Kate, Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla always wear statement jewels for important royal events, many of which are family heirlooms.
While the Royal Family’s extensive collection contains pieces from around the world, the most famous ones have historical significance.
Queen Mother, the grandmother of King Charles, was iconic for her personal jewels. She wore tiaras, necklaces, and earrings designed by prestigious brands like Cartier, leaving behind a lasting legacy.
Since Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, who often paid tribute to her mother’s style, many of the intricately detailed accessories have been passed down to Princess Kate and Queen Camilla.
Although these pieces are not worn frequently, they have provided some of the most distinguished style moments for the modern royals, such as the Greville Festoon necklace and tiara.
Greville festoon necklace and Greville tiara
The Greville Festoon necklace, crafted by Cartier, was gifted to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, in 1942 by Margaret Greville, a wealthy society figure. This diamond necklace is one of the most intricately designed pieces in the British royal collection. It consists of five detachable rows, originally made with two rows and three additional rows added later.
The matching Greville Tiara, also bequeathed by Margaret Greville, could not be publicly worn by the Queen Mother until 1947 due to the ongoing war. Eventually, it made its debut during the Royal Family’s Tour of South Africa and was worn on various occasions, including state visits and diplomatic receptions.
Upon the Queen Mother’s passing, both the necklace and tiara were passed to Queen Elizabeth II. They have been on long-term loan to Queen Camilla since then.
Queen Camilla first wore the Greville Tiara publicly at a Brazilian state banquet in 2006. Since then, she has worn it for most Tiara events, including state banquets and diplomatic receptions.
Sapphire fringe earrings
Another notable piece from the Queen Mother’s collection is the sapphire fringe earrings. These statement jewels feature large sapphires surrounded by diamonds, with diamond fringes suspended in an Art Deco design.
The Queen Mother started wearing them in the 1960s and bequeathed them to Queen Elizabeth II upon her death.
The late Queen did not wear the sapphire earrings, along with many other inherited jewels. However, they made an appearance when Kate, Princess of Wales wore them at the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala in 2015.
More recently, she wore them at the Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey in December 2022.
Queen Alexandra’s wedding necklace
Among the variety of jewels given to the Queen Mother by Queen Mary after her husband’s accession to the throne in 1936, the bespoke diamond and pearl necklace stands out. This necklace, along with Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara, became a favorite of the Queen Mother after the war and the death of her husband. She frequently paired it with her Greville Tiara for various events.
Featuring a delicate band of diamonds with eight large pearl pendants and three smaller drop pearls, the unique piece remained unworn for decades after Queen Elizabeth II inherited it. However, Princess Kate showcased it at the state banquet for the King and Queen of the Netherlands at Buckingham Palace in 2018. She paired the necklace with Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara and Princess Diana’s Collingwood Pearl Earrings, highlighting the pearls in each jewel.
According to the Royal Watcher, it is the “oldest royal jewel loaned to the Duchess yet” and has not made a recent appearance since then.