After the catalogue notice, the pearls were inherited by Caroline Matilda's daugther (probably fathered by Struensee) Louise Augusta, who married Frederik Christian II, Duke of Augustenborg. The pearls were kept by the Augustenborg Ducal Family and are "today housed in the Royal Danish Collection at Rosenborg Castle".

It is unclear how the necklace entered the Royal Collection. Louise Augusta's daughter, Caroline Amalie, became Queen of Denmark as the wife of Christian VIII, so maybe she brought the pearls with her...

By the way, Caroline Amalie is also responsible for the current settings of the Crown jewels.


The museum lighting was very bright, so the pearls appear duller in photographs. As I mentionned, they have lost most of their lustre, but retain a certain brilliance which has disappeared completely in my pictures. I wonder if Queen Silvia's pearls appear chalky for a similar reason... old pearls under flashlights.