The old saying that diamonds are a girl’s best friend is most certainly the case for the Queen of England. The British monarch is 92 years old, and has an immense collection of jewels, which she is willing to lend to the female members of her family. Â
Duchess of Cambridge, late Princess Diana, wore some of the impressive pieces, and so did Kate Middleton, when she wore the Cartier Halo tiara for her royal wedding in 2011.
Meghan Markle chose one of the most precious and beautiful headpieces for her wedding to Prince Harry last year, the one and only Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara. This dazzling bejeweled accessory was perfect for Meghan’s Givenchy and made her look like a true royal bride.
To whom has the Queen loaned her jewels so far?
Princess Anne also wore the already mentioned Cartier Halo Tiara in 1970, when she toured New Zealand. More recently of course, it shined on the head of The Duchess of Cambridge, at her fairytale wedding. This tiara was a gift to the Queen for her 18th birthday, then still Princess Elizabeth.
Source: Hello Magazine
The Queen received several large pearls from the ruler of Bahrain, as a present for her wedding back in 1947. Two were used for a pair of dangling earrings, which also have three round and baguette diamonds each, suspended more round diamonds. These were hidden way after 1950s, but have reappeared in the recent decades. The Countess of Wessex, the Queen, and Kate wore them. Kate most recently wore them in August of last year, during her summer holiday in Balmoral.
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As mentioned, Meghan Markle wore the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara for her wedding day. This is a little-known piece, created for Queen Mary in 1932. It has a floral suspended brooch in the center, which is made of a large round diamond, surrounded by nine other smaller diamonds.
The bandeau contains 11 glittering sections, including ovals, and a pave set with both large and small diamonds. The Queen inherited it after her grandmother’s death in 1953.
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The Countess of Wessex wears the Five Aquamarine Tiara, a ribbon-setting tiara with five aquamarines. The Queen allegedly permanently loaned it to her, as she has worn it countless times, for example to the pre-wedding dinner of the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg in 2012, and for Princess Madeleine of Sweden’s wedding in 2013.
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Princess Diana received the Lover’s Knot Tiara permanently and owned her until her passing in 1997. The Queen inherited this tiara, originally made for Queen Mary. It is a replica of a tiara owned by her own grandmother. Some say Diana complained about the pearls that are swinging from it. Kate also wore it for the Diplomatic Receptions in 2015 and 2016.
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Prince Philip’s mother Princess Alice owned this tiara, and it was made for her. The Meander Tiara was a wedding gift for the Queen’s wedding in 1947. She never wore it publicly, however her daughter Princess Anne did for many occasions. Her own daughter Zara wore it to her wedding in 2011.
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Mrs. Ronald Greville bought this ruby and diamond floral bandeau necklace from Boucheron in 1907. She gave her jewelry to the Queen Mother through her will, on her death in 1942.
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The Queen received this long necklace from her parents for her wedding. Although she shortened it, it was still difficult to wear, so it was put away. Kate wore it July 2017 at the Spanish state visit banquet. In April 2018, the Queen wore it for the first time in decades for the Commonwealth dinner
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Kate wore the Lotus Flower Tiara for the Chinese State Banquet in 2015. It was made from a necklace belonging to the Queen Mother. Princess Margaret also wore it.
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Another piece left to the Queen Mother by Mrs. Ronald Greville. During the fifties, the Greville Tiara was altered, and she wore it several times before her passing. Today, the Duchess of Cornwall wears it regularly, like for example back in November 2013 during a visit to Sri Lanka.
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For her wedding day in 1947, Queen Elizabeth II chose Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara. This elegant headpiece belonged to her Mother. She wore it for her first official portrait. Princess Anne wore it for her own wedding day in November 1973.
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When Prince Philip proposed to the Queen, he did not have much money as a Royal Navy officer. Therefore, his mother gave him a tiara, which the jewelry firm Philip Antrobus Ltd. turned into a wedding ring. The diamonds were made into a wide geometric bracelet containing three symmetrical sections, with a large diamond in the center of each. The Queen wears the bracelet regularly, and loaned it to Kate in 2015.
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The Queen received this diamond and platinum necklace from King Khalid of Saudi Arabia, during her visit to the Middle East in 1979. She has worn it frequently, and had loaned it to Princess Diana as well, for her visit to the Barbican Centre.
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One of the riches people in the world at the time, the Nizam of Hyderabad, presented the Queen with the ultimate wedding gift, which was anything she wanted at Cartier. She chose diamonds, featured on an ornate floral tiara, and a matching necklace that also includes a detachable double pendant drop. This whole tiara was dismantled except the brooches. She still wears the necklace, mostly for portraits. Kate wore it in 2014 for an annual gala of the National Portrait Gallery.
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This maple leaf diamond Cartier brooch belonged to the Queen Mother, who gave it to the Queen for her first visit to Canada, back in 1951. Kate also wore it for Canada Day in 2011, while the Duchess of Cornwall used two years prior.
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For the 70th wedding anniversary dinner of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Kate borrowed her four-strand pearl choker, originally ordered by the Queen using pearls she received from the Japanese government.
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Kate wore a pair of diamond and sapphire fringe earrings in 2015, for the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala. Queen Mother wore this same pair in 1986.
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The Queen first wore a pair of large diamond earrings at the State Opening of Parliament in 2012. Their history is unfamiliar. The earrings feature a line of four diamonds, framed by some more round diamonds in a cluster. Kate has worn these since 2016 multiple occasions, including a November 2017 Kensington Palace gala.
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While touring Norway and Sweden, Kate wore a pair of diamond pendant earrings, borrowed from the Queen. Her Majesty first wore them in 2012 for the State Opening of Parliament. Kate also sported these for the Place2Be Awards.
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In October last year, Kate paid a lovely tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, when she chose to wear her Collingwood pearl earrings, pairing them with Queen Alexandra’s wedding gift necklace.
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Kate Middleton also wore the exquisite Lovers Knot tiara, worn extensively by the Queen Mother, most notably for her 85th birthday in 1985.
Source: hellomagazine.com
