Queen Camilla Turned a Wedding Present Given to Princess Diana Into a $134,000 Brooch

When Princess Diana and Prince Charles tied the knot on July 31, 1981, at St. Paul’s Cathedral, millions of people from around the world tuned in to see the pair say “I do.” However, in addition to witnessing the vow exchange, there was another key moment that eager onlookers waited in anticipation for: the bride’s grand entrance. Donning a silk-and-taffeta ball gown with a 25-foot train, Diana’s ensemble was truly showstopping. Created by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, it featured 10,000 pearls, a ruffled neckline, and lace-trimmed puff sleeves. She paired the dress with the diamond-encrusted Spencer Tiara, a family heirloom. Yet, in addition to the pieces she wore for her nuptials, Diana also received a number of treasured gifts in honor of the occasion, including a necklace given to her by the Queen Mother.

The necklace, which featured diamonds and emeralds, was originally part of Queen Alexandra’s 1863 collection, the experts at Steven Stone reported. And in 1981, during the year of Diana and Charles’s nuptials, the Queen Mother gifted it to Diana. Five years later, while at a gala at the Vienna Burgh Theatre, the princess was spotted wearing the piece, pairing it with a long-sleeve sequined dress for the occasion. She also reportedly wore the necklace during a visit to Toronto, in which she and Charles attended a dinner at The Royal York Hotel.

After Diana’s death in 1997, the necklace became part of the Royal Collection. However, years later, it was revealed that Queen Camilla had redesigned the piece into a brooch. In 2019, Camilla included the altered accessory as part of her ensemble to celebrate Charles’s 50th anniversary as the Prince of Wales. For that occasion, the then-duchess paired the piece with a green jacket and a string of pearl necklaces.

However, Camilla is not the only royal who has wore the piece in recent years. On November 22, 2022, Kate Middleton paired the brooch with a maroon dress and fascinator for the Horse Guards Parade, a ceremonial welcome event for President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa. Experts estimate that the piece is worth approximately $134,000. “This remarkable brooch features approximately four carats of white diamonds, arranged in 18 individual stones, and is crowned by a breathtaking three-carat cabochon-cut green emerald pendant,” wrote Maxwell Stone, the creative director of Steven Stone. “Once worn as a necklace by Princess Diana, the piece carries not only aesthetic brilliance but deep royal significance.” He adds that the accessory includes an unexpected nod to Charles through its three diamond-encrusted ostrich feathers, the emblem of the Prince of Wales.