The gala dinner for King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden’s 80th birthday brought together European royalty with all the pageantry that such occasions demand, tiaras included.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia were unable to attend, so Queen Sofía, the Queen Emerita, represented the Spanish Royal Family. And she did so wearing a piece that many had not seen on her head for years: the Mellerio tiara, one of the most historic jewels in the Bourbon collection.
Queen Sofía wears the Mellerio tiara
The Mellerio tiara, also known as “La Chata’s” tiara, was created in 1867 by the French house Mellerio dits Meller. Isabel II commissioned it as a wedding gift for her daughter, Infanta Isabel. The piece, which depicts the movement of a wave’s foam using pearls and diamonds, eventually came into the possession of the Count and Countess of Barcelona, who gave it to Sofía on the occasion of her wedding to Juan Carlos in 1962.
Since then, it has become one of her favorites.
It’s worth noting that this tiara is not part of the Crown Jewels, the pieces that Victoria Eugenia stipulated should be passed down from queen to queen and that Letizia currently wears. The Mellerio belongs to Sofía, which explains why she brought it out for tonight.
This is only the second time Queen Sofía has worn a tiara since Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014. The previous time was in June 2023, at the wedding of Prince Hussein and Rajwa of Jordan, where she chose the Niarchos ruby tiara.
She appears on such occasions only rarely because, as she is not the consort of the reigning king, these types of events are simply not on her agenda.
What dress did Queen Sofía wear in Stockholm?
For the occasion, Queen Sofía, Queen Emerita, wore an aquamarine silk crepe dress designed by Alejandro de Miguel, featuring long sleeves, a draped waist, and canutillo embroidery on the cuffs and hips.
The ensemble was completed by a Canary diamond necklace from which hung another large Canary diamond, matching earrings, and the sash of the Order of the Seraphim, Sweden’s highest decoration. A look crafted with care.