Who Gets the Queen‘s Priceless Jewelry Collection?

As the beloved monarch Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022, questions quickly arose – what will happen to her incredible jewelry collection, amassed over 70 years on the throne? With an estimated worth of £90-110 million, the Queen‘s personal cache of tiaras, necklaces, brooches, earrings and other gems carries huge financial and sentimental value. But who will inherit these iconic pieces that defined the Queen‘s personal style for so many decades?

Let‘s take a deep dive into the royal jewels, where some of the most dazzling pieces may end up, and what it all means for carrying on the Queen‘s legacy.

The Order of Inheritance – Consorts and Princesses First

According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, Camilla and Kate will have first dibs when it comes to inheriting the Queen‘s jewels. As she told Marie Claire:

“There is a hierarchy in all of this. The Queen Consort, really, gets first choice of the Queen‘s jewelry. And after that is Princess of Wales, of course, Kate.”

This order of inheritance makes complete sense when you consider royal protocol. As the new Queen Consort, Camilla has the prime position as King Charles III‘s wife. Following her is Kate, Princess of Wales as wife of the heir apparent Prince William.

So we can expect these two prominent royal women to be gifted some of the most iconic pieces from Queen Elizabeth II‘s personal collection. Their higher status gives them precedence.

Princess Anne and other senior royals like Sophie, Countess of Wessex will also likely inherit select jewels. But Camilla and Kate will get first dibs.

The Queen‘s Personal Jewelry Collection – A Stunning Historical Legacy

It‘s important to understand the difference between the Crown Jewels and the Queen‘s personal collection.

The Crown Jewels consist of spectacular ceremonial pieces like the Imperial State Crown and St. Edward‘s Crown that the Queen wore at formal State Openings of Parliament. These are owned by the monarchy itself and have been passed down from sovereign to sovereign for centuries.

The Queen‘s personal jewelry collection was privately owned by Queen Elizabeth. It includes brooches, necklaces, bracelets and other personal gems she acquired herself or received as gifts during her reign.

When she passed, the Crown Jewels automatically transferred to the new monarch King Charles III. Meanwhile, the Queen‘s private collection will be distributed among family members as treasured inheritances.

This personal jewelry collection is truly spectacular, built up over the Queen‘s 96 years of life. She received her first piece of jewelry at age 3!

Here are some dazzling highlights and where they may end up:

Iconic Pieces Likely Heading to Queen Consort Camilla

• Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara – This gorgeous tiara with peaks of diamonds and pearls was a wedding gift to Queen Mary in 1893. It seems destined for Camilla as one of the largest and most iconic tiaras.

• Cullinan III and IV Diamonds – Part of the famed Cullinan diamond that was cut into 9 stones, these enormous heart-shaped diamonds (94.4 and 63.6 carats) will suit Camilla for formal occasions.

• Cambridge Emeralds – Dazzling emerald jewelry originally owned by Queen Mary, including a tiara, necklace, ring and earrings. The perfect set for Camilla‘s green eyes.

Treasured Jewels for Princess Kate

• Queen Mary‘s Fringe Tiara – Loaned to Princess Diana for her wedding and now associated with Kate. This delicate tiara accented in diamonds would suit Kate for State banquets.

• Diamond and Pearl Earrings – Adored by Princess Diana, these became Kate‘s go-to pearl earrings. She wears them constantly as an everyday pair.

• Maple Leaf Brooch – A favorite of the Queen‘s, this brooch was loaned to Kate for Commonwealth tours. I expect it will be gifted permanently to Kate for future Commonwealth duties.

Heirlooms Destined for Princess Anne and Sophie

• Queen Mary‘s Stud Earrings – Princess Anne seems to have inherited these diamond earrings that Queen Mary wore in the early 1900s.

• Aquamarine Necklace and Earrings – Loaned to Sophie at events recently, which likely signals inheritance. This set would complement Sophie‘s blonde hair perfectly.

And there are so many other exquisite pieces that will be distributed based on seniority, closeness to the Queen and who she most liked to see wearing them.

As you can see, these jewels represent the most significant and cherished pieces from British royal history. So their inheritance carries enormous meaning.

The Queen‘s Personal Style and Favorite Jewelry Pieces

Examining the jewelry our late Queen preferred to wear daily provides more clues into what she may gift specific relatives. Here are a few of Her Majesty‘s favorite pieces that defined her personal style:

• Three Strand Pearl Necklace – Her go-to pearl necklace, gifted by her father King George VI. Already been passed to Princess Anne who wears it frequently.

• Diamond Floral Brooch – One of her most constantly worn brooches. I imagine this bright white flower brooch could go to Sophie or Kate.

• Gold Horseshoe Brooch – The Queen adored horses. This could be a wonderful personal bequest for her granddaughter Zara Tindall who won a silver in the 2012 Olympics equestrian events.

• Vladimir Tiara – Delicate with pearl drops, the Queen loaned this tiara to royal brides like Princess Beatrice. It remains with King Charles but could go to Princess Charlotte someday.

Understanding which pieces the Queen loved and wore most often provides insight into their sentimental value and who she might gift them to.

Estimated Value of the Queen‘s Personal Jewelry Collection

It‘s challenging to value the Queen‘s private collection precisely, but based on jewelry auctions and royal assets, estimates range from:

• £70 – 100+ million – Forbes
• £90-110 million – The Crown Chronicles
• Over 300 brooches and 100+ necklaces and bracelets – Sunday Post

To put this extraordinary collection into perspective, here‘s how it compares to other famous jewelry collections:

The Queen amassed her personal jewels over an unprecedented seven decades as monarch. Her collection dwarfs all others except perhaps the renowned jewels of the Maharani of Baroda in India.

The fact that this priceless collection will now be inherited makes it an historic passing of royal legacy to the next generation.

The Significance of Passing Down the Queen‘s Jewels

While the monetary value of these jewels is astronomical, their deeper symbolic value matters most. These pieces represent the continuation of a hereditary monarchy stretching back over 1000 years.

Jewels like Queen Mary‘s fringe tiara, the pearls gifted by Queen Elizabeth‘s father, and the Cambridge emeralds connect today‘s royal women directly to their ancestors.

By inheriting and wearing them, Camilla and Kate ensure a tangible bridge back to Britain‘s rich royal history.

This passing of precious heirlooms also represents the Queen thoughtfully shaping the monarchy‘s future. Gifting her beloved jewels to Kate, Camilla and Sophie provides continuity and stability for the Crown.

As these royal women wear the jewels at future State Openings, international tours and galas, viewers will reminisce on past Queen Elizabeth II wearing them. This keeps her memory alive and propels the monarchy forward.

If I could make one request of our new royals, it would be to cherish and wear these inheritances proudly and often! Each jewel tells a captivating story. I hope Camilla and Kate will continue sharing that rich legacy begun by Queen Elizabeth II, the beloved monarch with her magical royal touch.