Apart from wearing meticulously curated outfits and showing little to no PDA with their respective partners, the role of a Princess at high-profile royal engagements is closely entwined with the wearing of striking, historic pieces of jewellery—and both Kate Middleton and Princess Diana are the ultimate example.
Diana, Princess of Wales, was known for her extensive jewellery collection—inherited, loaned and personally owned, while Princess Kate is no stranger to a glimmering accessory. But the only thing more enticing than seeing the pieces themselves is the fact that the two royals’ collections have crossed over multiple times.
When Diana was tragically killed in 1997, her personal jewellery collection was passed down to her two sons Prince William and Prince Harry, while the historic pieces loaned to the People’s Princess over the years remained with the Monarch.
But many of these pieces have now found another home with Kate Middleton, who is known for accessorising her outfits with stunning pieces once owned by or loaned to Diana. Whether it’s an intentional tribute or a meaningful way to keep Diana’s legacy front and centre, we take a look back at the most notable times Kate wore her late mother-in-law’s jewellery.
The Sapphire Engagement Ring
The most notable of Kate’s inherited royal heirlooms is her sapphire engagement ring given to her by Prince William in 2010. It was perviously owned by Princess Diana when it was chosen by Prince Charles for their engagement in 1981.
The stunning piece was designed by British jeweller Garrard, and it features a 12-carat oval Ceylon which is surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds.
The Diamond and South Sea Pearl Earrings
Among Diana’s extensive jewellery collection was a set of pearl drop earrings which she wore on multiple occasions. It seems that the stunning pearls have recently come into Kate’s possession—she was first seen wearing the earrings at the 2019 BAFTAs, and in 2022, she wore them on three separate occasions: at the Royal Ascot in June, at the Remembrance Day service in November, and at a State Banquet that same month.
The Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara
Speaking of State Banquets, a personal favourite piece of Kate’s is the Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara which she often wears for the high-profile evening events. The tiara was also frequently worn by Princess Diana for similar white tie engagements.
The stunning piece was originally created for Queen Mary in 1914 by Garrard from pearls and diamonds which were already owned by The Firm. The historic piece remains with The Crown, having been loaned to Diana, and now to Kate.
The Three Strand Pearl Bracelet
Diana was seen in the stunning three-strand bracelet (designed by Nigel Milne) numerous times over the years, and in 2017, the Princess of Wales revealed she’d inherited the beloved piece when she wore it to an engagement in Germany.
A few years later, Kate was seen wearing the striking piece while she toured the Caribbean with Prince William.
The Saudi Suite Of Sapphires
One of Diana’s famous style tricks was to fashion necklaces as headbands, which is exactly what she did with her stunning Saudi suite of sapphires gifted to her by the Saudi royal family. The Princess wore the band on her head during a tour of Japan in 1986 along with an all-blue outfit.
Interestingly, Kate was seen wearing a striking sapphire pendant necklace at Buckingham Palace in 2020 which was believed to include some of the stones from Diana’s suite—to finish it off, she also selected a blue outfit to set the sapphire necklace off.
The Double Drop Sapphire and Diamond Earrings
26 years after Princess Diana famously wore her double drop sapphire and diamond earrings to the Met Gala in 1996 (along with her iconic silk John Galliano dress), they reappeared on her daughter-in-law. Indeed, Kate revealed the stunning earrings had come into her possession at the 2022 Trooping the Colour. She later wore them during an engagement in Boston, USA.
The Emerald Necklace
In December 2022, Kate delighted fans by wearing the stunning Emerald Choker once loaned to (and loved by) Princess Diana, who wore it with numerous outfits, and in more than one way—another headband moment, if you will.
The new Princess of Wales wore the necklace while attending the Earthshot Prize ceremony alongside her husband Prince William. Naturally, it immediately caught everyone’s attention, not least because she paired it with a bright green gown by Solace London, which the 40-year-old rented for the evening.
