The late Queen Elizabeth II's love for pearls took root in her childhood, but pearls have always had a solid connection to the Royal Family.
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A childhood tradition
Author of The Queen's Jewels, Leslie Field, wrote:
Pearls are traditional for Queens going back one thousand years
Express reports that Princess Anne's great-great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, allegedly gifted her daughters and granddaughters a single pearl on their birthdays until they reached 18. On their 18th birthdays, the young Royals had enough pearls to make their first single-strand pearl necklaces.
King George VI is said to have continued the tradition and gifted his daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, two pearls per birthday.
Queen Elizabeth wore pearls daily like her mother and grandmother before her.
The Queen's favourite necklace
Field stated in her book:
There has never been a Queen who didn’t wear pearls.
This statement was certainly true when it came to Queen Elizabeth. According to David Douglas Diamonds & Jewellery, the late Queen owned more than 300 items in her jewellery collection. However, Her Majesty's go-to accessory was a three-strand pearl necklace.
Per Express, King George gifted a young Princess Elizabeth the three-strand pearl necklace in 1937. Since her coronation in 1953, Queen Elizabeth was rarely spotted in public without it. It is said that the Queen and her father, King George, shared a strong bond. Some speculate that the necklace was a sentimental way of still feeling a connection with her father.
According to the jewellers, the Queen had an identical necklace made to avoid spoiling the pearls from overuse.
Steven Stone Jewellers estimates that the necklace could be worth up to £1 million, assuming that the pearls are natural and not cultured like most pearl jewellery on the market.
Expert Zack Stone said:
It would be fair to assume that this three-strand pearl necklace and her earrings are made from natural pearls. […] One single natural pearl is worth around £3,000, and the Queen has a three-strand necklace
Princess Annewore the iconic three-strand necklace earlier this month at a reception for the English-Speaking Union in New York. Perhaps the Princess Royal will also find solace in the necklace, as some speculate her mother did.
Sources used:
- Nottinghamshire Live: Princess Anne inherits £1m piece of jewellery that was the Queen's favourite
- Express: Princess Anne inherits the Queen's favourite piece of jewellery - worth up to £1million
- Express: Reason why Queen Elizabeth wears a traditional pearl necklace - stems from her childhood
- David Douglas Diamonds & Jewellery: Queen Elizabeth's Iconic Three-Strand Pearl Necklace Actually Has Two Backups
- Timeless Pearl: The Queen's Pearl Necklace
Read more:
⋙ Kate Middleton owns jewellery worth £82 million, check out her most expensive piece (PHOTO)
⋙ Lilibet Diana could inherit £410k worth of jewellery from Meghan Markle and Princess Diana
⋙ Camilla Parker Bowles to receive this priceless crown when she becomes Queen Consort
