Prinzessin Dorothea von Preußen

Nach dem Dekret des Kaisers war es der Preussen-Familie untersagt an der Trauung teilzunehmen, jedoch auf dem Weg zu den Flitterwochen in Norderney, machten die Brautleute einen Zwischenstopp und fuhren nach Schloss Oels in die die Nähe von Breslau, wo Wilhelm seine neue Frau den Eltern vorstellte.
Die Kronprinzessin brach das Eis, als Sie die Braut in den Arm nahm. Als eine Versöhnungsgeste übergab ihr Cecilie ein Hochzeitsgeschenk, grosse Aquamarine, die sie von Kaiser Wilhelm und Kaiserin Auguste Victoria zur Geburt, von Prinz Wilhelm 1906, geschenkt bekommen hatte.

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Crown Princess Cecilie| Prussian Royal Jewels | Aquamarines

In 1933, the marriage of Dorothea von Salviati (1907-1972), pictured above, and Prince Wilhelm of Prussia was not equal, according to Hohenzollern House Law. As a consequence of his morganatic marriage, Prince Wilhelm had to give up his primogeniture as the eldest grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II. His place in the line of succession was taken by his brother Prince Louis Ferdinand (1907-1994). A decree of the Emperor prohibited the Prussian royal family from attending the wedding ceremony; consequently the groom’s parents were not present.

Despite the obstacles that had been placed in the young couple’s way, the bride wrote to Count Hans Juergen von Blumenthal, who was best man at their wedding, that „life is getting to be nicer every day.“

From Bonn, the scene of their marriage, the couple went for a honeymoon to Norderney. Stopping at the Mecklenburg estate of Count Blumenthal, they talked over possibilities and incidents that might occur when they arrived at Oels castle, near Breslau, where Wilhelm was to introduce his wife to his parents.

With some fear and trepidation, Dorothea afterwards confided, she unpacked her trunk in the room to which the young couple was ushered and wondered just how the first meeting would be, when in came the Crown Princess, who threw her arms about her, kissed her fondly, and told her to call her mother. That broke the ice.

As an outward sign of reconciliation, Cecile handed her as a belated wedding gift the costly jewels–huge aquamarines–given her by the former Kaiser Wilhelm II and the late Kaiserin Auguste Viktoria when she bore her first son, Wilhelm, now Dorothea’s husband.

The Crown Prince, entering a few moments later, also embraced his young daughter-in-law affectionately.

Princess Dorothea gave the earrings to her eldest daughter Princess Felicitas who was born 7 June 1932 in the Villa Salviati in Bonn.
Princess Dorothea wears the aquamarine and diamond drop earrings and a large cluster brooch in the picture on top.

And at the christening of Felicitas with her father-in-law, seen on the right, she wore a large cluster brooch, very similar to the Aquamarine clusters (worn as brooches, bracelet and choker) of Queen Luise of Prussia – but this is not solved. These jewels were the heritage of the famous Queen Luise, not part of the crown jewels, as well as part of the House Jewels, with which the King and Kaiser could do what he wanted.

As Crown Princess Cecile did not have pierced ears she wore the earrings with screw fittings, which explains the later modifications to the earrings as indicated in the auction catalogue.

A pair of aquamarine and diamond earrings, early 20th century; each open work pendant set with a mixed-cut aquamarine, within a frame of rose diamonds, later hinged post fittings, six rose diamonds deficient.

The German Crown Princess Cecile, Duchess zu Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1886-1954), Princess Dorothea of Prussia (1907-1972), her daughter-in-law and thence by descent. Sold at auction in 2015 for £8,125.

Quellen: Preussen.de;Morgenpost 1933; The TIMES;Washington Post;Sotheby’s;