The duch*ess of Cambridge's Royal Pearls (2024)

The Lotus Flower Tiara

One of the first major royal jewels set with pearls that the Queen loaned to the duch*ess of Cambridge was the Lotus Flower Tiara. This diamond and pearl tiara comes from the collection of the late Queen Mother, and it was also worn by Princess Margaret. Above, for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace during the President of China’s state visit in October 2015, Kate wears the tiara with the Queen’s Diamond Chandelier Earrings, Queen Mary’s Diamond Choker Bracelet, and (not seen here) the Edinburgh Wedding Bracelet.

The Silver Jubilee Pearl Earrings

The Queen most famously wore this pair of diamond and pearl drop earrings during her Silver Jubilee festivities in 1977, and she’s since loaned them to both the Countess of Wessex and the duch*ess of Cambridge. Kate wore them for her first solo foreign royal trip, a visit to the Netherlands in October 2016 (pictured above).

The Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings

This classic pair of diamond and pearl earrings was made using a set of pearls given to the Queen as a wedding present by the Hakim of Bahrain in 1947. Over the years, she’s loaned them to several royal ladies, including Diana, Princess of Wales and the Countess of Wessex. The duch*ess of Cambridge is now the primary wearer of the earrings, and she’s chosen them for a range of important occasions. Above, she wears them for the Platinum Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral in June 2022.

The Queen’s Japanese Pearl Choker Necklace

This four-stranded pearl choker necklace, which has an unusual diamond clasp, was made for the Queen by Garrard, reportedly using pearls given to her by the Japanese government in the 1970s. The necklace was worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, and more recently, it’s been loaned to the duch*ess of Cambridge. Above, Kate wears the choker with the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings for the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh in April 2021.

The Collingwood Pearl Drop Earrings

This pair of gorgeous diamond and pearl drop earrings belonged to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. They were a wedding gift from the jewelry firm in 1981. Diana wore them throughout her marriage, often using them for gala events. The duch*ess of Cambridge now wears the earrings for both daytime and evening occasions. Above, she wears them at Westminster Abbey on Anzac Day in April 2022.

Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara

In recent years, the duch*ess of Cambridge’s primary tiara has been Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara. Queen Mary had the tiara made as a copy of the original Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara. It was inherited by the Queen in 1953, and she’s loaned it to both Diana, Princess of Wales and the duch*ess of Cambridge. Kate has worn it for several galas and banquets, often pairing it with the Collingwood Pearl Drop Earrings. She wears that combination of jewels above at the Diplomatic Reception in December 2018.

Queen Alexandra’s Wedding Necklace

In 1863, the Prince of Wales ordered this diamond and pearl necklace from Garrard, plus its coordinating parure, as a wedding present for his bride, Princess Alexandra of Denmark. Alexandra wore the necklace, with its button-style pearl and diamond clusters and pear-shaped pearl pendants, on their wedding day. In 1925, Queen Mary inherited the necklace, and she later passed it on to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. It became one of the Queen Mum’s favorite jewels. In 2002, the necklace was inherited by the Queen, and it’s now worn by the duch*ess of Cambridge. In October 2018, she wore the necklace with Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara and the Collingwood Pearl Drop Earrings for the Dutch state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

The Four-Stranded Pearl Bracelet

The duch*ess of Cambridge wore this four-stranded pearl bracelet for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace during the American state visit in June 2019. Many have guessed that the bracelet is a loan from the Queen, perhaps a companion piece to the Japanese Pearl Choker Necklace. Kate wore the jewel with Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara, the Queen Mother’s Sapphire Fringe Earrings, and the Oak Leaf Brooch.

Diana’s Three-Stranded Pearl Bracelet

This diamond and pearl bracelet, which comes from the collection of Diana, Princess of Wales, was made by Nigel Milne to raise funds for the charity Birthright. Diana famously wore it with her Elvis dress in Hong Kong in 1989. The duch*ess of Cambridge debuted the bracelet at a reception in Berlin (pictured above) during the official tour of Germany in July 2017.

Diana’s Diamond and Pearl Drop Earrings

These diamond and pearl earrings feature horseshoe and laurel motifs in their design. They originally belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales, who wore them with a different set of pearl drops. The duch*ess of Cambridge debuted them at the BAFTAs in 2019, and she also wore them recently at Royal Ascot (pictured above) in June 2022.

The Queen’s Diamond and Pearl Leaf Brooch

This royal brooch features a trio of pearls placed in the center of a pavé-set leaf. The Queen most memorably wore the brooch in South Korea in 1999, and more recently, it’s been loaned to the duch*ess of Cambridge. She wore the brooch for the first time in Belgium in July 2017 during the commemorations of the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele, pairing it with the Collingwood Pearl Drop Earrings.

The duch*ess of Cambridge’s Pearl Pendant Brooch

For a new royal portrait unveiled in June 2022, the duch*ess of Cambridge wore a very special pearl brooch on loan from the Queen: the duch*ess of Cambridge’s Pearl Pendant Brooch. The brooch belonged to the first duch*ess of Cambridge, who was the grandmother of Queen Mary. (As one commenter recently noted, the brooch belonged to Prince William’s grandmother’s grandmother’s grandmother!) Kate was painted wearing the brooch, as well as the Collingwood Pearl Drop Earrings and Diana’s Three-Stranded Pearl Bracelet.