NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Lifestyle

How Kate Middleton's jewellery box is a tribute to Princess Diana

Daily Mail
22 Aug, 2017 01:34 AM6 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

From a hand-me-down bracelet given to her by William to the necklace that the Princess of Wales inspired her to buy. Photos / Getty

From a hand-me-down bracelet given to her by William to the necklace that the Princess of Wales inspired her to buy. Photos / Getty

It is no secret that the impressive engagement ring that Prince William presented to Kate in 2010 had previously belonged to his mother, Princess Diana.

However, the glistening sapphire and diamond rock is not the only tribute the Duchess of Cambridge makes to her late mother-in-law.

According to the href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-4806752/How-Kate-s-jewellery-box-tribute-Diana.html" target="_blank">Daily Mail it seems that Kate's jewellery box is littered with hand-me-down pieces belonging to the Princess of Wales as well as items she has been inspired to buy because of Diana.

From the iconic tiara that has been passed down through generations of royals to the necklace that new mother Kate purchased after seeing Diana's - here FEMAIL reveal the Duchess' most sentimental accessories.

THE SECOND HAND BRACELET BELOVED BY BOTH WOMEN

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The Duchess of Cambridge was pictured wearing an elegant pearl bracelet during a reception at Berlin's Clärchens Ballhaus on their final night of their royal tour of Germany in July.

It has since emerged that the original owner of the accessory was Diana who was spotted wearing the piece on various occasions before her untimely death.

The bracelet's designer Nigel Milne was surprised to see the jewellery been worn again decades after he created the piece in 1988.

Milne and his wife Cherry decided to produce several pieces of jewellery with proceeds of the sales going to charity BIRTHRIGHT, of which Diana is patron.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Kate wearing the bracelet in Germany. Photo / Getty
Kate wearing the bracelet in Germany. Photo / Getty

One of the pieces was the bracelet that could be seen adorning Kate's wrist and that Diana wore on several occasions including at the Birthright Ball in 1989 and with her iconic Catherine Walker "Elvis" dress.

On his website the British jeweller writes: "I am delighted to see in the national press that the Duchess of Cambridge chose to wear one of her late mother-in-law's favourite pearl and diamond bracelets on the Royal Tour in Germany last week.

The bracelet's designer Nigel Milne was surprised to see the jewellery been worn again decades after he created the piece in 1988. Photo / Getty
The bracelet's designer Nigel Milne was surprised to see the jewellery been worn again decades after he created the piece in 1988. Photo / Getty

"This look was very typical of the style of jewellery that we were making at that time. The Princess of Wales was the most wonderful inspiration for us jewellers in that she wore her jewellery with such style and panache."

THE FAMILY HEIRLOOM TIARA

Despite her title it is a rare occasion to see the Duchess of Cambridge in a tiara, however, when the occasion does arise, there is one crown that Kate seems to favour.

Discover more

Royals

Moment our father told us our mother was dead

23 Aug 01:49 AM

Her royal highness is most often seen in a pearl Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara a piece beloved by William's late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

The tiara was made by Royal jewellers Garrard in 1914 to Queen Mary's personal design, from pearls and diamonds already in her family's possession.

Kate wearing the tiara in 2016. Photo / Getty
Kate wearing the tiara in 2016. Photo / Getty

It was a copy of one owned by her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse, who married the first Duke of Cambridge, seventh son of King George III, in 1818.

In her will Queen Mary left the tiara to to the Queen who wore it frequently, including at an evening event in 1955.

In 1981 she gave it as a wedding present to Prince William's mother, Diana, who wore it for the first time at the state opening of parliament that November.

Diana also wore the tiara in 1985 on an official visit to Washington with Prince Charles. And since her death the glistening head piece has been worn by the Duchess of Cambridge who was most recently spotted wearing it at the state dinner during Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI's visit.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

THE ENGAGEMENT RING THAT GOT A SECOND CHANCE

The ring Prince William gave to Kate Middleton in late 2010 is among the most famous in the world. Lady Diana Spencer chose it for her engagement to Prince Charles in 1981 from a selection presented to her by the then Crown jewellers, Garrard of Mayfair.

Diana pictured wearing the ring in 1991. Photo / Getty
Diana pictured wearing the ring in 1991. Photo / Getty

The statement piece consists of an oval 12-carat Ceylon sapphire surrounded by a cluster of 14 solitaire diamonds set in white gold.

