Kate Middleton’s most valuable jewellery, from Princess Diana’s engagement ring to Queen Elizabeth’s US$1 million Lover’s Knot tiara and Royal Family Order brooch
Here we take a look at some of the most jaw-dropping jewellery she has rocked since becoming a royal.
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Queen Mary’s tiara and brooch set: at least US$1 million
Queen Elizabeth loaned Kate Middleton the Lover’s Knot tiara, plus a necklace and earrings, to wear to a state dinner at Buckingham Palace in October 2018. The items were created by Garrard for Queen Mary in 1913 or 1914. The tiara alone is thought to be worth at least US$1 million today.
As if that wasn’t enough, the queen also loaned her Royal Family Order brooch that features a painting of her – said to be the greatest honour a member of the family could receive.
“I can confirm that Her Majesty awarded the Duchess of Cambridge with the Order in 2017,” a spokesperson told Vanity Fair at the time – six years after Kate officially became a member of the royal family.
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Kate’s engagement ring: US$550,000
Although the ring was claimed by Prince Harry after Diana’s death, he gave it to his older brother for his proposal to Kate. William said at the engagement announcement that he gave her the ring because Kate is very special to him, and that it was his way of making sure his mother didn’t miss out on the excitement of the day.
The blue bling is valued at a cool US$550,000 today.
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Queen Mary’s choker-turned-bracelet: US$345,000
Kate has often worn Queen Mary’s diamond chain link choker as a bracelet – including paired with a tiara to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at an October 2015 state dinner. The piece was worn by the queen mother in her 75th birthday official portraits by Norman Parkinson and was loaned to Kate by Queen Elizabeth.
Kate wore it again at a black-tie dinner in Paris, France, in 2017.
It is estimated to be worth a whopping US$345,000.
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Kate’s bracelet: US$275,000
Kate’s white and yellow gold diamond bracelet was a gift from the British royal family after she married William. The piece is part of a set that includes matching earrings, but the bracelet alone is valued at more than US$275,000. The precious piece of jewellery is believed to be a gift from her father-in-law, Prince Charles.
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Kate’s Cartier set: US$160,000
Forget the Olympic rings, Kate stepped out during the 2012 London Olympic Games wearing some stunning hoops of her own. She rocked white, yellow and rose 18k gold intertwined circles on a necklace from Cartier.
The Duchess of Cambridge donned the show-stopping necklace worth US$71,600 again for an evening reception in New York, while she wore the matching earrings at an event in 2016. The set is worth US$160,000.
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“It’s a personal piece which she’s had for some time. It’s not an official Olympic item but it’s appropriate to wear it,” a St James’s Palace spokesperson said of her Olympic appearance.
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- The queen loaned the Duchess of Cambridge some of her most prestigious pieces, including the tiara Garrard made for Queen Mary
- Prince Harry gave his mum’s ring to Prince William for his proposal to Kate, while she wore her own blinging Cartier necklace for the 2012 London Olympic Games