Queen Elizabeth II has reigned the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth nations for over seven decades. Her journey from being a young princess to the longest-reigning monarch of Britain is an example of sheer dedication and a sense of duty. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, later known as Queen Elizabeth II, was the first child of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother). She ascended to the throne at the age of 25 when her father suddenly passed away in 1952. Since February 6, 1952, till September 8, 2022, the late monarch has ruled Britain.
During her tenure as the Queen, we have quite often seen her out in public adorning some exquisite jewels that are worth beyond our imagination. It is said that the late monarch owned around 300 pieces of jewellery, consisting of extravagant brooches, bracelets, necklaces, pairs of earrings, and tiaras. On the late Queen’s first death anniversary, i.e., September 8, 2023, let’s have a look at her most iconic, lavish and timeless jewellery.
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Queen Elizabeth II was often seen wearing her signature three-layered pearl necklace. The necklace had a special place in the queen’s heart as it was a gift from her beloved father, King George VI. The statement pearl necklace is said to be worth between USD 1-1.2 million. After the queen’s death, the pearl necklace was passed down to her daughter, Princess Anne, who is a fan of pearls just like her mother. The Princess Royal has been seen many times over the years donning pearl necklaces and pearl earrings.
The Cambridge lover's knot tiara has a rich history within the Royal family, dating back over a century. Originally owned by Queen Mary, it was later gifted to Princess Diana on her wedding day. The tiara is adorned with beautiful diamonds and pearls valued at approximately USD 1-2 million. It is also known as Queen Mary's 'Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara', or ‘Granny's Tiara’, as it was previously owned by Elizabeth II's grandmother, Queen Mary. Originally it featured large pearls, but it was later redesigned into the Cambridge lover's knot tiara, a beloved accessory of both Princess Diana and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.
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There was nothing unusual about seeing the Queen wearing pearls. In most of the events that she attended, the late monarch was seen in a pair of pearl earrings and her signature three-layered pearl necklace. But one of the lesser-seen pearl necklaces in her collection is the four-stranded pearl choker necklace with an unusual diamond pendant. The Japanese government gifted this stunning four-row pearl choker to the Queen in the early 80s. The price tag for this exquisite piece is said to be around USD 29,000.
The Grand Duchess of Vladimir's tiara, also known as the Queen's diamond and pearl looped tiara, was purchased by Queen Mary in 1921 from the Grand Duchess Vladimir's daughter. It was later passed down to Queen Elizabeth II by her grandmother, Queen Mary. It is a highly iconic piece in the collection due to its stunning design and historical significance. It was one of Elizabeth II's favourite pieces. The tiara is reported to cost around USD 460,000.
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Queen Elizabeth II received precious Burmese ruby stones as one of her wedding gifts in 1947. The people of Burma presented her with 96 rubies and the thought behind the gift was really special. It is said that there are 96 illnesses that can affect one’s body. Hence, to protect the queen from such health issues, the 96 rubies were gifted to her as a symbol of protection. The queen had asked the royal jeweller, House of Garrard, to mould the rubies into a tiara. This tiara holds both sentimental and monetary value, as Burmese rubies are rare and highly valuable. With the number of rubies and diamonds incorporated in this piece, it is estimated to have a value of approximately USD 8 million.
The Queen Mary's fringe tiara is a stunning and iconic piece of royal jewellery. It exudes timeless elegance and is associated with Queen Elizabeth II, who has worn it on several occasions. The tiara boasts a classic fringe design featuring a row of diamond spikes set atop a flexible, diamond-encrusted band. It holds cultural significance as a symbol of continuity within the British royal family that is passed down from generation to generation. Queen Elizabeth II's decision to wear it on her wedding day further reinforced its historical importance. Today, the value of the tiara is said to be around USD 9 million.
According to reports by the British media, the late Queen received a pink diamond as a wedding gift in 1947 from geologist, John Thoburn Williamson, who owned a Tanzanian mine. Cartier designed the diamond into a jonquil flower-shaped brooch, adding 203 white diamonds in a platinum set. Her Majesty wore the brooch at significant events. The brooch is estimated to be worth around USD 30.5 million.
One of the late Queen's prized possessions is the ‘Granny's Chips’ brooch, which is named after her grandmother, Queen Mary. British media reports suggest that Queen Mary gave her granddaughter two diamonds when she ascended the throne, which was later featured on the brooch. The combined weight of the diamonds is around 150 carats, both from the Cullinan collection. The value of the brooch is estimated to be a staggering USD 61 million.
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In 1947, when India gained independence and was partitioned into India and Pakistan, the Nizam of Hyderabad, a former Indian state ruler, gifted Elizabeth II a beautiful platinum necklace adorned with 300 diamonds. This remarkable piece of jewellery, known as the 'Nizam of Hyderabad' necklace, is one of the most valuable items in the queen's collection. As per several reports, the necklace is worth approximately USD 76.3 million.
The Queen's striking amethyst set, which includes a diamond brooch, necklace, tiara and earrings, is known as the Crown Amethyst Suite of Jewels or the Kent Amethysts. The Duchess of Kent was the original owner of the amethyst set, made in the first half of the nineteenth century, easily making it one of the oldest jewels possessed by the British royals today. This set is known for its detailed design that showcases amethyst gemstones, diamonds, and pearls. The exact price of the set is not known.
We are just spellbound by the extensive collection of jewellery owned by the late Queen Elizabeth II. Which piece is your favourite among the following? Let us know.
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