Will Kate Middleton Inherit Queen Elizabeth’s Entire Jewelry Collection?
Most people in the world can only dream of having a collection of jewelry like Queen Elizabeth does. She has some pieces that are absolutely stunning, and whenever she wears any of them, fans definitely take notice.
Over the years, we have seen other members of the royal family borrow things from the queen’s jewelry box, especially for the most special occasions. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex both famously wore tiaras owned by the queen when they married Prince William and Prince Harry, respectively.
Fans have spotted earrings, bracelets, and necklaces on other royals as well. There is no doubt that the entire collection is worth an astonishing amount of money that would make just about anyone’s jaw drop, and many people may even wonder what will happen to all the pieces upon the death of the queen.
Queen Elizabeth has many heirs, including a daughter, several granddaughters, and two future queen consorts. Even so, her successor is Prince Charles, followed by Prince William. That raises the question as to if Kate will inherit Queen Elizabeth’s entire jewelry collection.
Queen Elizabeth’s relationship with Kate
Kate, as we know, is married to Prince William, who is currently second in line to take the British throne. The queen has always had a good relationship with her granddaughter-in-law, and we have seen them together at many royal events, laughing and interacting.
According to Vanity Fair, they have always gotten along just fine, with the queen actually having quite a bit of admiration for Kate. She is proud of how the Duchess of Cambridge is so great at carrying out her royal duties all while being an excellent mother to her three children, something that is a job in itself.
The royal jewelry box
It is clear the queen has some of the finest jewelry in the entire world, but what, exactly is in the collection? Vogue reports that she has tiaras that are absolutely to die for, such as the Fringe tiara, the Cartier Halo tiara, and Queen Mary’s bandeau tiara, which was worn by Meghan on her wedding day.
Queen Elizabeth also has quite a few brooches that feature gems such as rubies, amethysts, and of course, diamonds, many pearl necklaces, and also earrings. We often see her in Queen Mary’s button earrings, which feature a pearl topped with a small diamond.
She also has bolder looks, such as her diamond pear drops, as well as the Greville Chandelier earrings, which were a wedding gift back in 1947. How much are all of these precious pieces, and all the others that the queen owns, worth? According to Good Housekeeping, the value of her jewelry is around a staggering $110 million.
Will Kate inherit Queen Elizabeth’s entire jewelry collection?
While Queen Elizabeth’s jewelry will be passed down to other royals, it is hard to say exactly who will get what. Kate, as a future queen consort, will most likely receive some of the most precious and intimate pieces in the collection, but that certainly doesn’t mean that she gets everything.
The first distinction is the true owner of the jewels. If the jewels are part of Queen Elizabeth’s personal collection, then it is at her discretion where they go. Chances are, some of the jewelry will go to other family members, such as Meghan, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie, as well as the other women, like Zara Tindall, the countess of Wessex, and even Princess Charlotte.
But if the jewels are part of the royal collection or crown jewels — Ella Kay, the expert behind The Court Jeweller, says these are “regalia used in ceremonies of state, like corporations” — then they are “owned by the sovereign in a trust.” Since these belong to the state, then they won’t go to anyone, in particular, as Her Majesty doesn’t own them. Instead, it would swap hands based on the current monarch.
“I’d say the majority of her jewelry is part of her personal collection,” Kay says, reports Town and Country. “That includes everything from the pearl earrings that she wears on a daily basis to her brooch collection and her tiaras, as well as the jewelry she inherited from Queen Mary and the Queen Mother.”
