When discussing lavish jewellery, no collection rivals the historical importance and magnificence of a royal family’s crown jewels. These significant pieces have been handed down through the ages, from one generation of royals to another, chronicled in history. The narratives surrounding the British royal family are especially well-preserved, acknowledged as the most renowned royal family globally, with centuries of family treasures.
These luxurious ornaments symbolize particular customs or members of the British Royal Family, perpetually memorialized through notable pieces crafted typically by royalty’s official jeweler, Garrard and Co. The priceless crown jewels embody tangible history, narrating the experiences of former British royals, inherited and revered by their modern descendants. LUXUO has compiled a list of ten exceptional and historically significant pieces to delve deeper into the fascinating tales behind royal jewels, beyond their glittering diamonds.
St Edward’s Crown
Photo: Evening Standard
Photo: Evening Standard
The St Edward’s Crown serves as the most notable and historically vital emblem of the British royal family, utilized only during the coronation of English monarchs to mark that pivotal moment. First introduced in the 13th century, it has crowned every English sovereign from King Edward I to King Charles I, although it was dismantled by parliamentary decree in 1649. The contemporary crown, displayed during King Charles III’s coronation in 2022, incorporates segments of the original, initially created for King Charles II in 1660. Crafted from solid gold, it features 444 gemstones, including rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnets, topaz, and tourmalines, currently housed in the Tower of London as part of the Crown Jewels, awaiting the next royal accession.
Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara
The Lover’s Knot Tiara is among the most distinguished pieces of royal jewellery, gracing the heads of Queen Mary, Princess Diana, and Catherine, Princess of Wales. Initially commissioned from Garrard for Queen Mary in 1913, the design features diamond-studded lover’s knot motifs and 19 dangling pearls. The piece was crafted using jewels and pearls from Queen Mary’s own collection and draws inspiration from the Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara—a treasured piece worn by her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel.
After Queen Mary’s passing, it was inherited by Queen Elizabeth II and later became iconic through its association with Princess Diana, who wore it on numerous occasions until it was secured in the royal vault post-divorce from King Charles III. Almost 20 years later, Kate Middleton—Catherine, Princess of Wales—debuted the coveted Lover’s Knot Tiara during a diplomatic reception in 2015, maintaining possession of it since.
Cartier Halo Tiara
Photo: The Court Jeweller
Photo: The Court Jeweller
Photo: The Court Jeweller
This opulent tiara boasts an impressive 739 brilliant-cut diamonds along with 149 baguette diamonds, later passed to her daughter Queen Elizabeth II on her 18th birthday, although it was never worn publicly during her reign. The piece also adorned her sister, Princess Margaret, in the 1970s. The treasured tiara remained hidden for many years until its revival in 2011 when Kate Middleton elegantly donned it. Due to its smaller size, it has become a perfect “starter tiara” for younger royals, and it is anticipated that this prominent heirloom will next be worn by Princess Charlotte, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Prince Albert’s Sapphire Brooch
Photo: The Court Jeweller
Photo: The Court Jeweller
Photo: The Court Jeweller
Prince Albert’s sapphire brooch stands out as one of the most ancient and recognized heirlooms of the royal family. Queen Victoria received this stunning diamond and sapphire brooch as an exquisite gesture from Prince Albert the day preceding their wedding in 1840. Now appraised at around GBP 8 million, the remarkable piece was created by Garrard, showcasing a magnificent 118.88-carat royal blue Burmese sapphire encircled by 12 brilliant diamonds.
Queen Victoria was deeply impressed by this present, wearing it on her wedding day and recording in her journal that Albert had gifted her “a splendid brooch, a large sapphire set around with diamonds, which is exceptionally beautiful.” For two decades, the brooch was a favorite for Queen Victoria, though she rarely wore it after Prince Albert’s passing. Thanks to her, the brooch remained of historical importance, as her will stated that it should become an “heirloom of the crown,” to be passed to future queens. All four queens and queen consorts since—Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Elizabeth II—have worn it. The brooch became particularly favored by Queen Elizabeth II, who wore it frequently during her 70-year reign.
The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara
Photo: The Royal Watcher
Photo: Garrard
The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara is one of the most frequently seen and emblematic pieces associated with the British Royal Family. This historic tiara, once a daily sight, was adorned by Queen Elizabeth II in her accession photographs for British currency and banknotes in 1952. Crafted by Garrard, it was commissioned by Lady Eva Grenville, daughter of the 4th Earl of Warwick and head of the “Girls of Great Britain and Ireland” fundraising committee, which inspired its name. The tiara was presented as a wedding gift to Queen Mary from Lady Grenville on her wedding to King George V. Eventually, Queen Mary bequeathed it to Queen Elizabeth II on her own wedding day. The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara symbolizes royal familial connections and is valued at an astounding GBP 20 million.
Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara
Photo: The Court Jeweller
Photo: The Royal Watcher
Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara stands out as one of the most splendidly adorned heirlooms in the British Royal family. The Danish princess, who became Queen consort of King Edward VII, was highly esteemed for her taste in luxurious jewels, often seen adorned with layered necklaces, bracelets, and tiaras. Designed by Garrard, the Kokoshnik tiara was commissioned by a group of esteemed aristocratic women known as “Ladies of Society” in honor of Queen Alexandra and King Edward VII’s 25th wedding anniversary in 1888.
Garrard reports that the design was inspired by Queen Alexandra herself, based on a diamond Kokoshnik tiara owned by her sister, Empress Maria Feodorovna. The striking tiara features a halo shape reminiscent of traditional Russian peasant headdresses and incorporates a series of 61 vertical bars set with over 400 matching diamonds, cleverly convertible into a necklace. Queen Alexandra is believed to have worn the tiara often, passing it on to her daughter-in-law Queen Mary, and then on to Queen Elizabeth II. Although no official valuation exists for Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik tiara, it is speculated to be worth tens of millions owing to its historical importance and the sheer volume of diamonds.
Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara
Photo: The Royal Watcher
Photo: The Court Jewels
Photo: Vanity Fair
Dubbed the most beloved royal wedding tiara in history by royal jeweller Garrard, Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara has dressed three royal brides and has been sported by five generations of the royal family. Much like Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik tiara, Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara embodies a similar Russian style silhouette, showcasing graduated bars and diamond-studded elegance, comprising 633 brilliants, 271 rose diamonds, and 47 vertical bars. Designed by Garrard and commissioned by Queen Mary herself in 1919, the tiara stood out to the queen for its lighter and more manageable design for royal duties.
Queen Mary favored this tiara over the Kokoshnik tiara because it was lighter and more comfortable. This tiara gained prominence when Queen Elizabeth II wore it on her wedding to Prince Philip in 1947, having borrowed it from her mother for the occasion. The beloved tiara has since been worn by Princess Anne in 1973 and Princess Beatrice in 2020. Valued between GBP 6.8 to 9 million, this important piece of history is seldom worn in public and is expected to be reserved for notable events.
Princess Diana’s Sapphire Engagement Ring
This unmistakable and vibrant Sapphire engagement ring is a significant piece of history recognized by many from the 2000s era. Featuring a 12 carat blue sapphire surrounded by 14 round-cut diamonds, the ring was personally chosen by Princess Diana, costing GBP 28,500 at the time. Despite its undeniable cultural importance and magnificence, the ring brought controversy during Princess Diana’s engagement to Prince Charles.
While the British royal family typically expects bespoke engagement rings, this one was selected from a catalog by royal jeweler Garrard. Despite the surrounding controversy, Princess Diana was enamored with the ring and continued to wear it on many occasions, even after her divorce from Prince Charles III. Following her tragic passing in 1997, her two sons, Princes William and Harry, inherited the iconic ring. Years later, Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with his late mother’s ring, capturing widespread attention and highlighting the legacy of the “People’s Princess.” Since becoming the Duchess of Wales, Middleton has worn the ring frequently, including during her pregnancies.
Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara
Photo: Garrard
Photo: The Royal Watcher
Photo: The Court Jewels
Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara is one of the oldest and most significant jewels from the Victorian era within the entire Royal collection. This exquisite piece was crafted by Garrard, under Prince Albert’s guidance for his beloved wife Queen Victoria. The tiara is adorned with an astounding 2,600 diamonds and opals—one of Prince Albert’s preferred gemstones—that were later swapped out for rubies based on the belief that opals bring misfortune.
Inspired by the elaborate jewels presented to the Queen by the East India Company in 1851, Prince Albert utilized these gifts to influence the design of the Oriental Circlet Tiara. Queen Victoria was known to wear this tiara often until she replaced its colorful gemstones with mourning jewelry after the death of Prince Albert. Though the stunning tiara continued to belong to the family, it was passed to Queen Victoria’s daughter-in-law Alexandra, who reportedly wore it only once. The tiara stayed hidden until the 1930s when it was worn by the Queen Mother, who was often photographed adorned with this royal heirloom. After the passing of King George VI in 1952, Queen Elizabeth II inherited this notable tiara, which she has only publicly displayed once, in 2005.
Queen Alexandra’s Wedding Parure
Queen Alexandra’s Wedding Parure was a wedding gift from her husband, King Edward VII, associated with intrigue over a missing tiara. Created in 1862, the set included a tiara, necklace, brooch, and earrings, all intricately adorned with diamonds and pearl accents. Queen Alexandra wore every piece of the parure with the exception of the tiara, often mixing and matching them for significant events, such as in her portrait from 1864.
Upon Queen Alexandra’s death, she left no will, leading to uncertainty about the tiara, which was believed to have been “disposed” of by her daughter Victoria, while Queen Mary inherited the rest of the parure. Today, the necklace, brooch, and earrings remain within the royal family’s custody and were donned by Kate Middleton for the first time in 2020.
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