Kate Middleton owns Kiki McDonough’s Classic Diamond hoop earrings in 18ct yellow gold.
She’s owned them since at least 2012, and they might just be the hardest-working pieces in her entire jewellery box.
That’s because the hoops anchor the Princess of Wales’s most-worn earring combination: she suspends her Annoushka baroque pearl drops from them, a pairing she’s now worn to more than 70 public engagements—most recently her visit to Evelina London Children’s Hospital in July 2026.
The pearls get most of the attention, but strictly speaking, half of Kate’s signature daytime earring look belongs to Kiki.
About the earrings:
The Classic Diamond hoops are small huggie-style hoops crafted in 18ct yellow gold and set with a row of sparkling diamonds totalling approximately 0.13 carats. They’re lightweight, measure just over a centimetre in length, and fasten with a secure click closure—easy to wear all day, which no doubt appeals to a working royal.
The clever part is the design’s versatility. The hoops are the foundation of Kiki McDonough’s detachable drops system: worn alone, they’re an understated everyday earring; add a gemstone drop, and they become something else entirely. Kate uses hers exactly as intended. Beyond the Annoushka pearls, she wears the hoops with three pairs of Kiki’s own detachable drops—the Green Amethyst Ovals, the Green Amethyst Cushions (below) and the Yellow Citrine Cushions.
One pair of hoops, at least four different looks. Cost-per-wear doesn’t get much better.
Where to buy:
The Classic Diamond hoops remain available from Kiki McDonough’s website, priced at £1,000.
Kiki ships worldwide, and orders over £1,000 qualify for free express delivery in the UK.
If you prefer cooler tones, the same style is available in 18ct white gold, and Kiki’s Hoop & Drop Builder lets you pair the hoops with a detachable drop of your choosing—just as Kate does.
Kate Middleton and Kiki McDonough:
Kiki McDonough is Kate’s favourite jeweller by some distance. The Princess owns around 20 pairs of detachable drops, three pairs of hoops and three necklaces from the brand—a scale of loyalty we haven’t seen her show any other jewellery house.
Kiki herself has spoken warmly about the royal connection over the years. In a 2014 interview with the Daily Mail, she praised the way the then-Duchess wore her designs, saying “she wears my pieces as they should be worn”—mixing, matching and swapping drops rather than treating them as a fixed set.
About Kiki McDonough:
Kiki McDonough is a fifth-generation jeweller who founded her eponymous brand in 1985. She’s often credited with introducing coloured gemstones to the British jewellery scene at a time when diamonds and pearls dominated, and vibrant colour remains her signature today.
The brand works exclusively in 18ct yellow and white gold, and operates from its store on Symons Street in Chelsea, a stone’s throw from Sloane Square. Alongside Kate, Kiki’s designs have been worn by royal women for decades—she famously designed for Diana, Princess of Wales, and the Duchess of Edinburgh is also a fan.