Today marks the Anniversary of the Death of Princess Viggo of Denmark, who passed away on this day in 1966! The wealthy American Heiress for whom a Danish Prince gave up his place in the line of succession, and who became a beloved philanthropist, Princess Viggo possessed some spectacular Jewels, including this striking Ruby and Diamond Necklace!
An antique Ruby and Diamond Chain, from which an antique Diamond Pendant that has five Burma Rubies is suspended, the exact origin of the piece is unknown but it seems to have been created in the 1920s.
Princess Viggo wore the Ruby and Diamond Pendant suspended from a longer chain and the Ruby and Diamond Chain with another pendant paired with her Garnet Kokoshnik Tiara for the Wedding Ball of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Princess Ingrid of Sweden at the Royal Palace of Stockholm in 1935.
Princess Viggo paired the Ruby and Diamond Necklace with the Garnet Kokoshnik Tiara for the Dutch State Visit to Denmark in 1953, the British State Visit to Denmark in 1957, and a series of official portraits in the late 1950s.
Princess Viggo also wore her Ruby and Diamond Necklace with the Garnet Kokoshnik Tiara in her final years at the Wedding of Princess Astrid of Norway in 1961.
After the childless Princess Viggo’s death in 1966, her Jewels were divided between family members. Her Garnet Kokoshnik Tiara and Opal Tiara went to her nephew, Count Flemming of Rosenborg to be worn by his wife Countess Ruth, while the Diamond Scroll Tiara was inherited by his brother, Prince George, who had no children and left it to Princess Anne’s daughter, Lady Elizabeth Anson. A Diamond Spike Tiara was inherited by another nephew, Count Christian of Rosenborg, while a Sapphire Parure was left to another niece, Queen Anne of Romania.
Who inherited Princess Viggo’s Ruby and Diamond Necklace is unknown but in 2023, it came up for sale at Hatton Jewellers in London, where it sold for £100,000, as shared on RJWMB. The current location is unknown.