Kate Middleton’s Sentimental Accessories: A Tribute to Princess Diana

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, has been known for her impeccable fashion sense and style.

However, what many people may not know is that her jewellery box is filled with sentimental pieces that pay tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.

From the iconic tiara passed down through generations of royals to the necklace that new mother Kate purchased after seeing Diana's, here are some of the most sentimental accessories owned by the Duchess.

The Second-Hand Bracelet Beloved by Both Women

One of the most sentimental pieces in Kate's collection is a pearl bracelet that she was pictured wearing during a reception at Berlin's Clarkins Ballhouse on their final night of their royal tour of Germany in July.

The original owner of the accessory was Diana, who was spotted wearing the piece on various occasions before her untimely death.

The bracelet's designer Nigel Milne was surprised to see the jewellery being worn again decades after he created the piece in 1988.

Milne and his wife Cherry decided to produce several pieces of jewellery with proceeds of the sales going to charity Birthright, of which Diana is patron.

The Family Heirloom Tiara

Despite her title, it is a rare occasion to see the Duchess of Cambridge in a tiara.

However, when the occasion does arise, there is one crown that Kate seems to favour.

Her Royal Highness is most often seen in a pearl Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara piece beloved by William's late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

The tiara was made by royal jewellers Gerard in 1914 to Queen Mary's personal design.

Among pearls and diamonds already in her family's possession, it was a copy of one owned by her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse, who married the first Duke of Cambridge, seventh son of King George III, in 1818.

The Engagement Ring That Got a Second Chance

The ring Prince William gave to Kate Middleton in late 2010 is among the most famous in the world.

Princess Diana Spencer chose it for her engagement to Prince Charles in 1981 from a selection presented to her by the then Crown Jewelers, Gerard of Mayfair.

The statement piece consists of an oval 12-carat Ceylon sapphire surrounded by a cluster of 14 solitaire diamonds set in white gold.

It cost £28,500 in 1981, but its legacy as the engagement ring worn by both Princess Diana and the Duchess of Cambridge makes it priceless, unusually for a member of the royal family.

Diana's Favourite Arabian Sapphire Earrings

These earrings, a single Saudi Arabian sapphire surrounded by 10 round diamonds, became Diana's favourites, worn to mark Prince Harry's birth in 1984.

They're believed to have come from the strap of the watch she was given as a wedding present from the Saudi Crown Prince, recognisable because of the rare faceted sapphires.

The earrings originally featured four sapphire and diamond clusters, two of which were detachable pendant drops, but Diana preferred to wear the earrings without the extra sapphires.

Shortly after their engagement in 2010, Prince William gave them to Kate, who put her own twist on them with a drop style.

The Necklace That Kate Wears as Tribute to Diana

A gift from Charles to mark William's birth in 1982, this gold hoop necklace, commonly called a torc, bore a gold disc engraved with William written in Charles's distinctive loopy handwriting.

Diana regularly wore the pendant in private, but appeared in public in it just once, at a polo match at Windsor in August that same year.

Today, the Duchess of Cambridge owns a similar pendant, an £89 gold chain from London boutique Mercy Mammon, bought by her sister Pippa in 2014.

Like Diana's, hers bears her son's name, as well as a discreet W.

In conclusion, it is evident that Kate Middleton's jewellery collection is not just a display of her impeccable taste but also a tribute to the late Princess Diana.

From the second-hand bracelet beloved by both women to the family heirloom tiara and the engagement ring that got a second chance, Kate's jewellery box is filled with sentimental pieces that pay homage to the beloved Princess of Wales.

The Duchess of Cambridge has managed to put her own twist on these pieces while still keeping the memory of Diana alive.

It is clear that the legacy of Princess Diana lives on through her son's wife, Kate Middleton.