The Nizam of Hyderabad presented a necklace – estimated to be worth around £66.3 million to Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, to honour her wedding day to Prince Philip in 1947.
It was recorded that the Nizam of Hyderabad, the monarch of India’s Hyderabad State, Asaf Jah VII, invited the royal to choose two pieces of jewellery from Cartier for her wedding gift.
She chose a dazzling tiara and breathtaking necklace based on the petals of an English rose – which is now deemed one of the most expensive pieces of jewellery in the royal collection.
Through history, the Princess of Wales was the only lucky person to embellish her outfit with the Queen’s incredibly sentimental jewels when she attended a black-tie reception at the National Portrait Gallery in 2014.
The Queen lent her the multi-million-pound platinum and diamond necklace to adorn her outfit and it is historical because apart from the Queen, no one else ever had the opportunity to wear it.
Since after the monarch’s death, it is very likely that the Monarch’s necklace new ownership may fall to Kate, who may be in line to inherit the precious piece.
When Prince William eventually becomes King, his wife will inherit Camilla’s title of Queen Consort. The Princess of Wales will then share the privilege of wearing the prized jewels.
According to reports from the royal chambers, Late Queen Elizabeth II’s personal jewellery collection includes some of the rarest jewels in the world, but arguably the most impressive of them all is the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace gift.
Also amongst the rarest pieces in the Crown Jewels collection of 23,578 gemstones is the George IV State Diadem, officially known as the Diamond Diadem.
It’s estimated to be worth nearly £800,000 today and is one of the most symbolic crowns in the royal collection. It’s particularly special because it’s strictly reserved for sovereigns and Queen Consorts.