Royal jewellery often carries stories across generations, with historic pieces reappearing decades after their introduction. One diamond-and-emerald heirloom links Princess Diana, Queen Camilla, and Catherine, Princess of Wales.
The Jewel was presented to Diana as a wedding gift in 1981; the jewel was later converted from a necklace to a brooch. Both Camilla and Kate have worn the redesigned piece, which a British jeweller values at about £100,000 ($133,000).
It is the Prince of Wales Feathers Brooch with Emerald Pendant. The emerald is removable. pic.twitter.com/vrkZtSuX5d
— Remoulade Sauce (@Remisagoodboy) June 24, 2024
A Historic Royal Wedding Gift
Diana received the necklace from Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, when she married the then-Prince Charles on 29 July 1981. The gift was already a royal heirloom dating back to the 19th century.
The jewel was originally part of a suite of emerald jewellery given by the Ladies of North Wales to Queen Alexandra on her marriage to the future King Edward VII in 1863. Its design features the three feathers and coronet of the Prince of Wales, connecting it to the title Charles held before becoming king.
Diana wore the necklace at several public events, including a December 1982 visit to the Royal Opera House. She wore it with an emerald-green and blue sequinned Catherine Walker gown for a 1986 gala performance of Love For Love, and again at a gala dinner in Toronto in 1991.
Princess Diana wearing the Prince of Wales Feathers brooch as a necklace. She also added a emerald drop to it. Don't like to see C in it! pic.twitter.com/0sVcLVuCYK
— Scandinavian Royals (@the_Royalist1) September 21, 2017
From Necklace to Brooch
After Diana's death in 1997, the necklace returned to the Royal Collection. The emerald-and-diamond pendant was later adapted into the Prince of Wales feathers brooch. Queen Camilla wore the brooch at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2012, renewing interest in its connection to Diana.
According to jewellery specialist Steven Stone, Camilla, the then Duchess of Cornwall, reportedly received the piece when she married Charles in 2005. However, the heirloom's history predates both marriages.
The redesign has attracted attention because Diana and Camilla were both married to Charles at different stages of his life. Royal jewellery is often shared among family members or adapted for new occasions, making the brooch part of a long-standing tradition of reusing historic heirlooms.
Camilla Wears the £100,000 Brooch
Camilla has worn the brooch at several public events, including a 2019 celebration marking Charles's 50th anniversary as Prince of Wales. Its continued use ensures the historic design remains part of the royal jewellery collection.
This jewelry piece is the Prince of Wales Feathers brooch, which features a prominent central diamond and a distinctive green emerald drop.
— France Safety Travel (@francesafetytra) June 5, 2026
Originally given to Princess Diana as a wedding gift in 1981, she famously wore it as a necklace pendant.
The piece dates back to 1863 and… pic.twitter.com/UYnOypxDoG
Maxwell Stone, creative director at Steven Stone, estimated the brooch's value at around £100,000 ($133,000). However, this valuation is an expert estimate rather than an official figure from the Royal Collection.
Kate Wears Diana's Heirloom
Catherine, Princess of Wales, first wore the brooch in November 2022 during the ceremonial welcome for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. She paired it with a magenta Emilia Wickstead outfit.
Regal Debut: The Princess of Wales Unveils Exquisite 'Prince of Wales Feathers Brooch' During South Africa State Visit - https://t.co/Ctm8IObe3H pic.twitter.com/X8opfsQ9Ze
— RegalFille (@RegalFille) August 27, 2023
Kate wore the brooch again in September 2025, when the royal family welcomed US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to Windsor Castle for a state visit. On this occasion, she wore it without the emerald drop. The princess also wore sapphire-and-diamond earrings once associated with Diana, further linking her to the late royal's jewellery collection.
The Princess of Wales is wearing The Prince of Wales feathers brooch but without emerald which is detachable.
— Isa💜 (@isaguor) March 13, 2023
📸: Samir Hussein/WireImage/ Getty Images pic.twitter.com/Rs7bQ0szRi
Kate's appearances highlight the ongoing use of historic royal pieces at formal events, while the brooch's journey from Diana to Camilla and Kate demonstrates how royal heirlooms gain new significance over time.
