Why do these British royals wear alphabet necklaces? Princess Diana, Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton all favour pendants with initials – especially their children’s

Mar 1 , 2021

Despite the drama brewing within the British royal family due to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s recently confirmed exodus, the Windsors are still celebrating 2021 with their fair share of good news. The birth of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s son August was soon followed by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s announcement that baby Archie is soon to become an older brother.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced that they’re expecting a second child. Photo: AFP

Just like the rest of us, the royal family loves to mark milestones with a new piece of jewellery that could be passed down to the next generation. The royals, of course, are often gifted with priceless historic gems to commemorate everything from weddings to births. Aside from royal heirlooms and some of the world’s largest diamonds and gems, younger members of the royal family – like Kate Middleton – have also embraced personalised contemporary and demi-fine jewellery to mark the arrival of young princes and princesses.

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Alphabet charms have found their way into both Middleton and Markle’s daily rotation of jewels. Both women wear the names of their loved ones close to their hearts with alphabet necklaces.

The two’s late mother-in-law Princess Diana famously wore a necklace with her own initials in one of her earliest public photographs. The necklace was an important part of the princess’ jewellery collection that she owned since she was a teenager; she wore the piece in the now iconic photo where she sat with two children who attended the nursery where she worked before her marriage to Prince Charles.

The two duchesses have taken inspiration from Diana’s classic style and embraced their own versions of the initial necklace.

Kate Middleton has been spotted on numerous occasions wearing a necklace with three charms with the initials G, C and L engraved, paying homage to her and Prince William’s three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

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The gold necklace is from Irish jewellery brand All the Falling Stars and, according to its website, retails for just €139 (US$170).

Middleton also owns a round gold pendant with the engravings of the letters G, C and L on it. The necklace is from British jeweller Daniella Draper. The duchess often styles these necklaces with more casual looks and wears them layered with multiple thin gold chains.

Meghan Markle also keeps her loved ones close with two gold necklaces that feature little Archie’s initials.

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Markle owns a yellow gold necklace with two mini dog tags engraved with Harry and Archie’s initials. The Zodiac Dog Tag necklace from boutique brand Mini Mini Jewels gets an extra personal touch with the accent of a dainty birthstone. Necklaces with one dog tag start from an affordable US$330.

Another necklace Markle is often seen wearing is the letter A necklace, another ode to her adorable boy. The tiny initial pendant was a gift from Australian jewellery brand Verse Fine Jewellery, and is part of the jeweller’s Love Letters collection crafted in 18 karat yellow gold.

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We’ll soon find out if Princess Eugenie will embrace this royal trend herself and take inspiration from her stylish cousins-in-law.

Markle, meanwhile, will almost certainly add to her charming initials collection with the arrival of her and Harry’s new baby; chic, light and airy designs like those she loves, after all, are quintessentially Californian and a perfect way to mark the birth of the American-born British royal baby.

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Royalty

The Duchess of Sussex is sure to add to her collection of pendants – featuring Prince Harry and son Archie’s initials – once her new baby is born
Will Princess Eugenie take some style cues from her cousins-in-law and do the same for her new son August with husband Jack Brooksbank?