The Most Valuable Royal Jewelry in the World

Worn By: Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge
Owned Since: 1900s
Estimated Value: $500,000*

This stunning band of diamonds was once worn as a choker by Queen Mary, the Queen’s grandmother. These days, it’s a bracelet that looks just as breathtaking sat on the wrist of Kate Middleton. 

Queen Mary’s Diamond Bar Choker Bracelet Kate Middleton ©Stephen Pond / Gettyimages.com

Kate has worn it several times, but the Queen Mother also loved it. In fact, she chose to wear the piece in her official 75th birthday portraits taken by Norman Parkinson. While the Duchess of Cambridge looks charming and elegant with it, the Queen Mother gave it a whole different lease of life. 

The Queen Mother passed away a year before Kate started dating Prince William in 2002, so the Duchess never got a chance to meet her husband’s great grandmother. Something tells us that HRH would’ve approved of Will’s choice. If anyone is going to do this bracelet justice, it’s Kate.  

Worn By: Queen Elizabeth II
Owned Since: 1947
Estimated Value: $207,000*

Royal weddings have always been a big deal in Britain and other territories. Family members and friends of the happy couple flock to give gifts that are truly worthy of the occasion. In 1947 when Elizabeth married Prince Philip, her grandmother Queen Mary gave her the exquisite Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. 

Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara Queen Elizabeth II @The Telegraph / @ Forbes / Pinterest.com

Thought to be worth around $207,000 in today’s money, the stunning diamond tiara is one of Queen Elizabeth’s most prized possessions. It certainly beats the $100 Amazon gift card that most of us get when we tie the knot!

It isn’t quite as big as some of the other diadems in Elizabeth’s collection, but when it comes to sheer value size doesn’t always matter. This tiara is chic enough to be worn to many different occasions, which is why the Queen loves it so much. 

Worn By: Princess Diana
Owned Since: 1914
Estimated Value: $4 million*

The Lover’s Knot Tiara has gained more attention in recent years as Kate Middleton’s most favorite headpiece. It’s not hard to see why the Duchess loves it so much. After all, it’s striking and the diamond and pearl topper previously belonged to the mother-in-law Kate never got to meet, Diana. 

Queen Mary's Lover's Knot Tiara Princess Diana ©Anwar Hussein / Gettyimages.com

Queen Mary had the diadem commissioned in 1914 before it eventually made its way down the line. Queen Elizabeth II gave it to Princess Diana as a wedding gift, but Diana had to return it upon her split with Charles in the ‘90s. Its rich history means it’s likely worth somewhere in the region of $4 million.

Even though Diana had to part with it after the breakdown of her marriage, she got plenty of use out of it during the years preceding. With its large pearls and simple knotted diamonds, the Lover’s Knot Tiara is arguably one of the finest pieces in the collection. 

Worn By: Queen Elizabeth II
Owned Since: 1970s
Estimated Value: $200,000*

Queen Elizabeth II has always been partial to the odd pearl or two, so perhaps that’s where Diana got her love of them. Her Majesty commissioned the special four-row pearl choker sometime in the ‘70s. It may not be the most expensive piece in Liz’s collection, but it has a rich history. 

The Four-Row Pearl Choker Queen Elizabeth II ©Tim Graham / Gettyimages.com

Diana wore it numerous times before Kate Middleton became the next owner. The Duchess was spotted wearing it for the Queen and Prince Philip’s 70th-anniversary party at Windsor Castle back in 2017, proving that pieces like this really don’t have a shelf life.  

As for the Queen herself, it’s been some time since she has been seen wearing it. It could be that Liz doesn’t want to be reminded of her fallen daughter-in-law, or she could simply be spoilt for choice. After all, the Queen has plenty of pearls. 

Worn By: Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex
Owned Since: 1932
Estimated Value: $2.5 million*

Like any bride marrying into the Royal Family, Meghan Markle had to borrow a tiara from the collection to top off her outfit. Queen Elizabeth kindly loaned her Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau worth over $2.5 million for her special day. 

Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau Meghan Markle @Joanne VanCoevern / Pinterest.com | @NEWS HOUR / Youtube.com

The tiara was originally made to house a diamond brooch for Queen Mary back in 1932 and comes in eleven sections, making it incredibly versatile. The finely cut pave diamonds looked stunning atop the Duchess of Sussex’s veil back in 2018 as they glittered with every camera flash.