It cost $50,184 in 1981, but its legacy as the engagement ring worn by both Princess Diana and the Duchess of Cambridge makes it priceless.

Kate wearing her engagement ring in 2012. Photo / Getty
Kate wearing her engagement ring in 2012. Photo / Getty

Unusually for a member of the Royal Family, it was not unique and any member of the public could buy the same ring from the Garrard catalogue.

DIANA'S FAVOURITE ARABIAN SAPPHIRE EARRINGS

These earrings - a single Saudi Arabian sapphire surrounded by ten round diamonds - became Diana's favourites, worn to mark Prince Harry's birth in 1984.

Diana wears the earrings in 1986. Photo / Getty
Diana wears the earrings in 1986. Photo / Getty

They're believed to have come from the strap of the watch she was given as a wedding present from the Saudi Crown Prince, recognisable because of the rare faceted sapphires.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The earrings originally featured four sapphire and diamond clusters - two of which were detachable pendant drops - but Diana preferred to wear the earrings without the extra sapphires.

Kate pictured in the earrings in 2011. Photo / Getty
Kate pictured in the earrings in 2011. Photo / Getty

The earrings became part of Diana's bequest to her sons. Shortly after their engagement in 2010, Prince William gave them to Kate, who put her own twist on them with a drop style.

THE NECKLACE THAT KATE WEARS AS TRIBUTE TO DIANA

A gift from Charles to mark William's birth in 1982, a gold hoop style necklace, commonly called a "torque", bore a gold disc engraved with "William" written in Charles's distinctive loopy handwriting

Diana regularly wore the pendant in private, but appeared in public in it just once: at a polo match at Windsor in August that same year.

Today, the Duchess of Cambridge owns a similar pendant, an $156 gold chain from London boutique Merci Maman, bought by her sister Pippa in 2014.

Like Diana's, hers bears her son's name - as well as a discreet W.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

AND THE ONE PIECE GIFTED FROM CAMILLA

As well as the many accessories influenced by her mother-in-law the Duchess has also been seen wearing a tribute to her step-mother-in-law.

Shortly after her wedding in 2011 Kate was pictured on several occasions wearing an elegant gold charm bracelet with two Cs engraved on it.

Shortly after her wedding in 2011 Kate was pictured on several occasions wearing an elegant gold charm bracelet with two 'Cs' engraved on it. Photo / Getty
Shortly after her wedding in 2011 Kate was pictured on several occasions wearing an elegant gold charm bracelet with two 'Cs' engraved on it. Photo / Getty

It was reported that the bracelet was a touching present from Camilla Parker Bowles, who has also worn a similar version of the bracelet on her wrist.

A source close to the young couple told The Daily Express it was a wedding present, before hastily insisting: "We're not saying from whom, as it was a personal wedding gift. It's a private ­matter."

The disc charm has Catherine's monogram on one side, and Camilla's on the other. Both are Cs are under a coronet, but Kate's C has an extra curl, while Camilla's is surrounded by a circle.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

Lifestyle

Watch: Monteith’s Wild Food Challenge final returns to Auckland after 11 year hiatus

18 Jun 06:32 AM
Premium
Lifestyle

How healthy is chicken breast?

18 Jun 06:00 AM
Premium
Lifestyle

I thought I was a ‘moderate’ drinker until I started tracking my alcohol

18 Jun 12:00 AM

Sponsored: Embrace the senses

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

Watch: Monteith’s Wild Food Challenge final returns to Auckland after 11 year hiatus

Watch: Monteith’s Wild Food Challenge final returns to Auckland after 11 year hiatus

18 Jun 06:32 AM

A live cook-off featured ox heart, wapiti, wild boar and plenty of edible wildlife.

Premium
How healthy is chicken breast?

How healthy is chicken breast?

18 Jun 06:00 AM
Premium
I thought I was a ‘moderate’ drinker until I started tracking my alcohol

I thought I was a ‘moderate’ drinker until I started tracking my alcohol

18 Jun 12:00 AM
Premium
UK sculptor claims NZ artwork copied his design, seeks recognition

UK sculptor claims NZ artwork copied his design, seeks recognition

17 Jun 10:23 PM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP