The Exquisite Hidden Details Of The Royal Family’s Most Iconic Jewels

The royal family members lead calculated lives – right down to the sparkling baubles on their heads, ears, necks and wrists. Yes, many pieces in their jewelry collection have backstories that are just as stunning as the priceless gems themselves. Why did Meghan wear that zodiac necklace? Why did Kate wear acorn earrings to her wedding? And why didn’t they love Diana’s iconic engagement ring? We have uncovered the truth about these and other beloved pieces of royal jewelry.

20. The mystery of the Queen’s flower basket brooch

The late Queen’s beloved flower basket brooch sparkles with delicate flowers made of sapphires, diamonds and rubies. The mystery in this piece isn’t its naturally inspired design, though. Royal watchers wonder when the accessory came into the monarch’s possession, as evidence suggests two potential timelines.

Conflicting evidence

Leslie Field, who penned the book The Queen’s Jewels, wrote that the monarch “was given [the brooch] in November 1948 by her parents to mark the birth of Prince Charles.” However, a 1939 telecast featuring a then-Princess Elizabeth shows her wearing the very brooch that she supposedly received a decade later. Some wonder if the piece still belonged to her mother at that point, and the then-13-year-old royal got to wear it as a treat. One thing’s for sure, though – it glistened from her lapel on many occasions over the years.

19. …But that’s not a royal jewel?

Since she joined the royal family, Meghan Markle has risen the ranks to become a fashion icon. Fans dissect her looks, and they have found that the Duchess often wears jewelry that carries hidden significance for her. For example, she once layered zodiac necklaces with the Taurus and Virgo symbols, which represented the birthdays of her son, Archie, and her husband, Prince Harry.

Royal precedence is everything

For all of her meaningful fashion choices, though, you won’t see any pieces from the Royal Collection glistening from Meghan’s ears, neckline or wrists. Although the Queen often loans the family jewels to her relatives, she supposedly refuses to do so with the Duchess. According to an insider who spoke to The Sun in 2019, “The Queen likes Meghan personally,” but she “is showing that maintaining the correct order and precedence within the family is important. Even if Meghan is the most popular woman in the world, she is of a lower rank than Kate [Middleton].”