It must’ve been hard for Meghan to pick just one out of the many she would’ve been offered, but the simplicity and clean lines of the bandeau complimented her dress. Meghan paired the tiara with simple diamond earrings that glittered in the sunlight.

Worn By: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
Owned Since: 1942
Estimated Value: $3 million*

The younger generation of royals tend not to go for over the top, elaborate headpieces. Instead, they prefer the more intricate ones in the collection. The same can’t be said for the Duchess of Cornwall, who has been spotted in the elaborate Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara. 

The Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall ©Chris Jackson / Gettyimages.com

The Queen Mother received the incredible tiara as a gift back in 1942, before having it altered by none other than Cartier. The main piece features three enormous diamonds set in hexagons and – of course – more diamonds. Worth $3 million, it’s kept tightly under lock and key when it’s not being worn. 

As we already know, Camilla isn’t afraid to make a statement with her choice in jewels. Few royals would be quite as bold, even though the Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara is stunning. It takes a lot of confidence to pull something like this off. Luckily, Camilla has that in spades. 

Worn By: Queen Elizabeth II
Owned Since: 1905
Estimated Value: $50 million*

$50 million is a huge value to place on anything, let alone a piece of jewelry. The price of this brooch seems extortionate, even for Queen Elizabeth II, but there’s a good reason behind it. Made up of cuttings from the Cullinan Diamond discovered in 1905, it’s wonderfully rare and one of a kind. 

"Granny's Chips" Brooch Queen Elizabeth II ©WPA Pool / ©Peter Macdiarmid / Gettyimages.com

After the diamond was presented to King Edward VII, he had it shaped into a 94.4 carat stone which he gave to his wife. Queen Mary later handed it down to Queen Elizabeth, who lovingly refers to it as the “Granny’s Chips” Brooch.

For the rest of Britain, “Granny’s Chips” would probably refer to dinner, not a huge diamond that happens to be worth $50 million. If there was ever a sign that Her Majesty has it better than most of her public, this is it. 

Worn By: Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge
Owned Since: 1863
Estimated Value: $1.6 million*

Prince Albert thought long and hard about what to give his bride Princess Alexandra of Denmark for their wedding day in 1863. The future king spent £13,680 on the incredible parure that included this diamond necklace, a brooch, and a pair of earrings. In today’s money, that’s an eye-watering $1.6 million. 

Queen Alexandra’s Wedding Necklace Kate Middleton @courtjeweller / Twitter.com @seyhan / Pinterest.com

The necklace was handed down to the Queen Mother, aka Elizabeth II’s mom. The Queen Mother enjoyed it and wore it often, right up until her passing in 2002. It was then kept under lock and key until the Duchess of Cambridge was spotted wearing it to a banquet in 2018. You wouldn’t find this at Tiffany’s.

Kate looked flawless when she sported it that special night as she paired it with pearl drop earrings and an equally breathtaking tiara. It’s not always easy being a Duchess and the wife of a future king, but gifts like this certainly help. 

Worn By: Princess Anne
Owned Since: 1919
Estimated Value: $5 million*

The Queen Mary Fringe Tiara has such a wonderful and rich history it’s not hard to see why it was once valued at $5 million. The stunning diamond piece was actually a necklace passed down by Queen Victoria to Queen Mary. Mary eventually had it reworked into a tiara. 

The Queen Mary Fringe Tiara Princess Anne @Cookie Torres / @Patricia Rangel / Pinterest.com

While Princess Anne has worn the elaborate headpiece made from gold, silver, and diamonds most often, Queen Elizabeth II wore it on her wedding day to Prince Philip. The tiara came unhinged on the morning of the wedding, causing the Queen Mother to calmly state, “We have two hours and there are other tiaras.” 

Princess Anne also followed in her mom’s footsteps and sported the tiara for her wedding to Captain Mark Phillips in 1973. The marriage may have ended in 1989, but the photos of Anne wearing the diadem will live on in the history books forever. 

Worn By: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
Owned Since: 2000
Estimated Value: $30,000*

Gorgeous stones like pink topaz are the epitome of luxury for those with enough cash to make the purchase. A set of topaz antique gems went on sale at Sotheby’s back in 2000, before eagle-eyed fans noticed Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall was wearing them. 

