The British royal family owns some of the most valuable heirloom jewelry pieces in the world. These royal crown jewelry pieces are world-renowned and celebrated for their exquisite designs and astronomical value. They are priceless pieces of royal jewelry that the whole world adores.
1. Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara
Queen Mary reigned the UK from 1910 to 1936. One of her most celebrated legacies in the family heirloom jewelry collection was this iconic tiara, which she commissioned in 1913.
The design took inspiration from a tiara that belonged to her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse. The original design came from Princess Augusta’s Lover’s Knot Tiara, one of the early collections in the royal jewelry stash.
Queen Mary’ passed away in 1953. Her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, inherited the beautiful headpiece, and later she shared it with Princess Diana, adorning her with regal opulence and her blessing for her royal duties.
After Diana’s tragic death, this tiara didn’t appear in public until 2015, when Princess Kate Middleton wore it during a Buckingham Palace event. It has returned to their active jewelry collections, appearing in subsequent formal events.
2. Queen Mary’s Diamond Bar Choker Bracelet
Queen Mary also owned a marvelous diamond choker, among her array of legendary jewelry collections. It was one of her signature pieces and a personal favorite during her lifetime.
It didn’t appear in public view for almost 40 years until the Queen wore it for her 75th birthday portrait in 1975. These days, Princess Kate Middleton uses it on special occasions, continuing its legacy of old-school elegance and timeless beauty.
3. The Four-Row Pearl Choker
Queen Elizabeth II continued the royal legacy of her grandmother, Queen Mary, in collecting and maintaining royal jewelry pieces. She originally owned this royal necklace crafted by top jeweler Garrard, made of four strands of premium pearls, with an elegant oval keyhole arch in the center. The pearls were a gift from the Japanese government,
Princess Diana and Princess Kate both wore the special pearl choker over the years.
4. The Prince Albert Brooch
Queen Victoria also enjoyed high-end jewelry. The love of her life, Prince Albert, commissioned this super iconic sapphire and diamond brooch and gave it to her on the eve of their wedding.
This royal brooch was always with the Queen, and was a personal favorite, bearing much sentiment and symbolizing the King and Queen’s forever love. She decreed it part of the royal collection, making it “an heirloom of the crown,” and intended for use by future queens.
Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Elizabeth II all wore this incredible brooch throughout their lives. It is so iconic that the design was a direct influence on the ring design that would end up being chosen by then Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
5. Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring
One reason why then-Prince Charles chose this timeless sapphire and diamond ring is because it looked exactly like his mother’s brooch. He included it in a collection of rings he offered to Princess Diana to choose from for their eventual proposal.
The ring is as gorgeous as the Princess’s blue eyes. When she and Prince Charles divorced, she kept the ring until her death in 1997.
In 2010, Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with this ring. He and Prince Harry inherited their jewelry when she passed away. It originally belonged to Prince Harry as his first choice in the inheritance, but later gave it to his brother since Kate is the next in line as Queen.
6. The Lotus Flower Tiara
This classic and elegant headpiece belonged to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, having been crafted especially for her. Its first appearance was during King George VI’s coronation in 1937 and the publicity that entailed. She was also the first and only one to style it in a lower fitting, sitting atop, across her forehead.
Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister, later inherited the beautiful and classic-designed tiara. The royal tiara adorned her on various formal occasions. When her son got engaged to his fiancée, Serena Stanhope, she lent it for their wedding ceremony.
These days, Princess Kate Middleton wears it to royal outings and other events, extending its lovely legacy to the modern era and keeping it within the royal lineage.
7. Queen Alexandra’s Wedding Necklace
When Prince Albert married Princess Alexandra of Denmark, one of the jewelry pieces in this parure collection wedding gift was this opulent wedding necklace. It was with her throughout her life, beyond her reign from 1901 to 1910. It remained in the heirloom royal collection and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother wore it until her death in 2002.
Queen Elizabeth II inherited it from her mother and became part of her collection. It appeared again in public in 2018 after Kate Middleton wore it when she attended a Dutch state banquet.
8. The Cartier Halo Tiara
King George VI gifted the love of his life, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, with this captivating Cartier halo-design tiara. She, in turn, gifted it to then-Princess Elizabeth for her 18th birthday.
Queen Elizabeth II returned the favor by passing it on to Princess Kate Middleton to use for her wedding to the Queen’s grandson, Prince William. It added an extra royal touch to the marriage, a symbol of continuing royal legacy and a direct blessing from the Queen to her daughter-in-law. It remains in the royal heirloom jewelry collection.
9. Maple Leaf Brooch
Another classic brooch is in this royal list. King George VI gave this timeless and elegant brooch to his wife, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, after their 1939 state visit to Canada.
This brooch is the only country-themed piece in this royal collection, making it one of the most unique brooches in history.
When then-Princess Elizabeth and future Queen visited Canada in 1951, the Queen Mother loaned her the brooch to fit the occasion and to celebrate Canada with a fitting tribute. Over the years, the Queen Mother wore it as a lasting symbol of love from King George VI.
Queen Elizabeth II inherited the brooch, and in return, she also loaned it to Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, and to Princess Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, when they visited Canada. continuing its royal legacy and close ties to Canada.
10. Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau
Queen Mary was the first proud owner of this renowned Diamond Bandeau Tiara, created for her in 1932. It featured very unique art deco designs that remain elegant and timeless. She wore it on various occasions.
Her granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II inherited the special tiara, and it remained in her collection for years. It made a high-profile appearance in Princess Meghan Markle’s marriage to Prince Harry in 2018.
11. The Delhi Durbar Tiara
This very grand old-school tiara reaches back to the British colonial era. British Royalty also ruled over India during this era. This custom piece celebrated the 1911 Delhi Durbar, held at the Coronation Park in Delhi, India.
The tiara celebrated the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, as the crowned Emperor and Empress of India. It was one of the most lavish celebration events in history, and also the last ever. It also holds the rare distinction of being the only Delhi Durbar attended by a reigning Monarch.
Queen Mary later loaned the tiara to her daughter-in-law, the Queen Mother. It later became part of her royal jewelry collection until she died in 2002. The tiara was next seen worn by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, at her first royal event.
12. The Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara
The Queen Mother inherited an extensive jewelry collection from a royal family friend, Honorable Mrs. Greville, in 1942. Amongst the precious collection was this honeycomb-designed grand tiara, a very opulent symbol of royalty and richness. It soon became a personal favorite of hers, visible in many royal events over the years.
Queen Elizabeth II inherited this lovely tiara after the Queen Mother passed away in 2002. It remained in the British Royal Family’s collection.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, next wore it at various public royal events, along with other royal tiara pieces. It also holds the distinction of not being a custom commission piece. It serves as a lasting reminder of the Queen Mother and the Royal Family’s timeless friendship with the late Mrs. Greville.
It’s fascinating to see the rich history and craftsmanship behind these royal treasures. They truly represent centuries of tradition and elegance.
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These pieces are more than just objects; they’re symbols of British culture and heritage. It’s important to preserve and share these stories with future generations.
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I wonder what the future holds for these treasures? Will they continue to be displayed to the public, or will they be kept in private collections?
depends on the Royal Family but surely we will see one of these in public sooner or later.
I’ve always been fascinated by the British monarchy. This article has only deepened my interest.
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