On 2 May, Princess Charlotte, the daughter of Prince William and Princess Catherine and third in line to the British throne, celebrated her eighth birthday. As she grows older, the question of what the great-granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II will inherit becomes more intriguing.
Although the time for inheritance is still years away, one aspect seems quite apparent — Charlotte is likely to inherit a collection steeped in royal family history.
Her mother, Kate Middleton, possesses numerous pieces of historically significant jewellery traditionally passed down through the generations. The combined value of these precious treasures reaches into the millions!
Kate owns many items of special significance in both British history and her personal journey with Prince William. Many of these pieces have been worn by her royal predecessors, including the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Princess Diana.
In 1947, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip received a shell adorned with seven pearls as a wedding gift from the ruler of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Two of the pearls were crafted into stunning drop earrings, which later came into Kate's possession. She has donned them on significant occasions, including the funerals of Philip and Elizabeth and the coronation of Charles III. The estimated value of these earrings stands at around $10,500.
Additionally, Kate is the custodian of the incredibly valuable Lover's Knot Tiara, once owned by Queen Mary. This artefact symbolises the royal family's legacy and is valued at an astonishing $1.3 million.
Charlotte may also inherit jewellery imbued with personal significance to her mother, specifically, a pair of breathtaking green tourmaline and green amethyst drop earrings by Kiki McDonough.
Kate received these earrings in honour of Charlotte's birth in 2015, making it likely that the Princess will inherit them.
Another important piece in Middleton's collection is the Ballon Bleu De Cartier Watch, previously worn by Princess Diana and Prince William. The watch holds great symbolic value, signifying Kate's deep connection to her husband's innermost circle.
In total, the young Princess of Wales stands to inherit jewellery worth approximately $2.2 million. This estimation may fluctuate over time, considering her mother's collection is valued at over $100 million and includes numerous other priceless items from the royal family.