Many women in the royal family have been gifted necklaces, tiaras, and earrings from the Queen while other items have been on loan
Royal Family members have been stepping out during the national mourning period wearing sentimental pieces of jewellery in tribute to the Queen following her death. Many of the female royals have accessorised their black mourning outfits with pearl earrings and necklaces – many of which used to belong to the late monarch.
At Monday’s state funeral, the Princess of Wales wore a specially selected statement pearl necklace that belonged to the Queen and was previously borrowed to wear during the sovereign’s 70th wedding anniversary dinner. The Four Row Japanese choker is adorned with a central diamond clasp in a signature oval shape.
Each side of the clasp boasts three rows of diamonds that come together at the top and bottom with marquise diamonds. Similarly to Meghan Markle who wore gifted pearls to the funeral, Kate also wore diamond and pearl studs which were a gift from the Queen in 2018.
And before then, to a visit at Sandringham, the mother-of-three also donned an earring and necklace pearl set that she was granted on a long-term loan.
But what will now happen to all of the Queen’s jewellery following her passing?
The precious royal jewels bode huge historic significance and are passed down from generation to generation of kings and queens.
Many of Her Majesty’s beloved pieces had belonged to Queen Mary, who gifted a large majority of her collection to her eldest granddaughter.
However seeing as royal wills are kept private, there is no knowing for definite who exactly will inherit which pieces belonging to the Queen, but it is likely the royal members will be pictured sporting them in the following weeks and months.
Meanwhile, the collection differs from the sacred Crown Jewels, which are ceremonial objects held in a trust by the monarch and are kept in the Tower of London. These are only worn at coronations and during the State Opening of Parliament.
Here, we take a look at the jewels that have been gifted, loaned, and where they could end up among members of the Royal Family…
Queen Consort and King Charles III
The Queen Consort wore Queen Victoria’s Hesse Diamond Jubilee Brooch(Image: Getty Images)
It is understood the new King will inherit much of the Queen’s jewellery collection(Image: Getty Images)
Many of her most prized possessions will be handed down to the new monarch, King Charles III and his wife, the Queen Consort – due to the hierarchical order.
Her Majesty’s collection is made up of heirlooms belonging to the Crown, such as the magnificent crown placed on her coffin for the procession.
Encrusted with a dazzling array of diamonds with a purple cushioning, it is by far the most staggering piece in the Crown Jewels – and is so heavy the Queen could only wear it on rare occasions.
The Imperial State Crown was originally made for King George VI’s coronation in 1937.
The design was based on the crown worn by Queen Victoria in 1838, adorned with a number of priceless gemstones including the Second Star of Africa, the Black Prince’s Ruby, the Stuart Sapphire and St Edward’s Sapphire.
This will likely be altered for Charles’ own coronation.
The Queen’s assemblage contains the largest of the Cullinan diamonds, along with sentimental pieces of mourning jewellery.
When Camilla married the then Prince Charles, the Queen granted a long-term loan of one of the most precious tiaras in the collection – the diamond and platinum ‘honeycomb’ tiara – which she has worn to official banquets.
It was made by Boucheron in 1921 for Dame Margaret Greville – a close friend of Queen Mary – who handed over around 60 pieces to the Queen Mother.
And when she died, they were passed to the Queen.
Furthermore, Camilla’s engagement ring is already an heirloom originally belonging to the Queen Mother, while she has been pictured recently donning a turquoise and diamond brooch that also belonged to the Queen.
And on Monday for the funeral, the Queen Consort wore Queen Victoria’s Hesse Diamond Jubilee Brooch – with diamonds in the shape of an open heart and two sapphire pendants.
Princess Anne
Princess Anne isn’t a fan of big jewels, but kept with tradition and wore a tiara on her wedding day(Image: PA)
Beatrice also wore the tiara on her wedding day(Image: Benjamin Wheeler via Getty Image)
The Queen’s only daughter doesn’t usually wear flashy jewels, but she has chosen to wear a few pieces from the Queen’s collection over the years, including the Garrard Diamond Fringe tiara, which was leant to her on her wedding day to Captain Mark Phillips.
The prized tiara was also leant to Princess Beatrice in 2020 for her Windsor wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
Princess Royal and her mother shared the same admiration for British jewellery designer Andrew Grima, according to the Telegraph.
The late monarch owned a Grima gold, diamond and ruby brooch by the designer, gifted to her by Prince Philip, while Anne received a pair of pearl, gold and diamond earrings by the same name.
Therefore it would be no surprise for that particular brooch to be passed on to the royal daughter.
Princess of Wales
Kate wore many pieces of jewellery in honour of the late Queen during the National period of Mourning(Image: REUTERS)
Her Majesty allowed Kate access to the royal jewellery vaults on many occasions.
The Princess of Wales has a range of long-term loans – including pearl earrings and a necklace she recently wore in mourning.
She has been pictured donning the Lover’s Knot tiara, which she first borrowed in 2015.
The lavish pearl and diamond tiara was created in 1914 for Queen Mary before it was handed down to her granddaughter, before being passed to Lady Diana as a wedding gift.
Following Diana’s death, the tiara returned to the collection, where it is likely to be inherited by King Charles, who is bound to continue to loan it to Kate.
Meanwhile, one of the most lavish jewels she borrowed was the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace, made by Cartier in 1935, which boasts 300 diamonds.
Her mother-in-law wore the coveted necklace during her official accession portrait in 1952.
Kate also is keeping hold of a number of brooches and was seen wearing a diamond and pearl leaf brooch on the day of the Queen’s funeral.
Countess of Wessex
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, has worn a handful of pieces from the Queen’s collection(Image: REUTERS)
Prince Edward’s wife has also been able to enjoy access to the royal vault of treasures.
She wore a diamond tiara from the private collection on her wedding day in 1999 while she borrowed her mother-in-law’s Aquamarine Ribbon tiara on a handful of occasions, along with some other necklaces.
The Countess is said to be a “favourite” of the Queen, so it is likely Charles III will allow her to continue to loan items that once meant something to Her Majesty.
For the monarch’s funeral, Sophie wore a custom coat dress that incorporated Lily of the Valley flowers – Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite flower.
Duchess of Sussex
Meghan wore the pearls gifted to her for the Queen’s fuenral(Image: Tim Merry)
Like other female royals, Meghan wore a low-key set of pearl earrings to the Queen’s funeral, which had been gifted to her by Her Majesty when she joined the Royal Family.
The Duchess of Sussex sported the earrings on her first joint engagement with the Queen in 2018, when they opened a new bridge in Cheshire.
In her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duchess said: “The Queen, for example, has always been wonderful to me. I mean, we had one of our first joint engagements together. She asked me to join her.
“We had breakfast together that morning, and she’d given me a beautiful gift, and I just really loved being in her company.
“She gave me some beautiful pearl earrings and a matching necklace.”
On her wedding day to Harry, the bride wore Queen Mary’s Filigree diamond bandeau tiara, lent to her by Elizabeth II.
More recent pieces of jewellery have been linked to Princess Diana rather than the Queen.
