While Hollywood stars have always had enviable jewellery collections, they are pretty measly when you compare their collections to that of royalty. Living as a royal means you are constantly surrounded by opulence and luxury. Who could forget Cleopatra and her penchant for enchanting green emerald jewellery or Louis the 14th and his impressive collection of bejewelled diadems, crowns and swords? The family heirlooms of history’s high and mighty are enough to put your grandmother's pearls or your great aunt’s brooch to shame. But while most royals and dignitaries boast a hearty selection of crown jewels that have been handed down to their ancestors for centuries, none are perhaps as legendary as the British monarchy's famed jewellery collection.
With a collection that dates back to the early 16th century, the British Royal Family is synonymous with their hefty jewellery. With around 300 pieces in Queen Elizabeth II’s collection alone, a further dozen in the Princess Diana’s and many more owned by some of the lower ranking royals, the items in the British Royal Family’s collection are pretty much as famous as they are. From tiaras once worn by the Queen’s grandmother, Queen Mary and the bespoke diamond jewellery crafted from pieces sported by Prince Albert to the Duchess of Cambridge’s lust-worthy diamond and sapphire engagement ring. In honour of Queen Elizabeth II becoming the world’s longest reigning monarch, we are unpacking our favourite pieces from the Queen's jewellery collection and other royals within the British Monarchy.
Overview:
- Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara
- The Five-Row Pearl Choker
- Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring
- Queen Mary’s Ruby & Diamond Stud Earrings
- Queen Alexandra’s Diamond Drop Earrings
- Princess Mary Adelaide’s Ruby & Diamond Engagement Ring
- Meghan Markle's Diamond Bracelet & The Queen’s Bandeu Tiara
- The Queen's Emerald & Diamond Drop Earrings
- The Queen’s Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring
- The Imperial State Crown
Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara
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As one of the most influential royal families in the world, it only makes sense that they would claim ownership on an array of tiaras, diadems and crowns. One of the go-to hair accessories for the royals at their overly extravagant events is the Lover’s Knot Tiara. Set in silver and white gold jewellery, the Lover’s Knot tiara consists of over 19 hanging teardrop-shaped pearls. The tiara is also adorned with over 180 carats worth of pear-shaped and brilliant-round cut diamonds which we guarantee makes this piece no less easy on the neck. Commissioned by Queen Mary in 1913, the fabulous tiara was designed by Garrad, the official jeweller for the crown at the time. It was eventually handed down to Mary’s granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II and would let Diana, the Princess of Wales wear its own occasion and is now known to lend it to the Duchess of Cambridge.
Margaret's Five-Row Pearl Choker
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Pearl jewellery is symbolic of elegance, wisdom and perfection, so it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of pearl-adorned pieces in the British Royal Family’s jewellery collection. Pearl necklaces in particular have been a favourite among not only the older royals, but some of the younger ones as well. Queen Elizabeth II’s glamorous younger sister, the late Princess Margaret was known to sport an extremely stylish pearl choker. Boasting five rows of pearls and an art-deco-inspired diamond clasp that was originally a brooch owned by her grandmother Queen Mary, Margaret was given the choker to commemorate her 18th birthday. The piece was clearly beloved by the spare heir as she was frequently spotted wearing it and often accessorised it with matching pearl bracelets and earrings. Following her death in 2002, the piece was sold at auction for a whopping £276,800 (around $488,000 Australian dollars).
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Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring
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Arguably, the most famous pieces of royal jewellery (bar the crown jewels) is Princess Diana’s diamond and sapphire ring. Given to her by the Prince of Wales Charles following their engagement in 1981, the ring is one of the most widely-recognised engagement rings in the world. Boasting a rare blue 12-carat oval sapphire that is surrounded by 14 round-cut diamonds on an 18ct white gold solitaire band, Lady Diana is said to have hand selected the gemstone engagement ring due to its resemblance to her own mother’s engagement ring and because it complimented her doughy blue eyes. The ring is said to only have cost Charles around £28,500, although, experts argue today that it would be pretty much priceless due to its famous owner. Designed by Garrad, the ring now lives on with Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge who received the ring when Prince William proposed to her at the tail end of 2010. The future Queen Kate is also known to wear a matching pair of sapphire earrings and a sapphire pendant to emphasise her eye-catching ring.
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Queen Mary’s Diamond & Ruby Earrings
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The royals are known for their love affair with coloured gemstone jewellery and naturally, that love extends to ruby jewellery. The July birthstone, rubies are often associated with wealth and prosperity and as a result, are a favourite among many members of the Royal Family past and present. One royal that was particularly known for her adoration of ruby jewellery was Queen Mary, so much so that the former queen even received a pair of stud earrings adorned with the luscious red stone from her husband Kind George V as a 59th birthday present. Featuring an oval vibrantly coloured ruby that is surrounded by nine brilliant round-cut diamonds in a design that is similar to Lady Diana’s engagement ring. Following Mary’s death, the ruby earrings were inherited by her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II who is known to sport these earrings with a ruby necklace as well as two ruby tiaras.
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Queen Alexandra's Diamond Drop Earrings
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