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Queen Elizabeth II has the use of some of the most famous and recognisable jewels in the world. Recently, Her Majesty’s public addresses during the coronavirus crisis, and to mark VE Day, have shown how the monarch carefully selects her jewellery pieces to reflect the message she is bringing to the nation. As Kate and William are future King and Queen, they will eventually have the use of the Crown Jewels.

The jewels owned by the Queen fall into two categories, those in the Royal Collection, and those in the monarch’s personal collection.

The Royal Collection includes, of course, the Crown Jewels, which belong to the Crown and are maintained by the Crown Jeweller. 

The gems which are property of the Crown will be inherited by Prince Charles and will be for Camilla as Queen Consort to wear or loan to other royal women.

Eventually, Kate as Queen Consort will have the same privilege. 

Other famous pieces in the Royal Collection include the Cullinan Diamond, and the Queen’s Diamond Diadem which can often be seen at the State Opening of Parliament. 

More pieces include the sapphire brooch which Queen Victoria designated an “heirloom of the Crown”.

The large sapphire, which sits in a simple design surrounded by diamonds, was given to Victoria by Prince Albert on the eve of their wedding.

Victoria wore it for the wedding ceremony itself, and since then it has been worn by every Queen and Queen Consort.

Her Majesty, noted for her love of sapphires, still wears the jewel to this day.

Its history means that Kate is likely to carry on the tradition – and the diamond and sapphire piece happens to be a perfect match for her famous engagement ring, too. 

However, the majority of the jewellery that the Queen uses is part of her own personal collection, meaning it is not tied to the Crown and Her Majesty may bequeath it as she pleases.

Speaking to Town and Country in 2019, the historian and jewellery expert Ella Kay shone some light on the Queen’s collection.

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Ms Kay said:  “I’d say the majority of her jewellery is part of her personal collection.

“That includes everything from the pearl earrings that she wears on a daily basis to her brooch collection and her tiaras, as well as the jewellery she inherited from Queen Mary and the Queen Mother.”

Queen Mary was a famous collector of fine jewellery, and the Queen affectionately refers to the pieces she inherited as “Granny’s Jewels”.

Her Majesty’s jewellery is loaned out to other royal women as the Queen sees fit – and Kate has been the recipient of many famous loans.

Most recently, Kate wore the well-known Lover’s Knot tiara for the State Banquet honouring the US Presidential visit.

Although the Duchess has only had a handful of tiara moments since her marriage into the Royal Family, the famous pearl-set tiara, which became particularly associated with Princess Diana, seems to be a favourite.

However, Kate does not own these pieces of jewellery yet, as every loan is returned to the Queen’s ownership.

However, as Her Majesty has always chosen her jewellery in a careful and thoughtful way, it seems very likely that she will choose to bequeath her collection in a similarly thoughtful manner.

Time will only tell if Kate will receive any heirlooms personally from Her Majesty, but in the meantime reports suggest that the Duchess has her pick of the Queen’s collection.

This is in part because of the Queen’s high esteem for her granddaughter-in-law.

Writing for Vanity Fair last year, royal biographer Katie Nicholl elaborated: “Royal sources insist the Queen holds Kate in high regard and admires how she juggles her royal role with a busy family.”

A source told the author: “The Queen is a fan.

“Kate is unflappable. Her mantra is very like the Queen’s keep calm and carry on approach in life, and she has the added benefit of making the Royal Family seem almost normal and in touch.”

Ms Nicholl added: “Having awarded her granddaughter in law the Royal Family Order, the highest honour the monarch can bestow on a female member of the family at the end of last year, the Queen was reportedly thrilled with the Cambridges’ recent tour of Pakistan, which saw Kate give her first-ever TV interview and make headlines around the world with her well-considered wardrobe choices and her unusual decision to stop the royal convoy so the couple could meet a local family.”

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