Kate Middleton has sparkled in these diamond chandelier earrings on many occasions since 2011—yet, we know next to nothing about them. They’re a total mystery.
What we do know is that they belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II. Kate’s worn them 10 times since joining the Royal Family (including to Royal Ascot this week).
But unlike other royal gems, these earrings don’t come with much information. We don’t know who made them, how Queen Elizabeth came to own them—there’s no auction record, no backstory.
The Ascot outing broke a fifteen-year pattern
Here’s something you only spot if you line up every appearance side by side. Every other time Kate’s worn these earrings, it’s been an evening do. Think state banquets, diplomatic receptions, galas etc.
Ascot was different. More informal. A bright marigold Roksanda dress instead of a gown. It was the first time in fifteen years that this pair had come out in the daytime.
The design
The earrings feature a large pear-shaped stone surrounded by an open chandelier ‘frame’. Three diamond drops hang from the lower edge.
These are one of my favourite pairs of royal gems she’s worn—because they’re so delicate, very elegant.
So what do we actually know about the earrings?
I’ll be straight with you: not much!
Kate first wore the earrings back in 2011, during a visit to Los Angeles. At the time, the press reported they were a loan from the Queen. Royal correspondent Richard Palmer of the Express later confirmed it to another royal blogger. And that’s the one solid fact we’ve got. Queen Elizabeth II’s earrings, lent to Kate for the night.
After that? Nothing.
We don’t know the jeweller, the date they were created, and there’s no public record of how they came into the Queen’s collection in the first place.
And since her passing? We don’t know who holds them now. (I assume they were on long-term loan to Kate, and King Charles has continued that loan.)
A total contrast to other pieces, like the Greville Chandelier earrings or the Lover’s Knot Tiara that have a known history shared publicly.
If the answers are out there, they haven’t surfaced or been shared—yet! For now, these stay the biggest mystery in Kate’s borrowed jewellery box.
Did the Queen ever wear them herself?
This is the bit I find really intriguing. Even though the earrings belong to the Queen, there doesn’t seem to be a single photo of her actually wearing them. Not one that anyone’s dug up, anyway. Or any other royal, for that matter. Every picture we have of this pair is of Kate wearing them.
Did the Queen wear them privately, years before Kate came along? Did she just never fancy them? No idea!
Every time the Princess of Wales has worn the diamond chandelier earrings
Here’s the full record of Kate wearing the earrings in public:
- 17 Jun 2026 — Royal Ascot, first ‘daytime’ wear
- 3 Dec 2025 — German State Visit Banquet
- 25 Feb 2020 — Dear Evan Hansen charity performance
- 17 Mar 2017 — British Embassy dinner, Paris
- 22 Jun 2016 — EACH Gala, Houghton Hall
- 15 May 2016 — Queen’s 90th birthday celebration, Royal Windsor Horse Show
- 8 Dec 2015 — Diplomatic Reception
- 20 Oct 2015 — Chinese State Banquet
- 3 Dec 2013 — Diplomatic Reception
- 9 Jul 2011 — BAFTA Brits To Watch, Los Angeles (the debut, where the loan first came out)
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