Norway, King Haakon VII and Queen Maud Brooch, 32 x 29mm., crossed ‘H.VII’ and ‘M’ cyphers in gold and blue enamel, surmounted by a crown in gold and red enamel, reverse stamped, ‘D.A. 750’, pin-backed, in David Andersen, Christiania case of issue, test mark to reverse, otherwise extremely fine £600-800

Princess Maud Charlotte Mary Victoria of Wales was the youngest daughter of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. She married Prince Carl of Denmark on 22 July 1896. In June 1905 the Norwegian parliament dissolved Norway’s 91 year old union with Sweden and Prince Carl was offered the throne of an independent Norway - Maud’s link to the British Royal House playing some part in that decision. Accepting the throne, Carl took the name of Haakon VII. King Haakon VII and Queen Maud were crowned in Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim on 22 June 1906. Queen Maud died in 1938 and King Haakon in 1957. Their capital, Oslo, was officially known as Christiania until 1925.