While Kate inherited $110 million in jewelry from the Queen, that collection did not include the Spencer tiara, a diamond-encrusted crown inherited by William's late mother, Princess Diana, in the mid-1970s. Diana wore the tiara in her wedding to King Charles—then Prince Charles—in 1981.
The sapphire and diamond engagement ring
Arguably the most famous piece in Kate's jewelry collection is her sapphire and diamond engagement ring, which previously belonged to Princess Diana.
Who will inherit the Queen's jewels? It is likely that these jewels will be passed down to members of the Windsor family and if the Queen follows tradition, she will leave the majority of them to the next monarch, which in this case is King Charles III.
Estimated to be worth up to £1 million, the glimmering pearls will now pass down to her daughter, Princess Anne, who was seen sporting the piece not long ago.
As for why the Queen left Meghan out of her inheritance, Radar Online's source speculated that it could be due to either “practicality” or Harry and Meghan's drama with the British royal family in the years leading up to the Queen's death.
Meghan has been seen wearing several pieces that once belonged to her late mother-in-law Princess Diana. From her spellbinding engagement ring, to diamond sets and vintage watches, several of the former Princess of Wales' jewels have been gifted to Meghan by her husband, Prince Harry.
Meghan is still Duchess of Sussex, but has no right to borrow the royal tiaras and gems the way her rivals do. All Meghan has is a pair of modest pearl and diamond earrings that Queen Elizabeth gave her.
Meghan Markle has five known jewels from Diana's collection, including the Princess' aquamarine ring which she wore at her wedding reception.
Following Diana's death in August 1997, the sapphire ring was inherited by her son Prince Harry, who eventually offered it to his older brother Prince William before he proposed to Kate Middleton with it in 2010.
Harry allegedly requested the engagement ring because "'that's the ring I remember from my childhood. '" On what happened next, Burrell said the brothers must have struck a deal. "Harry obviously gave up his treasure to his brother so that it could be on the ring finger of his wife who would one day be Queen."
Lilibet could inherit one day 410,000 pounds worth of jewellery which would include Meghan Markle's 150,000 pounds Cartier bracelet that she wore on her wedding day to Prince Harry. The bracelet has 104 brilliant cut diamonds and 52 baguette cut diamonds.
Queen Elizabeth famously gifted various stunning pieces to Princess Kate, Queen Consort Camilla, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, the late Princess Diana, and at least one piece to Duchess Meghan.
Meghan Markle wore a black hat without a veil, as did young Princess Charlotte, which is in keeping with royal tradition, as veils are a personal choice. The mourning veil was popularised by Queen Victoria following the passing of her husband, Prince Albert, in 1861, but dates long before her time.
After the princess' death, most of her personal jewelry was inherited by her two sons Princes William and Harry, with pieces loaned to her during her lifetime being returned to Queen Elizabeth II, where they are most likely to have been inherited by King Charles in 2022.
It is said Meghan Markle now owns the impressive aquamarine ring, which adds to her collection of other jewellery gifted to her by Harry from Princess Diana's royal jewellery collection. Prince Harry gave this to his wife Meghan as her 'something blue' to be worn on her wedding day.
The last time this stunning piece was seen in public was the Met Gala in 1996. The beautiful choker is now owned by Prince William and Prince Harry.
It showed senior royal women outside Westminster Abbey, where the funeral service for Elizabeth had just taken place, on September 19. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Kate, Camilla and Meghan all curtsy as the queen's coffin passes by during a carriage process that their husbands took part in.
The accessory, often made from either lace or netting, typically covers the face, offering the wearer an element of privacy while grieving. Both Kate Middleton and Camilla's netted mourning veils are attached to the front of their hats and extend down to the chin, sitting slightly away from the face.
Harper's Bazaar writer Mahalia Chang explained how the fabric of Meghan's dress, “as well as the triple silk organza used to make the underskirt, is extremely thick, stiff and does not allow for much stretch”.
As is custom for royal brides, Meghan Markle did not keep her wedding tiara. Since the jewel was on loan from the queen, it was returned to the royal vault after the big day.
Reports suggested that the earrings were borrowed from a jeweller. However, it came to light that the Saudi Crown Prince gifted the earrings to Meghan Markle.
Charlotte is set to receive the iconic Spencer tiara, which previously belonged to her late grandmother, Princess Diana. Diana famously chose to wear the headpiece on her wedding day to Prince Charles in July 1981.
After Diana's tragic death at the age of 36 in a 1997 Paris car crash, her jewelry was inherited by her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. The glittering pieces collected by Diana throughout her married life held enormous sentimental value to both the princess and the princes.
Under British royal protocol, both Lilibet and Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, the couple's 3-year-old son, are entitled to the titles of princess and prince as grandchildren of the sitting U.K. monarch. The children were eligible for the titles since Charles became king following Queen Elizabeth II's death in September.
Representatives told Forbes in 2021 that Harry was not a beneficiary of any of the $100 million left to the royal family by his great-grandmother, the Queen Mother. It's unclear if Harry was left any money from his grandmother the late Queen Elizabeth II, whose will is expected to stay sealed for at least 90 years.