of King Christian VI.
The reimagined Rose Stone tiara was revealed in a video shared by the palace
The frame on which the roses of the new diadem are mounted was created by jeweler Matías Hasbo Dinesen in consultation with the Queen and the Danish Royal Collection.
The images showed Mary, bare-faced and casual, meeting the jeweler to try on the new creation.
This modern approach to historic jewelery reflects a long Danish royal tradition of adapting palace treasures to make them contemporary and personal.
The term “rose cut” refers to a style of diamond cutting that was popular before the invention of the brilliant cut in the late 19th century.
The rose cut technique involves crafting multiple facets, ideally 24, into the top surface of the diamond, creating the appearance of a rounded rosebud. The back of the diamond is flat, which enhances its vintage charm.
In contrast, the brilliant diamond has 33 facets cut on the top and 24 on the bottom.
Today, the four objects are kept in the treasury of Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen.
They date back to Queen Sofia Magdalena, consort of Christian VI, who bequeathed them to the Danish monarchy.
Mary’s innovative approach reflects the Danish royal tradition of adapting the palace’s treasures to ensure they remain contemporary and personal.
In the behind-the-scenes video, the chain is seen carefully placed on its frame as the Queen prepares to try on the transformed tiara.
The casual elegance of her messy bun, paired with the headband, adds a relatable touch to this regal moment.
The palace wrote: ‘The new diadem is designed as a so-called bandeau – a hair-mounted diadem consisting of a single row of diamonds cut from pink stone.
‘With this simple shape the expression of the belt continues, where the diamonds are also mounted in a row.’
The Danish Crown Jewels are property of the State, but remain at the disposal of the Queen. They must remain in Denmark and are not allowed to accompany the monarch on his visits abroad.
When not worn, these magnificent jewels are displayed in the treasury chamber of Rosenborg Castle, where they can be admired by the public.