The marriage of Princess Helene of Orleans, daughter of the late Comte de Paris, heir to the throne of Louis Philippe, King of the French, to the Duc d'Aosta, nephew to King Humbert of Italy, took place on Tuesday, June 25,1895 in the small Roman Catholic church of St. Baphael, at Kingston-on-Thames.
The wedding gift of the Duke of Aosta, was
a necklace of five square shaped diamonds and the same number of pear-shaped emeralds with an emerald clasp>>
It was once belonged to her mother-in-law the first Duchess of Aosta, the wealthy Maria Vittoria del Pozzo della Cisterna.
She wore the emerald drops of the necklace on top of her diamond tiara base with Savoy knot, instead of the stars and sprays. The diamond and emerald necklace passed to Duchess Anna of Aosta upon Helenes death. Duchess Anna, a princess of Orleans by birth, had married Helenes eldest Son Duke Amadeo of Aosta.
Upon her death in 1986 the emeralds passed to one of her daughters, Princess Margherita, Archduchess Robert of Austria by marriage. The son of Margherita weds Princess of Astrid of Belgium, which now wear the important emerald necklace on large events.
The second daughter was Princess Maria Cristina, Princess Casimiro of the Two Sicilies by marriage.
Source:THE NEW YORK HERALD; Archive Ursula Butschal;Le Figaro;'The San Francisco Call';
:::::::::::::
:::::::::::::
align="center">:::::::::::::
::::
:::::::::::::
:::::::::::::
:::::::::::::
::::
:::::::::::::