Since their introductions into the royal family, Kate Middleton (now the Duchess of Cambridge) and Meghan Markle (now the Duchess of Sussex) have been loaned many precious jewels.
From glittering tiaras on their wedding days to diamond-studded brooches, earrings dug up from the archives and even historical necklaces, the Queen’s jewel vault has been good to the duchesses.
But in addition to the royal family’s pieces, both sisters-in-law have also received some items from the personal collection of their late mother-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales.
“I would like you to allocate all my jewellery to the share to be held by my sons, so that their wives may, in due course, have it or use it,” Diana wrote in her will. “I leave the exact division of the jewellery to your discretion.”
So far, the split of the jewellery has been fairly even—Kate received her famous sapphire engagement ring, while the aquamarine ring went to Meghan; Kate was given her matching sapphire earrings, while Meghan chose her more everyday butterfly studs.
Take a look back at everything Meghan and Kate have worn so far.
Diana’s South-Sea Pearl Earrings
At the 2019 BAFTAs, Kate Middleton wore Diana’s “South-Sea Pearl Earrings,” a favourite of hers throughout the 90s. The diamond-knot earrings suspend a large set of south-sea pearls. Kate wore them with the pearls swapped out for a smaller pair from the Collingwood suite.
Diana’s Sapphire Engagement Ring
After Diana’s passing, rumour has it that William selected her Cartier watch from among her possessions to keep, while Harry chose her engagement ring. When it came to proposing to his then-girlfriend, Kate Middleton, William reportedly swapped with Harry so that she could have the sapphire. The original ring was picked out of a Gerrard’s catalogue by a 19-year-old Lady Diana Spencer.
Diana’s Three-Strand Pearl Bracelet
During the Cambridge’s 2017 tour of Germany, Kate brought out Diana’s three-strange pearl bracelet, which was part of her pearl collection.
Diana’s Butterfly Earrings
While out in Sydney, Meghan wore a pair of Diana’s everyday earrings—a pair of golden butterflies inset with blue stones and diamonds.
Diana’s Gold-And-Blue-Stone Bracelet
Along with her butterfly earrings, Meghan also wore the Princess’ gold-and-blue-stone open bracelet.
Diana’s Sapphire Earrings
As a wedding gift, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia reportedly gave Diana an entire suite of sapphire jewellery that included her iconic sapphire choker. Kate’s sapphire-drop earrings, which match her engagement ring, are reportedly a pair of Diana’s that have been re-set.
Diana’s Collingwood Pearl Earrings
When Lady Diana married Prince Charles, her family jewellers, Collingwood Jewellers, gifted her with a suite including a set of pearl-drop earrings. Kate regularly wears them.
Diana’s Aquamarine Ring
According to legend, Diana commissioned this aquamarine ring from jeweller Asprey after her divorce. Harry gifted the emerald-cut ring to his bride as a wedding gift and she was worn it twice since.
Diana’s Saudi Sapphire Necklace
When welcoming the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena to Buckingham Palace, Kate Middleton wore a new necklace that is believed to have come from the late Princess Diana. The piece, which had never been seen before, features a sapphire surrounded by diamonds and is suspected to date back to 1981 when Diana was gifted a set of sapphire and diamond jewellery by the Saudi royal family as a wedding gift.
Diana’s Cartier Watch
Releasing new portraits ahead of appearing on an episode of Time100 Talks, the Duchess of Sussex was spotted wearing Princess Diana’s gold Cartier Tank Française watch, a piece the late Princess of Wales regularly wore to royal engagements.
In May 2021, Meghan turned to the iconic piece once again when appearing at Global Citizen’s Vax Live: The Concert To Reunite The World, where she delivered a speech about the long-term impact the pandemic will have on women and especially women of colour.
“My husband and I are thrilled to soon be welcoming a daughter. It’s a feeling of joy we share with millions of other families around the world,” she said at the event. “When we think of her, we think of all the young women and girls around the globe who must be given the ability and support to lead us forward.”
The watch was reportedly a gift from Diana’s father, the 8th Earl Spencer.
Meghan has previously spoken about the significance of her own Cartier Tank watch, purchasing herself a two-tone version after Suits got picked up for a third season.
Speaking to Hello! in 2015, the then-actress said: “I’ve always coveted the Cartier French Tank watch. When I found out Suits had been picked up for our third season—which, at the time, felt like such a milestone—I totally splurged and bought the two-tone version. I had it engraved on the back, ‘To M.M. From M.M.’ and I plan to give it to my daughter one day. That’s what makes pieces special, the connection you have to them.”
Diana’s Nigel Milne Pearl Bracelet
While the Duchess of Cambridge made an appearance at the G7 Summit, a gathering of officials from seven of the world’s largest economies, the royal opted to wear a very sentimental piece of jewellery. Kate Middleton was spotted wearing a three-strand, pearl and diamond bracelet that once belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, crafted by designer Nigel Milne. Famously, the late Princess of Wales would regularly pair the stunning piece with the iconic Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara, which Kate is often seen wearing for special occasions.
It’s also not the first time the royal mum-of-three has been spotted in the piece, previously wearing it during a 2017 reception in Berlin and again in 2018 alongside husband Prince William during their royal tour of Sweden.
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