Despite their ready access to some of the most desirable jewels in the world, the royals are also fond of wearing modest accessories – particularly if they have a personal or family connection.
Kate and Meghan frequently remember their children with what they wear, for example. And the same is true of Sarah Ferguson and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
Here The Mail’s new Royals section takes a look at the royal tributes with the most heartfelt meaning in the simplest of jewellery.
On a visit to the Children’s Centre in Cardiff in 2022, Kate wore a £1,000 gold disc by British jeweller Daniella Draper inscribed with the letters ‘G’, ‘C’, and ‘L’ in honour of her children
Meghan kept her boys close to her heart with a gold ‘dog-tag’ necklace adorned with the letters ‘H’ and ‘A’ during a trip to New York in 2019
Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales
The Princess of Wales’ pride as a mother has inspired some of her sweetest articles of jewellery.
A few months after the birth of Prince George, Kate , 41, wore Merci Maman’s famously re-named ‘The Duchess’ necklace, inscribed with her firstborn’s name and a heart-shaped charm inscribed with the letter ‘W’ for her husband William, 40.
It was later revealed that the sentimental design had been given to the then Duchess of Cambridge by her sister Pippa.
On a visit to The Ely & Caerau Children’s Centre in Cardiff in January 2022, Kate wore a £1,000 gold disc by British jeweller Daniella Draper inscribed with the letters ‘G’, ‘C’, and ‘L’, in honour of her children, Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four.
The Princess of Wales’ pride as a mother has inspired some of her sweetest articles of jewellery
The personalised Gold Midnight Moon design – which is also engraved with three small stars – retails for £1,070.
In September 2020, Kate opted for the personalised gold necklace from All The Falling Stars, engraved with the letters ‘G, L, C’ in honour of her children as she met fellow parents in Battersea Park.
Another personalised item in Kate’s jewellery box is a bracelet from her mother-in-law, Camilla, following her wedding to William at Westminster Abbey in 2011.
The gold chain-link bracelet features an engraved disc with both of their monograms – a ‘C’ for Catherine and a coronet, and a ‘C’ for Camilla and a crown on the other side.
Kate has been pictured wearing it on several occasions, including at Wimbledon in 2011.
Kate wore the gold chain-link bracelet from Camilla during Wimbledon 2011
Queen Camilla
While Queen Camilla is known to support Royal Family heirlooms along with gifts from her husband King Charles, one piece of jewellery she is frequently spotted wearing surprisingly has no royal links.
Camilla’s treasured piece is a gold necklace engraved with the initials of her grandchildren, born to her children Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes.
It is engraved with five letters to represent her grandchildren on her non-royal family’s side: ‘L’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘L’ and ‘E’ for Lola, Freddy, Gus, Eliza and Louis.
Camilla’s treasured piece is a gold necklace engraved with the initials of her grandchildren
In the centre of the beloved pendant is a small circular ruby, which is the Queen’s birthstone.
The 75-year-old was most recently seen wearing it during the mourning period following Her Majesty the Queen’s death.
Princess Diana
Paving the way for the royals who followed, Princess Diana accessorised her outfits with a classic necklace carrying her initials.
The Princess paired the golden pendant boasting the letter ‘D’ with matching earrings in 1980 when she was known as Lady Diana Spencer.
Princess Diana paired the golden pendant with the letter ‘D’ with matching earrings in 1980
Diana wore a similar number during a polo match in Australia in 1985.
Following the birth of her first son, Diana wore a heart-warming golden disc necklace inscribed with the name ‘William’ in Prince Charles’s distinctive handwriting. The piece, a gift from Prince Charles, was worn by Diana to the Polo at Windsor in 1983.
Paving the way for the royals who followed, Princess Diana accessorised her outfits with personal pieces
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Meghan Markle wore a fashionable coin necklace engraved with the letter ‘M’ long before she was introduced to the Royal Family.
Then, in December 2016, before her relationship with Prince Harry, 38, was formally announced, Meghan was pictured shopping in Toronto, Canada, wearing a personalised gold necklace that was subtly decorated with the letters ‘M’ and ‘H’.
The 14-carat asymmetrical gold necklace is by Los Angeles-based designer Maya Brenner, with a retail price of $240 for one letter, with a charge of $60 for each additional letter.
Meghan has worn a range of initial-themed jewellery over the years, from her own to her children’s
During her first trip away from her son, Archie, three, and in September 2019, Meghan kept her boys close to her heart with a 14-carat gold dog-tag necklace adorned with the letters ‘H’ and ‘A’.
In addition to the initials, the dainty piece of jewellery by Mini Mini also features two tiny diamonds and retails at £125.
The Duchess of Sussex also appeared at Wimbledon in 2019 wearing a dainty ‘A’ necklace, in tribute to Archie. The ‘Love Letters’ necklace was a gift from Verse Fine Jewellery, with a retail price of around £384.
The Duchess of Sussex’s role as a mother has inspired some of her most sentimental pieces
In a creative way to show love for her family, Meghan also has two necklaces featuring the symbols of both Archie and Harry’s star signs.
The first of the two features the Taurus symbol which marks Archie’s birthday on May 6, and the other with the Virgo sign – a nod to Prince Harry’s on September 15.
However, this isn’t the only star sign-themed necklace in her collection – in a video interview with Melissa McCarthy to mark her 40th birthday, she wore dainty silver necklaces resembling the astrological signs of Archie and Lilibet, one, who is a Gemini, born on June 4.
Sarah, Duchess of York
While Sarah Ferguson, 63, has always been her daughters’ biggest supporter, and she showed her love most extravagantly during Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank in October 2018.
The Duchess of York accessorised her emerald green Emma Louise Design outfit with a gold cuff bracelet, which spelt out ‘Eugenie’ and ‘Beatrice’ in diamonds.
The Duchess of York wore a gold cuff bracelet, which spelt out ‘Eugenie’ and ‘Beatrice’ in diamonds during Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank in October 2018
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh
The Duchess of Edinburgh wears a beautiful gold necklace to represent three of her closest family members.
From Sophie’s delicate necklace, three charms hang with the initials ‘E’ for her husband Prince Edward, 59, an ‘L’ for her daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 19, and a ‘J’ for her son, James, Earl of Wessex, 15.
The 58-year-old has often worn the necklace with an additional golden charm.
The Duchess of Edinburgh wears a beautiful gold necklace to represent three of her closest family members
Lady Amelia Windsor
Following the trends of her fellow royal ladies, Lady Amelia Windsor, 27, was frequently spotted in 2017 accessorising her outfits with a bold coin necklace printed with her initial.
Also hanging from the golden chain is a small charm of the letter ‘A’.
Lady Amelia Windsor was frequently spotted in 2017 wearing a bold coin necklace printed with her initial
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