Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and United States secretary of the treasury, Steven Mnuchin arrive through the East Gallery for a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in June 2019, in London, England. Photo: Getty Images
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5 of Kate Middleton’s most expensive royal jewellery, from Princess Diana’s engagement ring given to her by Prince William to Queen Elizabeth’s Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara borrowed for her wedding day
- The Duchess of Cambridge has access to some of the most extravagant bling from the royal jewellery collection, like the jaw-dropping US$80 million Nizam of Hyderabad necklace designed by Cartier
- She’s worn the Delhi Durbar emerald choker, which was originally a gift from the Maharani of Patiala to Queen Mary, and donned the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara that once belonged to Princess Diana
Kate Middleton has worn some of the most beautiful heirlooms in the royal jewellery collection. Photos: Getty Images, WireImage
Being part of the British royal family has many privileges – one of them being having access to the royal vault. Over the past decade, Kate Middleton has made headlines for her impeccable styling every time she graces a social event or a gala dinner with stunning jewels, many of which are royal heirlooms.
Here are five of the most expensive jewellery pieces the Duchess of Cambridge has been spotted wearing.
1. Nizam of Hyderabad necklace – over US$80 million
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends The Portrait Gala 2014: Collecting to Inspire wearing the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace at National Portrait Gallery in February 2014, in London, England. Photo: Getty Images
Jewellery aficionados would know that the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace is one of the royal’s most expensive pieces. With an estimated price of more than US$80 million, the Cartier-designed necklace was gifted to Queen Elizabeth (then Princess Elizabeth) as a wedding gift from the Nizam in 1947, per British media. In the book The Queen’s Diamonds, the detachable necklace was described to have 38 brilliant-cut open-back collets, 13 emerald-cut diamonds and a sparkling centre diamond piece in a pear shape.
The 41-year-old duchess was first seen donning the extravagant accessory during the Portrait Gala in 2014, per The Court Jeweller.
2. Delhi Durbar emerald choker – US$20 million
Kate Middleton attends The Earthshot Prize at MGM Music Hall at Fenway in December 2022, in Boston, Massachusetts. Photo: WireImage
Not everyone can pull off bright green, but Middleton did when she attended the Earthshot Prize 2022 wearing a maxi dress in the eye-catching hue paired with the Delhi Durbar emerald choker. According to Regal Fille, the choker is worth US$20 million, and was originally a gift from the Maharani of Patiala to Queen Mary. Previously a 16-cabochon emerald choker, the sparkling piece was modified and currently has 14 cabochon emeralds set in platinum, reports the same source.
3. Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara – US$1.5 million
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge waves as she travels in the 1902 State Landau carriage on the procession route along The Mall to Buckingham Palace after her wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey in April 2011, in London, England. Photo: Getty Images
When Kate tied the knot with Prince William in 2011, she wore the Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara that Queen Elizabeth had lent her, per Town & Country magazine. Featuring 739 brilliant-cut diamonds and 149 baguette-cut diamonds, per British media, the tiara is said to give off a halo of light, which explains the origin of its name and steep value of more than US$1.5 million, as estimated by She Knows. Also according to British media, the diadem was originally given to Queen Elizabeth by Queen Elizabeth I (later known as the Queen Mother) on her 18th birthday in 1944.
4. Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara – US$1 million
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attends the annual Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace in December 2015, in London, England. Photo: Getty Images
With a history spanning more than a century, the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara was commissioned for Queen Mary in 1913, who later passed it down to Queen Elizabeth, per Vogue. The tiara was then gifted to Princess Diana, who returned it after her divorce from then Prince Charles, according to Town & Country magazine. It was first publicly spotted on Middleton in 2015 when she wore it to Buckingham Palace, states the same source.
Made of gold and silver, the tiara features 19 hanging pearls and was crafted by the House of Garrard. It has an estimated value of US$1.2 million, per Cambridge News.
5. Princess Diana’s 12-carat sapphire engagement ring – US$675,000
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watches Great Britain Mixed Coxed Four Rowing LTAMix4+ team celebrate after winning gold on day four of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Eton Dorney in September 2012, in Windsor, England. Photo: Getty Images
All eyes were on Middleton’s finger when her engagement to Prince William was first announced; after all, it was difficult to miss the 12-carat sapphire engagement ring that had originally belonged to Princess Diana, as reported by Elle. The statement piece features 14 diamonds surrounding the sapphire stone, and has a value of more than US$675,000, per She Knows.