A QUEEN'S JEWELS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 310, 7 January 1908, Page 4

A QUEEN'S JEWELS.

One of the saddest romances in the annals of European royalty is recalled by the repeated announcements of the forthcoming sale of the jewels of the late Queen of the Belgians. These jewels were left to the Queen's eldest daughter, Princess Louise, who, at sixteen, was married to Prince Philip of Saxe-Cobuvg. This unhappy union with a man much older than herself was terminated by her elopement and subsequent incarceration in an asylum, from which she escaped. '1 lie jewels are of great value, and were to be sold to liquidate the Princess' debts. " 1 very much fear," wrote King Leopold, when informed of his daughter's extravagance, " that if my daughter continues to live in this way she will die in poverty." Public opinion in Belgium was greatly shocked by the projected sale, for the treasures include a veil of Brussels point lace costing £4OOO, presented to the late Queen by the women of Belgium on her silver weddingday, and a wonderful diadem, containing 116 brilliants, presented on the same occasion, at a cost of £00(10. Beautiful necklaces, rare brooches, and opal earrings were also distrained on by the Princess' creditors, who, it is said, vainly offered to give them up to her father on payment of £BOOO. One brooch consists of a miniature of the King of the Belgians studded with 500 brilliants and diamonds. The feeling in Belgium has lieen that the jewels presented to the late by the people of the land were intended by both donors and recipient to be ill the nature of heirlooms, and ought not to be allowed to leave the family, and that the diadem in particular ought to be handed down from queen to queen. On the occasion of the divorce proceedings two years ago mention was made of another curious auction sale of the Princess' goods at Nice, when a vast quantity of wearing apparel was iKXight up |>y her husband's agent* as evidence of her extravagance. Counsel said then that the Princess possessed 120 pairs of boot*. 80 umbrellas, 164 hats, and 75 pairs of silk stocking*. The Princess is very tall and fair, and ha* more of the Ooburg look than the Bourlwns from whom she is descended.