Happy Birthday to Princess Tessa of Bavaria, Marquesa de Castro, who turns 85 today! A cousin of the Spanish Royal Family from the Bourbon-branch of the Bavarian Royal Family, the glamorous Princess Tessa wore this magnificent Belle Epoque Sapphire Tiara in the 1960s and 70s!
The daughter of Infante Don José Eugenio of Bavaria and Bourbon and Doña Maria de la Asunción Solange (Marisol) de Messía y Lesseps, Countess of Odiel, Princess Maria Teresa (Tessa) of Bavaria came from the Spanish branch of the Bavarian Royal Family and grew up in Spain, where she continues to reside. Princess Tessa married Don Alfonso Márquez Patiño, Marquess di Castro des Duques de Grimaldi in 1963, and the couple had two daughters, Doña Sonia Márquez y de Baviera and Doña Myrta Márquez y de Baviera, with the Marquess passing away in 1994. One of the most glamorous members of Spanish High Society for decades, Princess Tessa remains close to her cousins in the Spanish Royal Family, most recently attending the Lunch at El Pardo Palace a few weeks ago.
The exact origin of the Belle Epoque Sapphire and Diamond Tiara is unknown but it may have originated from Princess Tessa’s grandmother, Infanta María Teresa, who was married to Prince Ferdinand of Bavaria.
In 1962, the Sapphire and Diamond Tiara was worn by Princess Tessa’s sister, Princess Cristina, for the Wedding Ball of their cousin, Prince Juan Carlos of Spain, and Princess Sophia of Greece at the Royal Palace of Athens.
The following year, Princess Tessa wore the Belle Epoque Sapphire Tiara and a coordinating Sapphire and Diamond Necklace for her Wedding to Don Alfonso Márquez Patiño, Marquess di Castro des Duques de Grimaldi in the Basilica of San Francisco El Grande in Madrid.
Princess Tessa also wore the Belle Epoque Sapphire Tiara a decade later for the Wedding of the Count of Quintanilla and Princess Teresa zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn at the Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn Hunting Lodge at Fuschl am See near Salzburg in 1973, which was its last public appearance.
While the Belle Epoque Sapphire Tiara hasn’t been seen since the 1970s, Queen Isabella II’s Emerald Flower Tiara also in the possession of Princess Tessa has been worn for the Weddings of three of her grandchildren in recent years, so lets hope the Sapphire Tiara reappears again soon!
Emerald Flower Tiara
Belle Epoque Sapphire Tiara
Emerald Flower Tiara
Emerald Flower Tiara
Emerald Flower Tiara
Diamond Star Tiara
Castillos y Leones Tiara
Emerald Flower Tiara
Emerald Suite
Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara
Spanish Floral Tiara
Prussian Diamond Tiara
Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Cartier Pearl Tiara
Queen Maria Christina’s Loop Tiara
Mellerio Shell Tiara
Ansorena Fleur de Lys Tiara
The Joyas de Pasar
Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Diamond Earrings
Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Diamond Bracelets
Queen Sofia’s Wedding Necklace
Queen Sofia’s Emerald Parure
Queen Sofia’s Sapphire Parure
Queen Sofia’s Ruby Dove Parure
Queen Sofia’s Diamond Flower Brooch
Queen Sofia’s Omani Diamond Suite
Spanish Royal Tiaras
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