Queen Letizia Of Spain Has Fondness For Mellerio Floral Tiara

Queen Letizia of Spain has a special place in her heart for the Mellerio Floral Tiara. Since the time she married King Felipe VI of Spain, she has been seen sporting the piece of the royal heirloom jewelry on several occasions. In fact, Letizia’s fascination for the jewel has not been limited to her days as the Princess of Asturias.

The 43-year-old royal continues to wear the tiara even after her husband was coronated in June 2014. Letizia wore the tiara to attend her last gala dinner as a princess, just days before King Juan Carlos I announced that he was stepping down in June last year. The tiara is of special significance to her as she donned it to make her debut as Spain’s new queen at an official banquet.

Letizia, as queen, has still remained loyal to the royal accessory. The former journalist has relied on the tiara for state banquets and gala dinners as well as for royal, high-profile events.

She borrowed the floral jewel for Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden’s wedding to Prince Daniel in 2010. The mother-of-two again wore it at the farewell dinner of Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, before the monarch abdicated in 2013.

The gem in question was created by French jewellery house Mellerio dits Meller in the late 19th century. The beautiful tiara is made of diamonds in the form of flowers, set in gold and silver which are interlaced with leaves and delicate petals.

Despite being one of their favorite diadems not much was known of its origins besides the fact that it was acquired in Madrid’s Aldao Jewellery Firm in 1962. It was actually a wedding gift from General Franco to Queen Sofia -- Letizia’s mother-in-law -- on the occasion of her marriage to King Juan Carlos I, on behalf of the Spanish people.

Sofia wore it, perhaps for the first time, at her pre-wedding ball in 1962. The elegant princess of Greece and Denmark chose to wear the piece, which is convertible, as a necklace. The central flower is adapted to be used as a brooch.

While Letizia wears it on formal occasions, other women of the Spanish royal family have also had the honor of borrowing it. Sofia and King Juan Carlos’ daughter Elena, Duchess of Lugo wore the tiara a lot in her younger years, while her sister Cristina used it as her main accessory on her wedding day in 1997.