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To bling or not to bling?
King Charles III has inherited the use of the Royal Collection of jewels — worth billions of dollars — and it is now up to him to decide who will get to wear what to his coronation on May 6.
He might be planning for a more cost-efficient coronation but Britain and the rest of the world will be hoping for lots of amazing jewels on show both at the big event and at the VIP party at Buckingham Palace the night before.
Queen Camilla, in addition to being crowned with the Queen Mary Crown, is also likely to wear other fabulous headgear on the coronation day — possibly her favorite Greville Tiara, which Queen Elizabeth II had loaned her.
Featuring 200 carats of diamonds set in a honeycomb design, it said to be worth $17 million.
Also among Camilla’s choices of jewelry is Queen Victoria’s stunning coronation necklace — one of the most expensive necklaces in the world — and earrings. The star of the necklace is the 161-carat Lahore Diamond, which can be detached.
But, as it comes from the same collection as the Koh-i-Noor diamond — meaning it’s in the royal family’s possession as a result of colonization — the Lahore may be deemed too controversial.
Queen Elizabeth II wore it alongside the less controversial Queen Elizabeth diamond collet necklace which was a gift from her father, King George VI, to her mother, also Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), on the occasion of their 1937 coronation.
It has long been a favorite of Queen Camilla, who was first pictured wearing it in an official portrait in 2007 to mark her 60th birthday. It originally featured 40 diamonds but Camilla had it shortened to 31.
Both the Charles and Camilla will be presented with ruby rings during the ceremony. The Queen Consort’s ring features an octagonal ruby in a gold setting, bordered by 14 diamonds and set within mixed cut rubies.
All eyes will also be on other royal women, particularly Catherine, the Princess of Wales.
“While it is Charles and Camilla’s day, Catherine is the wife of the heir to the throne and the next queen consort — and she is also beautiful — so people will be looking forward to seeing what she wears,” royal historian Marlene Koenig told Page Six.
There is plenty of speculation about what tiara Catherine, aka Kate Middleton, will be wearing at her father-in-law’s coronation — or if she even will wear one.
She has three favorites — the Lover’s Knot Tiara, which consists of diamonds and hanging pearls and was previously worn by Princess Diana; the Cartier Halo Tiara, which she got married in; and the Lotus Flower Tiara — but may choose to wear something else entirely.
There’s also the option of the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, which was one of Queen Elizabeth II’s most beloved.
It was gifted to the late Elizabeth II by her own grandmother Queen Mary and wearing it would spotlight Catherine’s future as queen.
Catherine has already sported some of the most valuable earrings and necklaces in the Royal Collection, and it is likely some of them will be showcased over the coronation weekend.
They include the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace, a wedding present for Elizabeth II which features more than 200 diamonds set in a rose design. One of the most expensive pieces in the collection, with a worth of $76.3 million, it also comes with a matching set of earrings and tiara.
Other choices include the Queen’s Dubai sapphire earrings — which reportedly made Queen Elizabeth II “exclaim in excitement” when she first saw them — and also the Bahrain Pearl earrings which were another of Elizabeth II’s wedding gifts.
There are many other royal women too who are likely to have a chance to delve into the royal family’s collection.
Anne, the Princess Royal, has plenty of her own jewels but may choose to wear something new to see her brother being crowned.
Sophie, the Duchess the Edinburgh, often borrows items and has the permanent loan of the Five Aquamarine Tiara.
Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, the daughters of Prince Andrew, are also likely to borrow items from the Royal Collection.
“I am also hoping that we will see the new ‘Family Order’ on some of the royal women,” Koenig added. “We don’t know if there is one yet but it will be something special to see.”
The Royal Family Orders is a special miniature painting of the monarch bordered by diamonds and given to the most trusted royal women to wear as a brooch on their left shoulders.
Queen Camilla, Princess Catherine, Princess Anne, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Kent are among the few women expected to to be part of this very special club.
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