Kate Middleton borrowed her favourite glittering teardrop earrings from the Queen’s jewellery box for last night’s NATO reception at Buckingham Palace
- Kate Middleton, 37, attended NATO reception at Buckingham Palace last night
- Wore emerald Emilia Wickstead dress and accessorised with Queen’s earrings
- Her Majesty, 93, has lent the Duchess of Cambridge the diamond pieces before
Kate Middleton borrowed a pair of the Queen’s glittering teardrop earrings for the NATO reception at Buckingham Palace last night.
The Duchess of Cambridge, 37, looked elegant in an emerald green £1,000 Emilia Wickstead dress and accessorised with the dangling diamond jewels for the occasion.
The Queen, 93, was first seen wearing the stunning earrings at the State Opening of Parliament in 2012, but they have been seen gracing Kate’s ears on several occasions since, most notably at a gala held at Kensington Palace in November 2017.
The monarch lends pieces from her personal collection to members of the royal family for formal occasions and state visits, at her own discretion.
The Duchess of Cambridge, 37, borrowed a pair of the Queen’s glittering diamond earrings for the NATO reception at Buckingham Palace last night
The Queen was first snapped wearing the teardrop diamond jewels for the State Opening of Parliament in 2012
Kate Middleton’s pendants feature a large hoop of single diamonds, with a scalloped edge, hanging from a smaller cluster of diamonds
Kate joined the Queen in welcoming a host of NATO leaders to Buckingham Palace for the glitzy reception this evening.
Attendees included Prince Charles and Camilla, as well as President Trump and Melania Trump among other world leaders.
The Duchess looked in high spirits as she was pictured mingling with guests at the high profile event, flashing a glimpse of her sapphire engagement ring.
But Kate kept her look elegant and chic in a bold green dress, drawing attention to the Queen’s shimmering diamond earrings.
The earrings appear to be a favourite of Kate’s, with the royal also wearing them for a 2017 Gala Dinner for The Anna Freud National Centre held at Kensington Palace, as well as on a royal trip to Norway in 2018
While the Royal Collection is held in trust by the Sovereign for her successors and the nation, and is not owned by The Queen as a private individual, Her Majesty also has her own private collection of jewellery.
Kate has stepped out in the stunning teardrop-shaped diamond adornments on several occasions since joining the royal family.
She donned the pieces for a gala dinner at Kensington Palace in 2017, and last year wore the jewels for a dinner at the royal palace in Norway.
Each pendant features a large hoop of single diamonds, with a scalloped edge, hanging from a smaller cluster of diamonds and surrounding a pendant which can include a large diamond or emerald.
The Duchess donned an emerald green Emilia Wickstead dress costing £1,000, and accessorised with the dangling jewels
The royal appeared relaxed as she rubbed shoulders with politicians and world leaders at the event at Buckingham Palace
While the origin of the jewels is unknown, some have speculated that they could have been created from a brooch worn by Queen Mary, the Queen’s grandmother.
Earlier this year the royal family hit back at claims the Queen ‘banned’ the Duchess of Sussex from wearing some of the priceless items from her own private collection.
A palace insider reportedly claimed priceless items from Her Majesty’s private collection, which are loaned at her discretion, ‘would not be made available to Meghan.’
But a Buckingham Palace insider rubbished the claims, telling MailOnline that the Queen still lends her jewellery to the Duchess of Sussex – including the headpiece she wore at her wedding in May.