Queen Elizabeth’s most sentimental jewellery: her diamond engagement ring from Prince Philip’s mum and favourite Cartier earrings from the queen mother
- The late Duke of Edinburgh gave her diamonds from his mother’s tiara, while her father King George VI inspired her pearl necklace ‘uniform’
- The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara and the Cullinan III and IV brooch were from grandmother Queen Mary – she refers to the latter as ‘Granny’s chips’
Here are the queen’s most prized items of jewellery.
Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara – from her grandmother
This item was paid for by a group of women lead by Lady Eva Greville (hence the name) in 1893, before Elizabeth’s grandmother Queen Mary took the throne. The tiara originally had large pearls as an embellishment, but they were removed at the request of Queen Mary. The striking item was refashioned in the Cambridge Lovers’ Knot style – seen on various items in the royal collection.
Elizabeth’s mother, the queen mother, then handed down the crown to her as wedding gift. The piece is said to be Queen Elizabeth’s favourite of all those in her collection, which together with her fine art and property portfolio makes her the wealthiest queen in the world with a fortune that runs into the billions of pounds. (There are richer kings, however.)
Cullinan III and IV brooch – from her grandmother
Another item that Queen Elizabeth received from her grandmother – this time directly when she passed away in 1953 – was the Cullinan III and IV Brooch by Joseph Asscher and Co. Made from a pear-shaped diamond of 94.4 metric carats and a cushion-shaped stone of 63.6 carats, Queen Mary had the brooch made in 1911 and her granddaughter affectionately refers to it as “Granny’s chips”.
Three-strand pearl necklace – from her father