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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

Princess Diana's jewellery worn by Kate and Meghan from £17k watch to classic bracelet

Her untimely death 25 years ago meant that Princess Diana never got to meet her two daughters-in-law the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex.

But both Kate and Meghan often pay tribute to their late mother-in-law by lovingly wearing some of the stunning pieces from her gorgeous jewellery collection. Upon her death, Diana's jewellery collection was divided up between her sons Prince William and Prince Harry, who often give their wives the privilege of wearing some of her earrings, rings and bracelets. Here we look at some of Diana's gorgeous jewellery that is living on today through both Kate and Meghan - and the special times they have worn it...

Pearl bracelet

Princess Diana in her pearl strand bracelet in Hong Kong in 1990 (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Kate wears the same bracelet on a trip to Germany in 2017 (Rex)

Diana seemed to be a huge fan of pearls and in 1988 acquired a stunning three-strand pearl and diamond bracelet designed by Nigel Milne.

It was designed as part of a collection that was being sold to help support the charity Birthright, of which Diana was a patron.

She famously wore the bracelet in Hong Kong in 1990, teaming it with her famous "Elvis" dress designed by Catherine Walker.

Kate was seen wearing the same bracelet during a tour of Germany in 2017.

Aquamarine ring

Meghan wears Diana's stunning aquamarine ring on her wedding day (Getty Images)
Diana wears her aquamarine ring at an event in 1997 - just weeks before her death - with her stepmother Raine Spencer (Tim Graham/Getty Images)

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One of the first times Meghan wore jewellery once owned by the late Diana was on her wedding day.

She sported an Emerald cut aquamarine ring, surrounded by small solitaire diamonds and set in 24-carat yellow gold, on her right hand at her evening reception.

Diana had been previously pictured wearing the item, which was created by Asprey in 1997, the same year she died following a Paris car crash.

Engagement ring

Kate's gorgeous sapphire engagement ring (Getty)

Of course, the most famous piece of jewellery worn by both Diana and Kate is their engagement ring.

After Charles proposed, he presented Diana with a selection of rings by Garrard of Mayfair, the Crown Jeweller at the time.

After looking through the stunning collection, each suitable for the future Queen, she selected a white gold ring with 14 solitaire diamonds surrounding the famous sapphire.

It is believed to have cost £28,000 at the time - although its now said to be priceless.

After her death, the ring is said to have been given to Prince Harry, while Diana's gold Cartier watch went to William.

Diana got engaged to Prince Charles in 1981 and the pair wed six months late (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Diana pictured wearing the ring in August 1996 (PA)

In Amazon Prime show The Diana Story, the princess' former butler Paul Burrell explained that shortly before William proposed to Kate in 2010, Harry offered his brother the chance to give his bride-to-be their mother's ring.

Speaking in an interview on announcing their engagement, William revealed how special the ring was to him.

He said: "It is my mother's engagement ring.

"It is very special to me and Kate is very special to me now as well. It is only right the two are put together. It is my way of making sure my mother didn't miss out on today."

Cartier watch

Meghan wears the Cartier watch during a YouTube appearance (Brightly Storytime)

So what did happen to Diana's gold Cartier Tank Française watch she regularly wore for engagements in the 1990s?

The watch was gifted to her by her father on her 21st birthday, and after it was passed to Prince Harry, it is believed to have been given to Meghan in the early days of their relationship.

She also wears the watch regularly and sported it while reading her children's book The Bench in an appearance on YouTube and in a beautiful picture taken of her and Harry for Time magazine in 2020.

Collingwood Pearl Earrings

Kate wears Diana's Collingwood Pearl earrings in one of her 40th birthday portraits (Paolo Roversi/Kensington Palace)
Princess Diana wears the Collingwood pearl earrings in 1985 (Tim Graham/Getty Images)

Before marrying Prince Charles in 1981, Diana was gifted an incredible pair of pearl earrings from jewellers Collingwood as a wedding present.

And the earrings appear to have became firm favourites with her as she wore them many times, including on royal tours of Australia, Canada and Italy.

Now it appears they have been passed on to Kate, who has worn them several times. The first time was at a Spanish state banquet in 2017 and then weeks later at commemorations for the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele during the First World War.

She also donned them in one of the portraits taken to celebrate her 40th birthday earlier this year.

Diamond bracelet

Meghan wears the tennis bracelet on her left hand at the Salute to Freedom Gala in New York City (REUTERS)
Princess Diana wears the Cartier tennis bracelet at a gala in Washington DC (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

Diana wore her Cartier diamond tennis bracelet several times before her tragic death in 1997.

And since Meghan married Harry, she has sported the bracelet, thought to be worth £17,000 numerous times.

The first was during a state dinner in Fiji in 2018 and to observe Commonwealth Day in 2019.

Meghan also chose to wear the piece during her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey and at the Intrepid Valor Awards in New York City.

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