Camilla Parker Bowles, the wife of Prince Charles, has access to the royal jewellery vaults as one of the UK’s highest-ranking women.
The 70-year-old has already worn millions of pounds worth of royal jewels and has a very valuable personal collection.
Camilla, the second wife of the next-in-line to the British throne, has also received three extravagant gifts from the Saudi Royal Family in the form of demi-parures – all set with different precious stones.
Jewellers David Bader & Josef Caldaro told Express.co.uk: “The Saudis have a deep-rooted culture of lavish gift-giving; it is accepted as the norm in social interactions, political affairs, and business dealings.
“As such, the Saudi Royal Family typically showers important figureheads and their families with beautiful gifts, including precious diamond jewellery.
“Recipients of Saudi Royal Family gifts include the Obamas, the Clintons, the Trumps and of course, the British Royal Family – combined having received millions of dollars worth of luxury gifts.
“While the Saudi Royal family gift items such as furs, robes, watches and a variety of objet d’art, the British Royal family always receives the best and most precious diamonds.”
Express.co.uk looks at the lavish sets made with rubies, emeralds and sapphires Camilla is said to have been given during her trip to Saudi Arabia with The Prince of Wales in March 2006.
Rubies
Camilla wore this set to the Philadelphia Academy of Music in 2007.
David Bader & Josef Caldaro said: “The precise details of these mysterious pieces are unknown, so we can only theorize from photographs. Additionally, the nuances of diamond and precious coloured gems dictate that even slight variations in quality can vastly change a piece’s overall value.
“Camilla looks like an elegant ‘warrior princess’ in the architectural, linear diamond and ruby bib. It appears to have over 100 carats of colourless diamonds and 37 oval mixed-cut, presumably Burmese Rubies.
“Back in the mid-2000s it was thought to be worth about 1.5 million dollars, however, since the value of diamonds has increased since that time, it could be worth more than 3 million dollars now. Similar to a diamond which symbolises ever-lasting love, power, and fortitude, a ruby symbolises passionate love and is said to be one of Camilla’s favourite coloured stones.”
Emeralds
Camilla wore this set to the Royal Gala Performance of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens on June 17, 2009, in London and later to the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium on December 9, 2010.
David Bader & Josef Caldaro said: “Camilla has also been seen in a few other Saudi-origin pieces, among them is a more streamlined necklace composed of large square-cut emeralds with diamond surround links.
“The equally fabulous, yet notably less ostentatious piece is mounted with rich, deep green, presumably Colombian Emeralds.”
Sapphires
Camilla wore these jewels at the Roundhouse on November 15, 2006 – however, she has also wears the necklace as one delicate pendant.
David Bader & Josef Caldaro said: “Finally, we must not forget about the first piece she debuted from the Saudi Royal family – the dazzling diamond and sapphire necklace. This necklace features a diamond base with nine sapphire and diamond pendants – a glorious piece designed for royalty.”