The Duchess of Cambridge has inherited many of Elizabeth II’s jewels. However, three of them are real relics that clearly stand out from the rest.
Duchess Catherine at the state banquet, October 23, 2018; Duchess Catherine at the funeral of Prince Philip, Windsor, April 17, 2021; Duchess Catherine at a charity event, London, February 11, 2014
The Duchess of Cambridge’s jewelry box contains a lot of luxurious jewelry, both received as a gift from Prince William and inherited, including from Elizabeth II herself. We decided to recall Kate’s three most expensive jewels, which previously belonged to the Queen.
Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace — £66 million
Duchess Catherine wears the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace during a charity event, London, February 11, 2014
Elizabeth II in the same necklace in the ceremonial portrait, 1953
The necklace of the Nizam of Hyderabad is perhaps the most amazing of all the jewels of Elizabeth II, which passed to Catherine. The necklace is a long chain with 38 diamonds, and in the very center of the decoration are 13 larger emerald—cut diamonds in the shape of pear-shaped drops. Such a generous gift to the British monarch was presented by the ruler of Hyderabad (India) Asaf Jah VII, whose position is called “nizam”. Years later, Elizabeth II gave this relic to Kate Middleton as a wedding gift. It is worth noting that the necklace is considered the most expensive royal jewelry in the world.
The Duchess of Cambridge wears a necklace to special events. So, in 2014, she appeared in it at a charity event at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
Queen Alexandra’s Wedding Necklace — £800,000
Duchess Catherine at the state banquet, October 23, 2018
Duchess Catherine at the state banquet, October 23, 2018
The elegant necklace of Queen Alexandra has great historical significance for the royal family. “The wedding necklace was part of a pair of diamonds and pearls ordered by Edward VII for his future bride, Princess Alexandra of Denmark,” says in an interview Express.co.uk jewelry specialist Daena Borrowman.
This necklace, created by the house of Garrard, consists of eight clusters of pearls surrounded by diamonds and connected by diamond festoons with three removable pendants.
The necklace was also a favorite of the Queen Mother. After her death, it passed to Elizabeth II, but she never wore it. Duchess Catherine became the first after the Queen Mother to appear in public in a necklace.
Japanese Pearl Choker Necklace — £400,000
Elizabeth II wears a pearl choker necklace during a visit to Bangladesh, 1983
Duchess Catherine wears a pearl choker necklace, November 20, 2017
In the 1980s and 1990s, Elizabeth II regularly went out in a choker necklace made of four strands of pearls with diamonds in the center. The stones for making jewelry were presented to the monarch in Japan, and the jewelry design was developed by the same jewelry house Garrard. A couple of times the necklace was worn by Princess Diana, and after her death it remained untouched for a long time. Kate, who has become the new owner of the jewelry, also does not wear it so often. One of the most striking outings of the Cambridge in the necklace is the appearance on the 70th wedding anniversary of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip).