The History Behind Kate Middleton's Diplomatic Reception Necklace

All eyes were on the Duchess of Cambridge when she arrived at the Queen’s 2019 Diplomatic Corps Reception. Aside from wearing a luxe, velvet Alexander McQueen gown, her and Princess Diana’s favorite Lover’s Knot tiara, and official regal sashes, Kate also wore a stunning piece on loan from the Queen: the immaculate, Nizam of Hyderabad necklace.

The stunning jewellery piece was designed by Cartier in the 1930s and is one of the queen’s most precious accessories that rarely leaves her vault of jewels. Kate has worn the ornate necklace once before in 2014, at the National Portrait Gallery’s Annual Gala alongside a navy blue, flowing Jenny Packham evening gown.

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The piece remains dear to the queen to this day considering it was a gift on her wedding day to Prince Philip in 1947 from the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. At the time of gifting, the Nizam of Hyderabad was one of the richest rulers in the world and Jewels of Nizams still remain some of the largest and most expensive jewels in present day India. According to Express, when the Indian government purchased the collection in 1995, it was for about staggering $70 million.

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The notable necklace features 38 diamonds plus 13 additional emerald cut diamonds and a pear-shaped drop center stone. The piece, along with other Cartier jewels, have remained special occasion statements for the queen—and Duchess Kate—still today.

This article originally appeared on Harper's BAZAAR US.

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