The Jewellery of the Royals
In celebration of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, we’re taking a look at some of the illustrious jewellery worn by the royal family over the years. We’ve even put together our very own Platinum Jubilee Jewellery Collection, with jewellery inspired by pieces worn by the royals over the years
The majority of the jewellery worn by the royals is selected by the prestigious jewellery house Garrard, long-time holders of the royal warrant, and they have created some near-priceless masterpieces over the years, from Queen Mary’s consort crown to the Duchess of Cambridge’s engagement ring.
The Queen Mary Fringe Tiara
Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Anne both wore The Queen Mary Fringe Tiara on their wedding days, and Her Majesty loaned the piece to her granddaughter, Princess Beatrice of York, for her wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. The tiara, which many believe was selected due to both its sentimental significance and its all-diamond design, marks the first time a modern royal bride has donned a tiara worn by another ancestral royal. Queen Mary's fringe tiara was made by E. Wolff & Co. for Garrard in 1919.
The Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara
The tiara worn by the Duchess of Cambridge on her wedding day was on loan from the Queen and was originally a wedding anniversary gift from King George VI to his wife Elizabeth (also known as the Queen Mother) in 1936. The Cartier Halo tiara worn by Kate Middleston is made up of 16 graduated scrolls, set with 739 brilliants and 149 baton diamonds, and worth an estimated £1.5 million.
Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara
The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara is the headpiece most frequently worn by the Queen–it's even featured in her portrait on British currency. The tiara was originally a wedding gift for Mary when she married the Duke of York, who later became George V, in 1893. The tiara, which was made by Garrard, was commissioned by the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland (a fundraising committee chaired by Lady Eva Greville, daughter of the 4th Earl of Warwick).
Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring
Prince Charles proposed to Diana with a collection of rings from Garrard, asking her to choose her favourite. As a rather unconventional choice, Diana chose a gorgeous 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire set in 18-carat white gold. Surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, it is now one of the most recognisable rings in history.
The Duchess of Sussex's Engagement Ring
Prince Harry had Meghan Markle's engagement ring made by Cleave & Company using an ethically-sourced centre stone from Botswana, where he and Meghan first vacationed together. The centre stone is flanked by two round diamonds from a brooch that belonged to his late mother, Princess Diana.
If you’re seeing any of our jewellery inspired by the Royal collection, take a look at our Platinum Jubilee Collection, and simply book an appointment online, or give us a call on 0203 116 0069 and speak to one of our friendly, expert members of staff who can help guide you through any type of jewellery purchase.
We’ve helped thousands of customers over the years design custom rings (with our design your engagement rings service), choose the perfect present for an anniversary, sell jewellery and choose jewellery for many special occasions, so if there is something you’d like but can’t see online, we’re confident we can make it to your exact needs, just get in touch.