Princess Diana’s heartfelt wish was to see her treasured jewelry passed on to the wives of her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, so that “in due course,” they could “have it or use it.”
Before her tragic death in a car accident in Paris in 1997, Diana expressed a strong desire for her collection of jewelry to be cherished by her sons and, eventually, by their wives. In a letter, she wrote, “I would like you to allocate all my jewelry to the share to be held by my sons so that their wives may, in due course, have it or use it. I leave the exact division of the jewelry to your discretion”, via The Mirror.
Since her passing, Princess Diana’s jewelry has held immense emotional significance for both royal brothers. Over the years, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s wife, has been seen wearing several pieces from Diana’s collection. According to diamond experts at Steven Stone, the value of these pieces is estimated to be a staggering $508,900.
Luxury jewelry expert Maxwell Stone shared with The Express, “Another particularly sentimental piece is Princess Diana’s gold cuff bangle, which Meghan first wore during her royal tour of Australia with Prince Harry in 2018.” This elegant bangle, featuring two large cabochon sapphires estimated at 5 carats each, is believed to be worth around £25,000 ($31,690). “Traditionally, it is believed that sapphires have calming properties, promote peace and pristine rest, helping to slow down the mind,” Stone added.
Another iconic piece now in Meghan’s possession is the striking aquamarine ring that Princess Diana famously wore. Meghan first donned this ring at her wedding reception, a touching tribute to Prince Harry’s late mother.
Prince Harry took great care in designing Meghan’s engagement ring, ensuring it would honor his mother’s memory. While the ring “didn’t belong to Diana,” Harry made sure it included elements that connected it to her. “The ring is obviously yellow gold because that’s Meghan’s favorite, and the main stone itself I sourced from Botswana. The little diamonds on either side are from my mother’s jewelry collection, to make sure that she’s with us on this crazy journey together,” he shared in an interview with the BBC.
Diana’s wish for her jewelry to be worn and cherished by her sons’ wives lives on, with each piece carrying the legacy and love of a mother who wanted her memory to remain a part of their lives.