Queen Elizabeth II was Britain’s longest-reigning monarch who left a legacy that will last for centuries.
Her Late Majesty was on the throne for more than 70 years and her death in September 2022 prompted an outpouring of grief among millions.
Throughout her life and following her death, members of the Queen’s family honoured her with thoughtfully chosen jewels and accessories.
As we reveal below, Queen Camilla, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and other relatives have all worn items once owned by Elizabeth.
Belgian Sapphire Tiara
Queen Camilla paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II by wearing her Belgian Sapphire Tiara to a state banquet
In November 2022, just two months after the Queen’s death, Camilla wore her late mother-in-law’s Belgian Sapphire Tiara during a state banquet held for South Africa’s leader Cyril Ramaphosa.
Camilla paired the piece with her elegant Bruce Oldfield gown and completed the look with a diamond-trimmed pendant containing a photograph of the Queen when she was young.
The Belgian Sapphire tiara was acquired to complement a Victorian-era sapphire necklace and earrings that were gifted by her father, King George VI, on her wedding day in 1947.
In 1963, Queen Elizabeth purchased a nineteenth-century sapphire necklace that once belonged to Princess Louise of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
As per her request, it was set on a frame and turned into a tiara.
Queen Elizabeth’s Japanese pearl choker
Kate, the Princess of Wales, wore the Queen’s Japanese pearl choker at her funeral in 2022. It was previously worn by Princess Diana in 1982. The Queen wore it during a visit to Bangladesh in 1983
The Japanese pearl choker was first loaned to Kate for the Queen and Prince Philip’s 70th wedding anniversary celebrations in 2017.
She has continued to wear it on a number of occasions, including the funeral of Philip in 2021 and the funeral of the late monarch in 2022, where she paired it with the Bahrain pearl drop earrings.
It is believed that the Japanese government gifted pearls to Elizabeth, who then commissioned a choker to be made by Garrard in the 1970s.
The distinctive design features a diamond clasp that sits at the centre of four strands of pearls.
Princess Diana was also seen sporting the necklace during the state visit of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in 1982.
Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell brooch
The Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell brooch features a single round pearl, surrounded by rows of dazzling diamonds. Above: The Queen wearing it in June 2010; Camilla with the brooch in Nairobi last year
There are a few iconic jewels that have entered the Royal Family collection by chance.
A prime example is the Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell brooch, which a loyal subject had bequeathed to the Queen Mother.
Partially designed by Sir Courtauld Courtauld-Thomson, the son of a renowned Scottish inventor, the brooch was made in 1919 by the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co. Ltd.
It features a single round pearl, surrounded by rows of dazzling diamonds.
Courtauld-Thomson left the brooch to his sister, the writer Winifred Hope Thomson, who passed it down to the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother showcased the design on countless occassions, including her 100th birthday in August 2000.
The Queen then selected it for the wedding of her eldest granddaughter, Zara Phillips, to Mike Tindall in 2011.
Camilla wore it for an engagement during her visit to Kenya with King Charles last year.
Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara
Camilla (left) chose the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara for a reception and dinner in 2023
Camilla paid homage to the late Queen by wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara for a reception and dinner in October 2023.
The exquisite tiara dates back to 1893, when it was gifted to Mary of Teck, on the occasion of her marriage to Prince George, Duke of York, later King George V.
The headpiece is named after the committee of young women who raised money for its creation through a subscription.
It features festoon and fleur-de-lis motifs comprising diamonds set in silver and gold. Originally, it also incorporated fourteen pearls.
The piece can we worn as a tiara, a coronet or a necklace.
Queen Mary wore the tiara on many notable occasions, including the coronation of her father-in-law, King Edward VII, in 1902.
Mary gifted her beloved tiara to her granddaughter, Princess Elizabeth, when she married Prince Philip in November 1947.
Elizabeth reportedly referred to the diadem as ‘Granny’s tiara’, and it become central to her wardrobe, both as a Princess and as a Queen.
Cartier Halo tiara
The glittering Cartier Halo tiara served as Kate Middleton’s ‘something borrowed’ for her wedding to Prince William in 2011. It was gifted to the late Queen by her mother, Queen Elizabeth (right)
The glittering Cartier Halo tiara served as Kate Middleton’s ‘something borrowed’ for her wedding to Prince William in 2011.
Queen Elizabeth received the headpiece, comprising 739 brilliant cut diamonds and 149 baguette diamonds, as a gift from her mother on her 18th birthday in 1944.
Dating back to 1936, George VI commissioned Cartier to create the tiara using diamonds and platinum he had purchased for his wife three weeks before he became King George VI and she became Queen Elizabeth (the future Queen Mother).
