When Kate Middleton entered into the Royal Family, she inherited many pieces of jewellery from her husband’s late mother Princess of Wales. In Princess Diana’s will she stated: “I would like you to allocate all my jewellery to the share to be held by my sons, so that their wives may, in due course, have it or use it.”
In the documentary, The Diana Story, Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell described Harry’s act as “selfless” and something his mother would have done.
As well as her beautiful engagement ring, Kate also inherited a second sapphire piece, which she has reportedly now made her own.
Alexandra Michell, Gemologist at Prestige Pawnbrokers of Channel 4’s Posh Pawn fame, shed light on the piece.
She said: “Diana had a lot of sapphire pieces. One of the most important pieces, was a suite given to her by the Saudi Royal Family as a wedding gift in the late 80s. Sapphires were the coloured stone of choice so that Diana could wear these pieces to match her engagement ring.”
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It is rumoured that a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings were made, however this is “only a theory”.
“Fast forward to Kate’s sapphire earrings, it is believed that one of these pairs of earrings which Diana had, a part of them was remodelled into a pair of single diamond topped sapphire and diamond cluster earrings.”
Alexandra estimates that they could be sold at auction for “in excess of £200,000”.
For jewellery lovers, Alexandra described the piece: “Hanging from shepherd’s hooks, the round cut single diamonds look to be about 0.30cts each, with 9 slightly larger 0.40pcts diamonds on each earring surrounding approximately 5ct each oval cut sapphires, most likely of Kashmir origin.”
Kate has appeared in Diana’s jewels at several events and engagements.
She wore Diana’s South-Sea Pearl Earrings at the BAFTAs in 2019.
She also dipped into her pearl collection in her 2017 tour of Germany, and often wears her pearl-drop earrings which Collingwood Jewellers gifted her when she married Prince Charles.
Inheriting many of Diana’s jewels means that Kate can take a piece of her husband’s mother with her wherever she goes.