The bandeau was not the only historic piece of jewellery that Isabella wore for her birthday portraits, however. Adorning the Princess’s ears were a pair of turquoise and diamond earrings, thought to have been owned by Catherine the Great of Russia, making them almost three centuries old. The jewels, which feature an oval turquoise gemstone suspended from a cascade of diamonds, were passed down through the generations before making their way into the vaults of Queen Ingrid, then Queen Margrethe, who gifted the set to her daughter-in-law, Queen Mary, to celebrate her 50th birthday.
Queen Mary took a particular shine to the pair, wearing them for the first time at Princess Isabella’s confirmation ceremony in 2022. A full circle moment, then, for Isabella to have been gifted the earrings for her 18th birthday. Queen Mary also wore the jewels to the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in 2023 and the Golden Jubilee gala of King Carl Gustaf of Sweden later that year.
In honour of her 18th birthday, Princess Isabella was officially made a member of the Order of the Elephant, the highest order of chivalry in Denmark, and wore the sash across her gown as she sat for her portrait in the Great Hall of Frederik VIII’s Palace at Amalienborg. Also adorning her dress was the portrait of King Frederik, painted by English miniaturist Tom Mulliner on a slice of mammoth tusk. The golden frame, decorated with pearls and diamonds, belonged to Queen Mary, who was given it after her wedding to then-Crown Prince Frederik in 2004.