GENEVA, October 29, 2026 — The coming auction of historic jewels linked to Europe’s royal and noble families has caused anger in Sweden as experts decry the sale of Princess Birgitta’s personal collection.
Auction Dates and Valuations
The Sotheby’s Royal & Noble Jewels auction is scheduled to take place on November 11 in Geneva. Among the lots offered is a sapphire and diamond demi-parure that once belonged to Princess Sibylla, the mother of Sweden’s current king. The suite is estimated to sell for $515k to $850k AUD.
The King’s Conservative Stance
King Carl XVI Gustaf is understood to be considering purchasing the jewels during the auction to ensure they remain with the royal family. Editor in chief of Svensk Damtidning, Johan T Lindwall, stated that selling his mother’s jewellery at auction goes against everything the king stands for. Herman Lindqvist called the sale inappropriate and noted that personal valuables tied to personal memories should not be sold that way.
A Legacy of Sapphire Stones
The sapphires were most recently seen at the royal weddings of Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Madeleine in 2010 and 2013 respectively. The jewelry was worn by King Carl XVI Gustaf’s older sister Princess Birgitta, who died in 2024 aged 87. Before the sapphires were set into the necklace and earrings, the loose stones belonged to Tsarina Maria Feodorovna, the mother of Russia’s last Tsar Nicholas II.
Private Property Confirmed
They came into the Swedish royal family’s collection when Sibylla married Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden in 1932. Margareta Thorgren, director of the information and press department for the Royal Court, confirmed the jewels are private property and not state or foundation property. The auction also includes other six pieces owned by Princess Sibylla and Princess Birgitta including a diamond and pink sapphire brooch, two bracelets and three rings.
Family Perspectives on Heritage
Princess Christina, the other sister of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Princess Birgitta, has not commented directly on the upcoming auction. However, she has previously spoken about the importance of royal jewellery in a 2020 documentary titled Kungliga Smycken, which aired on SVT. In that interview, she emphasized that heirlooms are more than mere decorations. She stated, “It’s not just bling-bling in your hair, but you’re wearing something that is really a tradition, something that has been brought over from previous generations that we wear with pride and joy.” Christina added that it is vital to recognize that these items represent history and family lineage rather than simply being objects that sparkle.
This sentiment contrasts sharply with the reaction of experts in Sweden regarding the specific sale. Johan T Lindwall, editor in chief of Swedish magazine Svensk Damtidning, noted that selling his mother’s jewellery at auction goes against everything the king stands for. He suggested it was very likely the king himself will buy back his mother’s jewellery due to its great sentimental value. Meanwhile, commentator Herman Lindqvist described the sale as inappropriate, arguing that personal valuables tied to personal memories should not be sold in that way. Lindqvist believed such transactions could instead be done more discreetly and privately.
The decision to auction these items rests on the fact that the jewels are private property, not state or foundation property. Margareta Thorgren, director of the information and press department for the Royal Court, confirmed this distinction. While Birgitta’s family had the legal choice to auction them, the emotional weight remains significant. The King was reportedly caught off guard when news broke that jewellery once owned by his sister is heading to auction. Experts believe he was blindsided by the decision, as selling heirlooms from Princess Sibylla and Princess Birgitta contradicts the conservative values he is understood to uphold.
Sources
- Auction of royal jewels ‘inappropriate’ and ‘against everything the king stands for’
- King Carl Gustaf Is Reportedly Upset About Auction of His Family’s Heirloom Jewelry
Photo: Bengt Nyman from Vaxholm, Sweden (CC BY 2.0)
