The dramatic life story of Queen Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg is once again drawing public attention more than half a century after her passing. Following the announcement of a historical series about the wife of Alfonso XIII, the organization “National Heritage” is preparing a major exhibition dedicated to her legacy. The highlight will be the breathtaking Fleur-de-Lys tiara from Queen Letizia’s private collection.
Queen Letizia, wife of King Felipe VI, has decided to temporarily lend her most valuable jewel—gifted by the monarch after his ascension—for the exhibition. This event offers a rare opportunity for history enthusiasts and royal dynasty admirers to see this masterpiece of jewelry craftsmanship in person. The last time the tiara was put on public display was back in 2009 at the Madrid headquarters of Ansorena.
The exhibition will be held in the Gallery of Royal Collections from December 2, 2025, to April 5, 2026. Visitors will be invited to delve into the remarkable fate and legacy of Queen Victoria Eugenie through 350 exhibits, including documents, books, and photographs. The organizers aim to offer a fresh perspective on a figure who helped shape the modern role of the queen consort, bridging official duties with humanitarian work.
The story of the tiara began in 1906, when King Alfonso XIII commissioned it from the Madrid jewelers Ansorena as a wedding gift for his fiancée, Victoria Eugenie. She wore the piece on their wedding day, May 31, at the San Jerónimo Basilica in Madrid. It is worth noting that before the ceremony, as a British Anglican, she had to undergo the rite of baptism.
The design features three heraldic lilies — the symbol of the House of Bourbon — crafted from diamonds on a platinum base. The central element, the largest lily, is flanked by two smaller ones. The rest of the diadem is adorned with botanical motifs. In total, the piece contains 450 diamonds and ten Australian pearls. In 1910, the tiara was slightly redesigned with new elements added to widen its base.
Victoria Eugenie often wore the tiara in public until 1967. Then, following the tradition of ‘heirloom jewels,’ it passed to her daughter-in-law María de las Mercedes, and later to Queen Sofía. It was expected that this diadem would be worn by future Queen Letizia at her wedding to Prince Felipe in 2004, but she chose the Prussian Tiara instead.
The current queen first wore the Fleur-de-Lis in 2017 during the state visit of the President of Argentina. She was last seen in this stunning piece of jewelry in November 2023 at a formal dinner, where she complemented her look with diamond and sapphire earrings and the famous pair of bracelets made from another Cartier tiara, also gifted by Alfonso XIII to his wife.
