Editor’s Note
This article discusses the upcoming auction of several pieces of jewelry that once belonged to Queen Fabiola of Belgium. The sale of such personal items from a royal collection often sparks public interest and historical curiosity.
Several high-value pieces of jewelry that belonged to Queen Fabiola have been put up for auction by a renowned Spanish auction house. This move may be surprising for items once worn by a crowned head.
As reported by 7sur7, citing Het Laatste Nieuws, several pieces belonging to Fabiola will be auctioned this week. Among the items for sale is a demi-parure consisting of a necklace and a pair of earrings, dated 1920 and adorned with diamonds and other precious stones. The starting price is set at 40,000 euros. Queen Fabiola’s engagement ring will also be offered by the Ansorena auction house, in charge of the sale. Made of yellow gold and set with an emerald and diamonds, it will start at a price of 19,800 euros.
The sale of these high-value objects naturally raises questions. How is it that the jewelry of a deceased queen does not belong directly to her descendants, who are now the sovereigns? Royal expert Jelka Van Duyse explains that this phenomenon is inherent to the system of managing royal jewelry in Belgium.
Thus, Queen Fabiola bequeathed some jewelry to Mathilde, but a large part went to the late queen’s cousins and thus ended up on the “regular” market.
According to experts, it would be very interesting if Philippe and Mathilde were to consider the future of Belgian royal jewelry, to avoid losing such pieces in the future. Today, the oldest jewel owned by the royal family is an Art Deco tiara that originally belonged to Queen Elisabeth and is now in the hands of Queen Paola. However, it is impossible to predict what will become of this piece in the years, or even decades, to come, just like the other jewels of the Belgian Crown.