The Duchess of Cornwall's Pink Topaz Choker @disqus / Pinterest.com

The necklace is the life and soul of the party, combining one huge stone with several rows of pearls. Although it’s impossible to know the exact value of the entire piece itself, the set of jewels sold for $28,000 at the original auction in 2000. The Duchess could be spotted wearing the choker at Harry and Meghan’s wedding, which was aired on CBS.

The very fact that Camilla chose to wear this particular necklace out of all the others in her collection for such a momentous occasion speaks volumes about how she feels about it. There aren’t all that many pink jewels in the royal family, so this one certainly sticks out. 

Worn By: Kate Middleton
Owned Since: 2011
Estimated Value: $18,000*

Kate Middleton’s parents obviously put a lot of thought into what to give their daughter for her wedding day. She was marrying the future king, after all. The Middletons had custom-made earrings designed to feature oak leaves and acorns, each representing Kate and her siblings. 

Kate Middleton’s Acron & Oak Leaf Wedding Earrings @WhatKateWore / Twitter.com | @Kate Ives / Pinterest.com

The sentimental treat wasn’t a cheap one, costing the bride’s family $18,000. It was worth every penny considering how happy Kate looked on the day – and how well the earrings matched her wedding look. The droplet earrings will likely be passed down to Princess Charlotte.

Almost everything from Kate’s bridal look became immensely popular in the years following the wedding. Brides flocked to copy Kate’s lace wedding dress, while others searched across the internet for similar (not quite so expensive) earrings! When Meghan and Harry tied the knot in 2018, many were quick to compare.

Worn By: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
Owned Since: 1923
Estimated Value: $200,000*

Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, has been spotted wearing the Queen Mother’s Amethyst Heart necklace on several occasions. This piece might not be quite as out there as some other necklaces in the royal collection, but it’s just as beautiful. 

Camilla's Amethyst Heart Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall ©Max Mumby/Indigo / Gettyimages.com

The large heart-shaped amethyst pendant is a striking shade of purple and was first gifted to the Queen Mother on her wedding day in 1923. The diamond-set stone is perfectly set off by a chain of diamonds and pearls, putting its value somewhere in the region of $200,000. Prince Charles allegedly loves the necklace, so it makes sense Camilla ended up wearing it.

To the untrained eye it looks a little bit like the famous Heart of the Ocean from James Cameron’s hit ‘90s CBS movie, Titanic. However, the Heart of the Ocean was a sapphire and fictional. There’s nothing made up about this giant gem!

Worn By: Princess Diana
Owned Since: Unknown
Estimated Value: $200,000*

Princess Diana loved to wear chokers, especially pearl ones. They matched her beauty unlike anything else. Diana had several different types, including an eleven-strand pearl choker with diamond and ruby spacers. It was one of her more understated pieces, but one she wore on many different occasions. 

The Eleven-Strand Pearl Choker Princess Diana ©Princess Diana Archive / Gettyimages.com

The late Diana’s jewelry is often a source of intrigue for royal fans because of her own tragic tale. When she passed away in 1997, Diana’s jewelry collection was inherited by her sons in order for them to give it to their wives. Both Meghan and Kate have been seen wearing certain items of Diana’s when featured on news outlets like Fox.

We have yet to see either of the Duchesses sporting this impressive choker, but maybe the occasion just hasn’t arrived yet. On the flip side, it’s an impressive piece but not exactly a timeless one. Chokers of this substance are hard to pull off these days.

Worn By: Queen Elizabeth II
Owned Since: 1840
Estimated Value: $4 million*

Queen Victoria may be remembered as a particularly stern and stoic queen, but back in 1840 she was just another blushing bride. Prince Albert gave his wife a gorgeous sapphire brooch, aptly titled The Prince Albert Brooch. It’s thought that the enormous stone set in diamonds is worth $4 million.

The Prince Albert Brooch Queen Elizabeth II ©Chris Jackson / Gettyimages.com

Queen Victoria designated it an “heirloom of the crown” meaning that only Queens or Queen Consorts could wear it. Queen Elizabeth II, like her mother before her, is partial to wearing the glittering piece and has been spotted sporting it on many different occasions. It’s certainly not costume jewelry like you’d see on Netflix’s The Crown. 

Her Majesty is partial to matching her jewelry to her outfits, so this stunning sapphire can often be seen when Elizabeth is dressed up to the nines in blue. Fashions may have changed over the years, but Liz’s love of coordination has never waned.