Her daughter never wore the tiara in public, but it likely held deep personal significance.
Queen Mary Fringe tiara
Queen Elizabeth II wore the Queen Mary Fringe tiara, comprising 47 graduated brilliant and rose-set tapering bars separated by 46 narrower spikes, on her wedding day in 1947
Princess Anne chose the stunning Queen Mary Fringe tiara for her wedding to Captain Mark Phillips in 1973. Bride and groom are accompanied by Prince Edward and Lady Sarah Chatto. Princess Beatrice then wore the accessory for her wedding in 2020
The Queen Mary Fringe tiara is the most-worn wedding tiara by Windsor brides.
Queen Elizabeth II chose the glittering design, comprising 47 graduated brilliant and rose-set tapering bars separated by 46 narrower spikes, for her wedding in 1947.
It was given to the Queen Mother by her mother-in-law, Queen Mary.
The diamond accessory, made by Collingwood, had been Queen Mary’s wedding gift from Queen Victoria.
Mary wore the convertible jewel in various forms, including as a headpiece and a necklace, before having it dismantled to create a new diamond fringe tiara.
In 1919, she asked Garrard to create a piece in the style of a kokoshnik (a russian headdress) comprising brilliant diamonds, rose-set tapering bars and spikes, which could be removed to form a necklace.
Elizabeth’s daughter, Princess Anne, selected the stunning piece for her wedding to Mark Phillips in 1973.
Princess Beatrice later borrowed the tiara for her private Windsor wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, during the Covid pandemic in 2020.
She also wore her grandmother’s vintage Norman Hartnell dress, remodelled by Angela Kelly and Stewart Parvin.
Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral
The Royal Family honoured Queen Elizabeth at her state funeral through their considered clothing choices
Several members of the Royal Family chose to honour Queen Elizabeth at her state funeral through their considered clothing choices.
Kate looked immaculate in an Alexander McQueen coat dress, modelled on the white version she wore during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
She added the Japanese pearl choker and Elizabeth’s Bahrain pearl drop earrings, which were created from pearls given to the then-Princess as a wedding gift in 1947.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, opted for a Stella McCartney cape dress, paired with a wide-brimmed hat by Stephen Jones.
She previously wore the navy version of this dress to Queen Elizabeth’s 92nd birthday celebrations in 2018.
Similar to Kate, Meghan accessorised with a pair of pearl earrings that the late monarch had given her to mark their first solo outing together in 2018.
Sophie’s coat was crafted by the luxury designer Suzannah London, who revealed on Instagram the touching tribute to the Queen
Camilla paid tribute to Elizabeth with a brooch that once belonged to Queen Victoria.
She has previously worn the piece during Queen Elizabeth’s diamond jubilee celebrations in 2012.
Sophie, then Countess of Wessex, also honoured the Queen.
She chose a bespoke Suzannah London dress, embroidered with Lily of the Valley, the late monarch’s favourite flower, as well as blooms from her wedding bouquet.
Her hat, designed by Jane Taylor, also referenced the Queen’s wedding posy and her passion for horses.
Even Princess Charlotte paid subtle tribute to her grandmother, by wearing a horseshoe brooch.
It is believed that Elizabeth gifted the piece to Charlotte.
Pearl earrings
The Queen gave Meghan a pair of diamond and pearl earrings after she and Prince Harry announced their engagement in 2018
On Queen Elizabeth’s 95th birthday, Kate showcased a pair of earrings that the monarch had worn during her Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977
Shortly after she and Prince Harry announced their engagement in 2018, Meghan Markle debuted a pair of dainty pearl and diamond earrings.
She showcased the design when opening the Mersey Gateway Bridge in Cheshire, with Queen Elizabeth, marking her first official engagement with the monarch.
The earrings were a kind gesture from the Queen, who had presented them to Meghan earlier that morning.
The Duchess repeated the significant accessory at Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral, which took place at Westminster Abbey.
The monarch loaned a similar pair of pearl earrings to Kate Middleton, which the Princess wore on the Queen’s 95th birthday.
Queen Elizabeth notably wore the design during her Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977.
Kate repeated these pearl earrings while visiting St Davids in Wales on the first anniversary of the monarch’s death.
Nizam of Hyderabad necklace
The dazzling Nizam of Hyderabad necklace, valued at more than £60million, is thought to be one of Queen Elizabeth’s most precious pieces. Kate wore it at the National Portrait Gallery Gala in February 2014.
