Meghan Markle dazzles down under with a £400,000 jewellery collection that includes a £150k diamond bracelet and butterfly earrings once worn by Princess Diana
During her courtship with Prince Harry, the Duchess of Sussex became known for making subtle statements with her jewellery, hinting at the state of her relationship without whispering a word.
For example, when the romance began, the couple wore matching beaded bracelets.
And then, as rumours gathered of an engagement, she wore a gold ‘promise ring’ engraved with the letter H.
CONTEMPORARY: Meghan wears an Omeen bangle, £160, Oshna bangle, £115, and a pair of Peepal Leaf earrings, £2,959, all designed by Canadian jeweller Pippa Small
But, since her wedding, Meghan, 37, has quietly amassed a jewellery collection fit for a Duchess.
And what better time to flaunt it than on this tour – the jewels Meghan has worn so far are estimated to be worth more than £400,000.
Not only has her husband given her some of his mother’s precious heirlooms, but she has been given gifts by her father-in-law Prince Charles and grandmother-in-law the Queen too.
DAZZLING: Meghan’s 2.5 carat diamond engagement ring, that was estimated to have cost Harry an eye-watering £122,500, which she has paired with a £950 Shaun Leane diamond bracelet
Rings with a secret
Meghan’s stack of three rings by Canadian jeweller Ecksand sparked a frenzy of speculation, with Twitter fans suggesting the rings hinted at an April birth for her baby.
One Royal-watcher, @DuchyofSuccess, posted: ‘I’m hoping Meghan’s stacked rings represent their birthstones and Baby Sussex is an April baby.
Meghan’s birthstone – green peridot [the ring is actually emerald]; Baby Sussex birthstone – diamond; Harry’s birthstone – blue sapphire.’
Meghan’s stack of three rings by Canadian jeweller Ecksand sparked a frenzy of speculation, with Twitter fans suggesting the rings hinted at an April birth for her baby
Here are some of her showstoppers – from heirlooms to stackable rings and ethical stones…
MODERN: British designer Shaun Leane’s Talon earrings, £225 (left) ROYAL GIFTS: Diamond bracelet from Charles worth £150,000, and diamond and pearl earrings from the Queen, worth £4,275 (right)
SAPPHIRES: Drop studs by Canadian jeweller Birks, thought to be the most expensive Meghan has worn and valued at £13,082 (left) TRIO: Three Stone necklace by Pippa Small, worth around £1,500 right)
Poignant tribute to Diana
The beautiful butterfly earrings Meghan wore on day one of the tour were first worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, on her 1986 tour of Canada when Harry was still a toddler.
The bracelet Meghan wore on the same day in Australia was also Diana’s. She was spotted wearing it in 1990, on a visit to a housing estate in East London.
The beautiful butterfly earrings Meghan wore on day one of the tour were first worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, on her 1986 tour of Canada when Harry was still a toddler
In Tonga, Meghan teamed her white Theia Couture gown with Princess Diana’s aquamarine ring – it had its first outing during the Duchess of Sussex’s evening wedding reception in May.
The Asprey ring is believed to have been given to Diana by a friend after her 1996 divorce from the Prince of Wales.
Princess Diana first wore the earrings on her royal tour of Canada in May 1986, pictured. She styled them with a matching necklace and a cobalt blue suit and hat by Catherine Walker