As the Princess of Wales, Catherine’s role involves attending numerous prestigious diplomatic receptions, and with these events comes the expectation of dressing in glamorous, eye-catching attire.
Since her marriage to Prince William in 2011, she has had the honor of wearing some of the Royal Family’s most exquisite jewelry, including tiaras, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, many of which were lent to her by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth II was known for sharing her cherished jewels with her granddaughter-in-law, a tradition that King Charles III has continued. However, since the Queen’s passing, there has been much speculation about the future of her iconic collection of jewelry, including her brooches, tiaras, and pearls. These pieces, rich in history and symbolism, are a significant part of the royal heritage.
One of the most anticipated pieces in the royal collection is Queen Elizabeth’s diamond crown, valued at around £800,000. This crown, originally worn by the Queen on several significant occasions, is an iconic symbol of her reign. It was originally reset with jewels from the royal collection for Queen Victoria, making it one of the rarest and most valuable items in the Crown Jewels.
Princess Catherine has already worn some of the most famous pieces from the royal collection. For example, the stunning *Nizam of Hyderabad* necklace, adorned with diamonds, was a wedding gift to the late Queen Elizabeth from the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1947. Catherine has also been seen wearing the four-strand pearl necklace at the Queen’s funeral and at other events, honoring the late monarch. During a Buckingham Palace reception in September 2022, Catherine paid tribute to the Queen by wearing her favorite accessory—a triple strand of pearls, created specifically for the Queen shortly after her accession to the throne in 1952.
One of Catherine’s most memorable moments was at her wedding in 2011, where she wore the Queen’s *Cartier Halo Tiara*, crafted from diamonds and platinum in 1936. This tiara had been a favorite in the family for years, first purchased by the Duke of York (later King George VI) for his Duchess. Catherine has also donned the famous *Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara*, a piece beloved by the late Princess Diana. This tiara, commissioned by Queen Mary in 1913, features pearls suspended in a diamond lover’s knot design and has become an iconic piece associated with the Princess of Wales title.
Catherine has continued to wear pieces from the Queen’s collection on various occasions, such as the *Bin Pearl Drop Earrings* during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, as well as sapphire and diamond earrings that once belonged to the Queen Mother. On other occasions, she has sparkled in diamond chandelier earrings and bracelets borrowed from Queen Elizabeth, further underscoring her deep admiration for the late monarch and the legacy of royal jewelry.
It is believed that Queen Elizabeth carefully curated a catalog before her death, dictating which pieces of her extensive jewelry collection would be passed down to her relatives. Given that Catherine is set to one day become Queen, she is likely to inherit several of these treasured pieces. This tradition of recording and passing down royal jewels dates back to Queen Alexandra, who, upon her death in 1925, left detailed instructions for the distribution of her collection.
As Catherine prepares for her highly anticipated return to a glamorous royal event later this year, royal enthusiasts are eagerly speculating about which pieces of the royal jewelry collection she will wear. The event, one of the most significant diplomatic gatherings of the year, is the perfect opportunity for Catherine to dazzle in both her attire and jewelry, continuing her role as a fashion icon and a symbol of royal grace and poise.
