Black dandy culture took center stage, blending heritage and high fashion
While plenty of us would love to walk around with tiaras on our heads, unfortunately not many of us can afford them. Well, not the kind of tiaras the royals wear, that's for sure! But there's more to royal jewelry than these exquisite headpieces. Indeed, earrings, necklaces, rings, and brooches also make royal women shine. And not only are these extremely beautiful and valuable pieces, but most of them have an amazing history behind them.
Browse through the following gallery and learn more about the extravagant jewelry owned by British royals.
Kate Middleton became the Princess of Wales following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, as Prince Charles became King Charles III and his title of Prince of Wales was passed down to Prince William. The last person to hold the title of Princess of Wales was Princess Diana, William's mother. Middleton paid tribute to the late Princess by wearing her favorite tiara, the Cambridge Lover's Knot, for her first state dinner in her new role. Middleton complimented the pearl and diamond tiara with tear-drop pearl earrings and a gown with crystal-embellished shoulders.
The tiara worn by the Princess of Wales on her wedding day belonged to the late Queen. It was a gift from King George VI to the Queen Mother on their wedding anniversary in 1936, and was later passed on to Queen Elizabeth II.
The tiara worn by Meghan Markle on her wedding day was also lent to her by the late Queen. It was originally made by Garrard in 1925 for Queen Mary (Queen Elizabeth's late grandmother).
This crown was made in 1821 for the coronation of King George IV. The late Queen was often seen wearing it to the State Opening of Parliament.
This is the tiara featured in the late Queen's portrait on British currency. The tiara was a wedding gift from her grandmother, Queen Mary, who had originally received it as a wedding gift herself.
This tiara belonged to Princess Diana's family collection. It was made by Garrard in the 1930s and was worn by Lady Di on her wedding day.
This tiara was worn by Princess Margaret for her wedding in 1960. It was made by Garrard in 1870.
This tiara was originally made for Queen Mary in 1919, from another tiara given to her as a wedding gift by Queen Victoria. The tiara was worn by Princess Anne on her wedding day.
This tiara was given to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (The Queen Mother) by her father for her wedding.
Prince Albert had this tiara made for Queen Victoria in 1853. The Queen Mother used to wear it more often.
This tiara was worn by Sarah Ferguson on her wedding day to Prince Andrew. The tiara, made by Garrard, was given to the Duchess of York by the late Queen as a wedding gift.
Sophie Rhys-Jones wore this tiara when she married Prince Edward in 1999. Reportedly, this was a new tiara made from antique pieces owned by Queen Elizabeth.
This tiara was made for Queen Mary in 1911 by Garrard to celebrate the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary as Emperor and Empress of India.
This tiara was originally made by Boucheron for Dame Margaret Helen Greville in 1920. Greville left the tiara to the Queen Mother and it was then passed on to the monarchy when she died.
Laura Lopes, the daughter of Queen Camilla, wore this tiara on her wedding day. Her mother also wore it for her first wedding to Andrew Parker Bowles.
Princess Anne's daughter-in-law, Autumn Phillips, wore this tiara on her wedding day. The tiara was lent to the bride and belongs to Princess Anne.
Princess Anne's daughter, Zara Tindall wore this tiara for her wedding day. The tiara was originally a wedding gift to Queen Elizabeth from her mother-in-law, Princess Alice of Greece and Denmark.
This tiara is a replica commissioned by Queen Mary in 1913 of a headpiece owned by her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel. It was inherited by Queen Elizabeth and given to Princess Diana. It then returned to the Queen after Diana and Charles divorced. Today, Kate Middleton can be seen wearing it occasionally.
Named after the traditional Russian headdress, this tiara was made by Garrard in 1888 for Alexandra, then Princess of Wales. It was inherited by Queen Mary and then by Queen Elizabeth II.
This tiara was originally made in the 1920s from a Garrard necklace given to the Queen Mother by King George VI. It was then passed on to Princess Margaret and, subsequently, Queen Elizabeth. Kate Middleton now wears it.
This tiara was made by Garrard in 1973. It features rubies and diamonds given to Queen Elizabeth as wedding gifts.
This necklace and earrings set was given to the late Queen in 1953 as a coronation gift by the President of Brazil, Getúlio Vargas. She later had a tiara made from Brazilian stones.
Originally owned by Princess Louise of Belgium, the earrings and necklace were a wedding gift to Queen Elizabeth from her father, George VI. The tiara is also from the Victorian era, but it wasn't purchased until 1963.
This is the same ring King Charles gave to Lady Di when he proposed to her. It features a 12-carat oval sapphire with 14 diamonds set in a white gold band.
The ring was made by Cleave & Company and features a stone from Botswana, where Harry and Meghan first went on vacation together. The two round diamonds were taken from a brooch that belonged to Princess Diana.
This diamond ring was previously owned by King Charles' grandmother, the Queen Mother. It features a five-carat diamond.
This brooch's stones were cut from the gargantuan Cullinan diamond in 1905 (the largest diamond in the world).
Queen Camilla's necklace with a pink topaz at the center was reportedly a gift from King Charles.
The emeralds originally belonged to Queen Mary's grandmother, the Duchess of Cambridge, and it was eventually made into jewelry.
The stones were originally a wedding gift to the Queen Mother and were inherited by Queen Elizabeth.
Towering tiaras and more: Extravagant jewelry owned by British royals
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While plenty of us would love to walk around with tiaras on our heads, unfortunately not many of us can afford them. Well, not the kind of tiaras the royals wear, that's for sure! But there's more to royal jewelry than these exquisite headpieces. Indeed, earrings, necklaces, rings, and brooches also make royal women shine. And not only are these extremely beautiful and valuable pieces, but most of them have an amazing history behind them.
Browse through the following gallery and learn more about the extravagant jewelry owned by British royals.