One thing you need to know about the British Royal family: they love their sparkling jewelry. For many decades, the family has gathered a startling amount of jewelry over the years — especially when Queen Elizabeth II was alive.
We know two things: Elizabeth loved her corgis, and she loved rocking dazzling jewelry that had jaw-dropping price tags. In fact, her collection of jewelry was so vast, that she was later known for loaning many of her pieces out to members of the Royal Family. Within the last decade of her life, she often gave these pieces to Kate Middleton.
Whether it was brooches or multi-million dollar necklaces, Kate has been seen many times wearing jewelry from Elizabeth’s collection. Over the years, Kate has put her own spin on it, using this jewelry as a way to honor her beloved grandmother-in-law.
While we know many of the jewels were before Elizabeth, and even before the Queen Mother, we’re not talking about those. We’re going to talk about the times Kate rocked a piece of jewelry that was first owned by Elizabeth. Below, check out every single time Kate honored her late grandmother-in-law by wearing her jewelry to big occasions.
A version of this article was originally published on May 2023.
The Silver Jubilee Pearl Earrings
While Kate Middleton has donned the late Queen’s beloved Silver Jubilee Pearl Earrings multiple times, it was extra special when she wore them as a tribute on the anniversary of the Queen’s death in Sept 2023.
The George VI Festoon Necklace
Most recently, Kate Middleton paid a subtle tribute to Queen Elizabeth II by donning the George VI Festoon Necklace in her Coronation outfit. For those that don’t know, this necklace was commissioned back by King George VI to be gifted to Elizabeth, per Queen’s Jewel Vault.
She wore it many times before she died, and it’s said to be made with 105 loose collet diamonds.
The New Zealand Fern Brooch
Yes, we got another brooch moment! The New Zealand Fern Brooch was gifted to Queen Elizabeth II back in the early 1950s by Lady Allum. As the wife of the Mayor of Auckland, she gifted this to Elizabeth on “behalf of the women of Auckland,” per Court Jeweller. She often wore the brooch to New Zealand-based or related events.
She loaned it to Kate Middleton for the first time back in 2014 during her visit to Australia!
The Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings
One of Queen Elizabeth’s most beloved pieces of jewelry was the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings that she was gifted on her wedding day. She wore it many times, and even loaned it to Princess Diana and Kate Middleton. Kate Middleton became the only one to wear them starting in 2016, per Court Jeweller.
According to Cheat Sheet, they are said to be around $10,500.
The Emerald Tassel Earrings
We don’t see emeralds enough in the British Royal family, so we always love seeing the iconic Emerald Tassel earrings make an appearance! It was part of a set that was suspected to be a gift to Queen Elizabeth II from the Middle East, and she wore it a couple of times before she died, per Queen’s Jewel Vault.
It was loaned to Kate Middleton during her and Prince William’s trip to Jamaica.
The Pearl and Diamond Leaf Brooch
Queen Elizabeth II was definitely known for her wide brooch collection, with one of the most iconic being the Pearl and Diamond Leaf Brooch that debuted in 1999, per Queen’s Jewel Vault. Kate Middleton wore it multiple times, with many believing it was more of a gifted piece of jewelry rather than a loan. She wore it for the first time in 2017 and most recently for Elizabeth’s funeral.
Queen’s Three Strand Pearl Necklaces
One of Queen Elizabeth II’s most-worn jewelry pieces of all time was her iconic Three Strand Pearl Necklaces. There are many conflicting reports about when and where she originally got this piece of jewelry, but all agree it was gifted to her. Kate Middleton honored Elizabeth by wearing the same necklace during her Platinum Jubilee.
Per Market List, it is said to be around $5.7 million.
Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace
Per the Queen’s Jewel Vault, the Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace is part of a set that was a wedding gift to Queen Elizabeth II in 1947, and it is one of the most expensive pieces in the royal vault. It’s reportedly worth up to $121 million. Elizabeth wore it many times over the decades, and Kate Middleton wore it twice in 2014 for the National Portrait Gallery Gala and again in Dec 2019.
The Four-Row Japanese Pearl Choker
One of Queen Elizabeth II’s most iconic necklaces is the Four-Row Japanese Pearl Choker, which she commissioned in the 1970s and to be done with the “finest cultured pearls presented to her by the Japanese government,” and the first time she wore it in public was in 1982, per the Queen’s Jewel Vault. It is said to be valued at around $29,000.
Kate Middleton has worn this necklace on multiple occasions, with the most recent time being at Elizabeth’s State Funeral.
Greville Ruby Floral Bandeau Necklace
In 1907, Mrs Greville commissioned the Greville Ruby Floral Bandeau Necklace and it was later inherited to Queen Elizabeth in 1942. Elizabeth often wore this necklace in the 1950s, and fast forward to 2017, when Kate Middleton wore it to the Spanish State Visit, per Royal Watcher.
Greville Chandelier Earrings
Another inherited piece was the Greville Chandelier Earrings, which Queen Elizabeth II wore quite a few times throughout her life. They were renovated many times over the years, and at one point, Elizabeth even had to pierce her ears to wear them, per The Court Jeweller.
Kate Middleton has later worn it a couple times, most recently at the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace on Dec 5, 2023.
Silver Jubilee Diamond and Pearl Earrings
Queen Elizabeth II famously donned the Silver Jubilee Diamond and Pearl Earrings on her Silver Jubilee in 1977, and a few times after that. However, Kate Middleton has worn these earrings so many times over the years, at least 10 times since 2016, per Town and Country.
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