Celebrity Jewelry

Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton Wore Generational Jewelry To King Charles’s Coronation

A diamond necklace and pearl and diamond earrings captured a subtle yet sentimental approach to the big event.

Published

5 months ago

May 9, 2023

Beth Bernstein

ALTHOUGH THERE WAS something lacking in the realm of jewelry at King Charles’s coronation — namely, tiaras and coronets on the royal women — there was still a show of dazzling pieces. The event was pared down compared with prior coronations, but the jewels that Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton, princess of Wales, wore were handed down as generational jewels. Others, such as Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, wore jewels from Garrard.

But let’s get to the jewels of Queen Camilla and Princess Kate:

Camilla sparkled in the coronation necklace that was originally created for Queen Victoria in 1858. It features 25 graduated diamonds and a massive 22.48-carat pendant known as the Lahore Diamond. It was designed by Garrard and worn by all the queens that followed, including Elizabeth II, for their coronations. The diamond earrings were also designed by Garrard for Queen Victoria and worn by Elizabeth II for her 1953 coronation.

Princess Kate honored her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, by wearing her diamond and South Sea pearl earrings. Kate had changed the more rounded pearls from these diamond tops to the South Sea baroque pearls from Diana’s Collingwood pearl earrings, She first wore these she wore to the coronation in their new incarnation to the BAFTA awards in 2019. From what I can tell, she wore them on many occasions after that. She also reportedly wore a diamond necklace that belonged to Queen Elizabeth: the George VI festoon necklace, created in1950 as a gift from King George VI for his daughter, the then-Princess Elizabeth. But it cannot be seen through the coronation robes.

Embed from Getty Images

Zara Tindall, Queen Anne’s daughter, also chose a family jewel for the occasion — her mother’s diamond ribbon and tassel brooch.

Although the event seemed less regal without the tiaras, I appreciated the generational jewels, particularly the necklace and earrings created for the icon of 19th century style, Queen Victoria. They still look as magnificent today as when they were created.

Wilkerson Testimonials

Wilkerson: “They Feel Like Family”

Newton’s Jewelers in Fort Smith, Ark., was a true institution. But after being at the helm for most of his life, owner (and descendent of the original founder) Kelly Newton decided it was time to retire. He chose Wilkerson to handle the sale. “I’ve known the owners of Wilkerson for a long, long time. I felt at home with them,” he says. The final retirement sale was just a “blast” and the Wilkerson sales team made it so very simple and straightforward, says Newton. Would he recommend Wilkerson to others? Absolutely. “They’ve done incredible work,” says Newton. “They feel like family.”