Jewels Fit for Royalty: The Duchess of Edinburgh's Most Iconic Pieces

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, formerly Camtas of Wessex, is married to Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Born Sophie Riz Jones in 1965, she worked in public relations before her marriage to Edward in 1999. She is known for her elegant and classic sense of style, often praised for her understated, graceful fashion choices. Throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth II frequently lent pieces from her jewellery collection to the Duchess of Edinburgh, who seamlessly incorporated these exquisite items into her elegant fashion choices. So let's explore the most iconic jewellery worn by Duchess of Edinburgh. Before we start, please support my channel by clicking like and subscribe buttons. And if you wish, you can support me via the Super Thanks button on YouTube or become my patron on Patreon. Link is in the description. The Aquamarine Ribbon Tiara While Queen Elizabeth II's most iconic aquamarine tiara is the Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara, she also possesses a lesser-known but equally exquisite smaller tiara featuring diamonds and aquamarines. This elegant piece is distinguished by five large aquamarines set amid diamond ribbons. Despite its beauty, the Queen has only been seen wearing this tiara publicly on one occasion, during her visit to Yellowknife on the Royal Tour of Canada in July 1970, where she paired it with her coronation earrings and necklace. For many years, royal jewellery experts believed this tiara had been dismantled to help create the Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara. However, in a surprising turn of events, the tiara resurfaced in 2012 when Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, wore it to a dinner preceding the wedding of hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg. Sophie further revived the tiara's legacy by wearing it again at the wedding of Princess Madeleine of Sweden in 2013. The King Faisal Necklace In May 1967, during a state visit to the United Kingdom, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia presented Queen Elizabeth II with a dazzling gift, a diamond necklace crafted by the renowned jeweler Harry Winston. This stunning necklace has since been worn by the Queen on several notable occasions. One such instance was in 1992, during a state visit to France, where she attended a dinner at the British Embassy in Paris. For the event, she elegantly paired the necklace with the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara and her antique gerundol earrings. The necklace has also been generously loaned to other royal family members. The late Diana, Princess of Wales, famously wore the necklace in 1983 during the Royal Tour of Australia. More recently, in October 2012, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, donned the necklace along with the aquamarine ribbon tiara for the pre-wedding gala held in Luxembourg, further solidifying its place as a beloved piece within the royal collection. The Wessex wedding tiara, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, received her very first major royal jewel, not as a loan from Queen Elizabeth II, but as a wedding gift from the Queen's private jewellery collection. While no official provenance has ever been disclosed by the palace, many believe that the tiara was crafted using alternate Anthemian ornaments from Queen Victoria's regal circlet. These ornaments are thought to have been part of a secondary setting for the diadem, as suggested by the presence of spaces for them in the circlet's case. Although Queen Victoria was never depicted wearing the diadem with the Anthemians, they appear to have been an underutilised aspect of the piece. Sophie debuted the tiara on her wedding day in 1999 and it has since become a staple for her at numerous gala events. In 2019, marking her 20th wedding anniversary, the tiara underwent a subtle redesign, bringing the elements closer together and adding a more prominent base, giving the piece a refreshed and more cohesive look. The Ruby Floret Earrings. In May 2015, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, journeyed to the Channel Islands to commemorate the 70th anniversary of their liberation following the Second World War. She thoughtfully reflected the national colours of both gownsy and jersey, green and red, in her ensemble. Complementing her elegant green dress, Sophie wore a pair of ruby and diamond earrings borrowed from Queen Elizabeth II. The earrings, known as the Ruby Floret Earrings, feature intricate floral designs, with rubies at the centre encircled by brilliant and baguette-cut diamonds. These earrings were commissioned by the Queen herself, crafted using stones from her private collection. They are often paired with another notable piece, the Burmese Ruby Tiara, also designed for the Queen. Peer-shaped Diamond Drop Cluster Suite. At the 2019 American State Banquet, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, donned her newly redesigned wedding tiara, pairing it with a dazzling set of diamond jewels loaned from Queen Elizabeth II. The necklace and earrings feature an array of clustered peer-shaped diamonds, radiating elegance. The Queen first wore this stunning diamond suite in 1987 at a dinner at Claridge's during a state visit from King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. While it is widely speculated that these jewels were a gift from King Fahd, the provenance remains unconfirmed. The Queen frequently wore this diamond set on various formal occasions. In a notable moment captured in 2005, she is seen wearing the suite at the Royal Variety Performance in Cardiff. Over the years, the Queen has generously loaned these jewels to both Sophie and the Princess of Wales. Most recently, the Princess of Wales was seen wearing the diamond earrings at the diplomatic reception in December 2019. The Silver Jubilee Pearl Earrings. These timeless earrings, featuring a simple diamond stud and an elongated pearl drop, have made only a few rare public appearances. Queen Elizabeth II's most notable moment in the earrings occurred in 1977 during her Silver Jubilee celebrations in London. On that grand occasion, she paired the earrings with the Hanoverian pearls and the iconic Williamson pink diamond brooch, creating a look of understated elegance. In October 2012, the Duchess of Edinburgh borrowed these earrings for her trip to Luxembourg. She wore them at both the wedding of hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie, as well as the pre-wedding gala the night before. More recently, the Princess of Wales has also been seen wearing these classic pearl earrings, continuing their legacy within the Royal family. The Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings. In November 1947, Queen Elizabeth II received a remarkable wedding gift for the Hakim of Bahrain – seven exquisite pearls. Two of these precious pearls were crafted into an elegant pair of earrings, accented by round and baguette-cut diamonds. The Queen has worn these timeless earrings for decades, including during the Festival of Remembrance in November 2015. The earrings have also been graciously loaned to various Royal family members over the years. The late Diana, then Princess of Wales, donned them during the Dutch state visit in 1982. Thirty years later, in October 2012, the Duchess of Edinburgh wore them to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the rifles. Most recently, the earrings have frequently adorned the current Princess of Wales, further cementing their legacy within the Royal collection. That's it for today, thanks for watching. Please do not forget to support my channel by clicking the like and subscribe buttons.