Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II has made a series of generous loans from her personal jewelry vault to Kate Middleton in what is seen as the ultimate seal of approval.

The brooch was a tribute to the Canadian flag which features a bold maple leaf and it has been worn by royal women on successive trips to the country. Mary was never photographed wearing the necklace and she loaned it to her daughter-in-law Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother who started wearing it in the 1930s. It was not loaned to her again until 2019 where she wore it to its best advantage against a black velvet evening gown by Alexander McQueen and with Queen Mary's diamond and pearl lover's knot tiara. To the funeral Kate also wore a pair of delicate diamond and pearl earrings owned by the queen. The Asprey diamond maple leaf brooch is a jewel that the queen inherited from her own mother. The earrings complemented Kate's diamond and sapphire engagement ring—formerly the property of Princess Diana. In 1981, the monarch gave the tiara on long-term loan to Princess Diana as a wedding gift. When she died in 2002 the Queen Mother's jewels were inherited by her daughter, Elizabeth II who has never worn the piece publicly. From tiaras to earrings, necklaces, rings and brooches, Kate has been the custodian (if only for an evening) of some of the most precious and potent symbols of the monarchy. The necklace is made up of diamonds and large pearls arranged in graceful swags with perfectly matched pearl drops. Queen Elizabeth II displays her approval of the work of various members of the royal family in subtle ways. . The main beneficiaries of loans throughout the queen's reign have been her only sister, Princess Margaret, her daughters-in-law, Princess Diana and Sophie, Countess of Wessex and finally, Kate.