The dazzling Nizam of Hyderabad necklace, valued at more than £60million, is thought to be one of Queen Elizabeth’s most precious pieces.
At the request of Asaf Jah VII, ruler of Hyderabad, Elizabeth was invited to choose two pieces from Cartier to commemorate her 1947.
She opted for a tiara and necklace, inspired by an English rose.
While the tiara has since been dismantled to create other pieces, the necklace remains intact.
It comprises 38 diamonds – reduced from the original 46 – and a diamond-encrusted snap.
At the centre of the necklace lies a detachable double-drop pendant, featuring 13 emerald-cut diamonds and a pear-shaped drop.
The piece was initially sold in 1936, but was reacquired by Cartier from the buyer the following year.
The original necklace consisted of eight double-drop and three triple-drop pendants.
However, nine of these pendants were removed before it caught Queen Elizabeth’s eye.
Kate is the only other royal to have worn the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace. She debuted it at the National Portrait Gallery Gala in February 2014.
Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau
When presented with a selection of tiaras, Meghan Markle chose Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau for her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018
Shortly before the wedding of Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018, the Queen invited the couple to view a selection of tiaras.
Meghan was honoured to choose Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau, which Harry remembered as the one that ‘stood out’ to the couple.
‘It was beautiful, seemingly made for Meg,’ Prince Harry recalled in his memoir, Spare.
The dazzling piece features a diamond brooch that Mary of Teck, later Queen Mary, received as a wedding gift from the County of Lincoln in 1893.
The brooch boasts a large collet-set diamond, surrounded by nine brilliant diamonds, with several smaller stones placed between these.
‘The gift was most graciously received and greatly admired by Her Serene Highness, who expressed her warm appreciation of the kind and loyal feeling which prompted the gift,’ The Chronicle wrote.
Mary wore the brooch on several occasions before deciding to transform it into something with more versatility.
In 1932, she commissioned Garrard to create a diamond and platinum bandeau-style tiara, placing the County of Lincoln brooch at its centre.
The eleven sections are pavé set with large and small brilliant diamonds in a geometric design.
Additionally, the cluster style of the brooch is mirrored in a set of smaller diamond clusters placed on either side of the tiara.
The brooch is detachable and Mary continued to wear it as a standalone jewel after the tiara had been completed.
Lover’s Knot tiara
Kate Middleton and Princess Diana have both worn the Lover’s Knot Tiara. Queen Elizabeth II
Arguably the most famous of the royal tiaras, the Lover’s Knot has been worn by generations of royal women.
Queen Mary commissioned Garrard to create the exquisite tiara, drawing inspiration from a piece owned by her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse.
Mary provided jewels from her own collection, which included elements from her dismantled Some Ladies of England Tiara, pearls from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, and pearls from her favourite brooches.
The finished design originally featured a row of upright pearls, but these were later removed by Queen Mary, who returned them to her brooches.
After Queen Mary’s death, the tiara was inherited by Queen Elizabeth and she was frequently seen wearing the accessory at various locations worldwide, including a tour of the Commonwealth.
Upon marrying Prince Charles in July 1981, Diana received the tiara as a gift from the Queen and she debuted it at the state opening of parliament later that year.
Although the tiara reportedly gave Diana headaches due to its weight, she wore it on many occasions, including with her ‘Elvis dress’ by Catherine Walker during an official visit to Hong Kong.
Similar to her late mother-in-law, the tiara has become one of Kate’s preferred pieces and she has worn it at several diplomatic receptions since.
Queen Alexandra’s wedding necklace
The Princess of Wales wore Queen Alexandra’s wedding necklace in 2018
This alluring necklace was a wedding gift from King Edward VII – the eldest son of Queen Victoria – to his bride, Alexandra of Denmark.
The pair married at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, in 1863, and the then Prince of Wales presented Alexandra with a parure of diamonds and pearls.
In addition to the opulent necklace, the collection consisted of pearl and diamond cluster earrings, a brooch with a detachable pendant and a diamond tiara.
The tiara, later known as the Rundell, was the only piece that Alexandra did not wear on her wedding day.
Following the Queen’s death in 1925, the headpiece was passed down to her daughter, Princess Victoria, but its fate remains uncertain.
The other accessories were inherited by Queen Mary, Alexandra’s daughter-in-law, who gifted the necklace to the Queen Mother.
It became one of her most-loved pieces of jewellery; she even wore it for her daughter’s wedding at Westminster Abbey.
The necklace, earrings and brooch were inherited by Queen Elizabeth, who wore them for evening events.
More recently, Kate selected the necklace for a state banquet with King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Maxima at Buckingham Palace in October 2018.
