But if the argument is that it is private property, surely that would also count as an argument for keeping other personal property out of the spotlight as well. Yet, Queen Sonja has shown her private art collection. There are books about their properties where they also show the private ones, with pictures of the interior. And exhibitions and TV programs where they show other parts of the personal collections.
I remember that the refusal to show the Norwegian jewels at exhibitions has also been discussed earlier. That might be a security issue though.
I loved the way the Swedish royal ladies talked about the jewels and continuity. The jewels represent something very special. Unlike other parts of a royal collection they are worn and are part of history on special events in a more public way. And it must be very special to wear something that has been worn by several generations.
The story Queen Silvia told about the state visit in France shows how the royals wear the jewels to honor their hosts (or guests on incoming state visits), and to show the connections between countries. The state visit didn’t have a tiara event, but she wore pieces of the cameo parure (she even wore the brooch with Napoléon in her hair). She says that she even had a conversation with the president about it.
Queen Sonja seems very aware of the history of the Norwegian jewels as well, and makes similar gestures.
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