She might have grown up in a solidly middle-class family, but only six years after marrying Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge has quietly amassed a personal jewellery collection worthy of a princess.
Kate doesn’t just have access to the Queen’s priceless gems. Increasingly, she can pick accessories from her own high-end pieces.
The duchess’s collection is hard to value precisely, given the unique nature of some of her jewels.
The sapphire and diamond engagement ring that belonged to Princess Diana, for example, presented by William to his fiancee, would cost in the region of £300,000 if it were to be commissioned today.
The Duchess of Cambridge was photographed wearing a £300,000 Garrard ring and Cartier watch in Heidelberg, Germany, in July this year
Her ring (left) is from Garrard and would cost some £300,000 if made today. Her Ballon Bleu de Cartier (right) is worth £4,600 and believed to be a present from William
Kate (pictured in 2013, left) was wearing a £150,000 bracelet which was said to be a present from Prince Charles. She was wearing a £1,950 Monica Vinader Riva Diamond Bib necklace and £745 Riva Diamond Cluster earrings in London back in 2014 (right)
In July 2012, Kate was seen wearing a £55,000 Cartier pendant (left) which features five diamond-studded hoops in white, yellow ad rose gold (right)
The Duchess of Cambridge attended SportsAid’s 40th anniversary dinner on June 9, 2016 in London
During that event, she was wearing a £35,700 pair of Cartier earrings which are presumed to be gifts from William
But given its provenance the ring would fetch ten times that figure, or more, if it ever came up for auction – something the Royal Family would never countenance.
According to a new book, How To Dress Like A Princess: The Secrets Of Kate’s Wardrobe, Kate’s collection is worth £600,000.
But that doesn’t include pieces such as the £150,000 diamond bracelet thought to be a gift from Prince Charles, or items given to Kate in her role as a member of the Royal Family – such as the diamond and platinum polar bear brooch presented during the royal tour of Canada.
This means the true value of her collection is likely to be closer to £1million.
The duchess, 35, has a distinctive style when it comes to her jewellery. She has 40 pairs of earrings, especially favouring those that dangle and show off her elegant neck.
She also has a preference for matching sets of earrings and necklaces, from the diamond parure (the name for a set of jewels designed to be worn together) her parents gave her on her marriage, to the £55,000 Cartier ring necklace and a pair of £35,700 matching earrings William is believed to have splashed out on for her.
The book’s author, Claudia Joseph, says the duchess has a ‘magpie-like eye’ for jewellery.
‘Although people tend to focus on the incredible gems and tiaras that she borrows from the Queen, most people will be amazed to see the extraordinary collection she has amassed since her marriage,’ she adds.
‘Not only did her husband give her Princess Diana’s fabulous engagement ring, but he has given her birthday, Christmas and ‘push presents’ [to mark the births of Prince George and Princess Charlotte].’
Not bad for a girl who grew up in the Home Counties…
- How To Dress Like A Princess: The Secrets Of Kate’s Wardrobe, by Claudia Joseph, is published by Splendid Publications on September 19 at £12.99. Offer price £9.74 (25 per cent discount) until September 19 at mailbookshop.co.uk or call 0844 571 0640; p&p is free on orders over £15.
The Duchess was wearing a £14,300 pair of Robinson Pelham earrings (left) in 2015. In 2014, she was wearing a £12,100 Asprey gold necklace in Australia (right)
From jeweller Robinson Pelham, these topaz and diamond earrings were a gift from William
This £12,100 Asprey gold necklace is made up of an acorn, left, an oak leaf and a mushroom
In 2015, Kate wore a tanzanite necklace, worth £8,475, and matching £8,750 earrings in London (left). In July this year, during a visit to Germany, she wore a £3,500 pair of earrings
Kate was wearing a G Collins & Sons £8,475 tanzanite necklace (left) in 2015 and this year she wore £3,500 diamond earrings by Kiki McDonough (right)
In February 2014, Kate opened the new ICAP Art Room at Northholt High School in London and was wearing a £3,950 Mappin & Webb pendant
During the event in London, she was wearing Kiki McDonough £1,400 amethyst earrings
The Duchess was also wearing a £3,950 Mappin & Webb ‘Fortune’ pendant (pictured)
In Windsor, Kate was seen wearing a £2,000 Diamond ‘Empress’ pendant from Mappin & Webb last year (left). In 2011, she was wearing £795 earrings by Kiki McDonough
In 2014, in Aldershot, Hampshire, (left) Kate was pictured wearing a £620 Tissot Bridgeport Automatic Lady watch with mother of pearl face and crystal chips at the hour points (right)
By Oscar de la Renta, these £371 red ‘pom pom’ earrings create a dramatic look when worn with her Marchesa Notte dress in London this year
In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Duchess of Cambridge attended an official dinner and was wearing an earrings and bracelet combination worth £580
She was wearing £150 gold earrings by Catherine Zoralda and a bracelet which is worth £430
In September 2016, Kate was wearing £130 pearl earrings from the Soru Jewellery boutique on King’s Road, London
Kate was bought this £79 Merci Maman necklace by sister Pippa after the birth of Prince George
This ‘Sparkly Bead Crystal Necklace’ was probably picked up from Zara for £19.99 and was worn by Kate in 2013