The Royal Family holds an extensive collection of jewellery in their vaults, showcasing unparalleled craftsmanship and historical significance. Among these treasured pieces are the Greville Chandelier Earrings, worn by both the late Elizabeth II and The Princess of Wales.
These exquisite earrings once belonged to Dame Margaret Greville, a British socialite and philanthropist renowned for her impressive jewellery collection – and a friend of the Queen Mother’s. Her trove of jewels also included the Greville Ivy Clip brooches and the Greville Honeycomb Tiara, both of which have since been worn by multiple members of the Royal Family, after they were left to Queen Elizabeth in the 1940s.
The Greville chandelier earrings
The earrings feature a round diamond stud, with four further diamonds of different shapes connecting the stud to a larger baguette stone, from which there are three pendants. According to the Royal Collection Trust, each earring incorporates a variety of modern diamond cuts, including half-moon, trapeze, square, baguette, baton, and emerald cuts.
A closer look at the Greville chandelier earrings. (Royal Collection Trust)
Originally designed as a pair of drop earrings by Cartier in 1918, the earrings underwent multiple transformations over the years. In 1922, they were lengthened with the addition of 12 diamonds, and further modified in 1929 with an additional ten diamonds, resulting in their current design.
Upon Mrs. Greville’s passing in 1942, she unexpectedly bequeathed her vast collection of jewels to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. This generous inheritance enriched the royal vaults with some of the most stunning pieces we know today.
Queen Elizabeth II in Canada in 2010, wearing the Greville chanelier earrings
The earrings were later gifted to Elizabeth II by her parents as a wedding present in 1947. However, the young Queen did not publicly wear them until after her accession to the throne in 1952. Some of the earliest known appearances of the earrings were seen in official portraits taken ahead of her Coronation in 1953.
The Greville Chandelier Earrings soon became a favourite of the late Queen’s, frequently worn during State Visits and receptions, both in the UK and overseas. Their last documented appearance on Elizabeth II was during her 2010 tour of Canada, a poignant moment in her long reign.
Following Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022, the earrings returned to the royal vaults. However, they have since found a new wearer in The Princess of Wales.
The Princess of Wales with Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary at Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and Princess Rajwa’s Wedding Banquet at Al Husseinieh Palace in Amman, Jordan (June 1st).
📸: Albert Nieboer pic.twitter.com/pGRO2Wyl16
— Princess of Wales News (@HRHPWales) June 2, 2023
Royal watchers first noticed Catherine wearing the earrings at the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa of Jordan in 2023, an event attended by royalty from across the globe. She later wore them again at the annual Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace the same year.
Kate has worn the Greville chandelier earrings multiple times in recent years
