Revealed: What Duchess Kate Inherited From Princess Diana?
Princess Diana left tons of jewelry to her sons, in hopes that one day they would give her precious collection to their future wives. And Prince Williams wife, Kate Middleton, got some of the Princess’s most iconic jewels.
Kate has been seen wearing her late mother-in-law’s jewelry on multiple occasions. This first piece she ever got that belonged to Diana was actually her engagement ring, according to some sources.
Another item from Diana’s collection that Kate Middleton has been seen wearing is the Lover’s Knot Tiara, which was given to Diana by the Queen as a wedding present. The diamonds and pearls that adorned the tiara were made way back in 1914.
After her wedding to Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge also inherited a pair of Diana’s sapphire earrings. Kate gave the earrings a new look, now with a drop style, which looks splendid on the Duchess of Cambridge.
The Duchess has also worn a pearl bracelet, made by Nigel Milne in 1988 for Diana at a reception in Berlin.
In Princess Diana’s will, it said that after her death the 21 million pound estate she owned to be split among her children, Prince William and Prince Harry, and her 17 godchildren.
But in a different “letter of wishes”, the People’s Princess demanded that her two sons end up with exclusive rights on her jewelry.
In the letter, Princess Diana wrote: “I would like you to divide my personal chattels at your discretion between my sons and godchildren, the division being three quarters to my sons and one quarter to my godchildren.
“But I would like you to allocate all my jewelry to the share to be held by my sons, so that their wives may, in due course, have it or use it.
“I leave the exact division of the jewelry to your discretion.”
This loose division of her jewelry didn’t create any problem between the brothers, according to the rumors that emerged in the 2010s.
Harry’s initial pick from Diana’s jewelry collection was her sapphire ring, which was given to her by his father Prince Charles as an engagement ring. However, he gave it up when he realized how in love William was with Kate, instead opting to take his mothers Cartier watch.
William carried the ring with him for three weeks while he was on holiday with Kate in Mount Kenya, until finally proposing during the trip in 2010.
After the announcement of the engagement, the Duke of Cambridge said: “It’s my mother’s engagement ring, and it’s very special to me, as Kate is very special to me now as well.
“It was only right the two were put together.
“It was my way of making sure mother didn’t miss out on today and the excitement.”
Material things won’t be the only things that Kate Middleton will be inheriting from her late mother-in-law. She will also inherit the title of Princess of Whales. When the Queen dies, Prince Charles will become King, which will make Prince William the next Prince of Whales and his wife Kate the Princess.