A Royal Heirloom Transformed
A wedding gift once given to Princess Diana received a stunning makeover by Camilla Parker Bowles, the current wife of King Charles. This particular item, which held deep royal significance, was completely transformed by the Queen Consort. The gift, originally presented to Diana during her 1981 marriage to Charles, carried both sentimental and historical value.
When Diana married Charles in 1981, she was showered with presents from well-wishers around the globe. While some were practical, others carried deep emotional meaning for the soon-to-be Princess of Wales. One such gift came from a high-ranking royal—Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. According to experts at Steven Stone, as shared by Crisscut Magazine, the gift consisted of a necklace featuring four carats of diamonds and emeralds, paired with a striking three-carat cabochon-cut green emerald pendant.
This royal heirloom had a long and storied history. Originally owned by Queen Alexandra in 1863, the piece was worn by Diana at a gala at the Vienna Burgh Theatre during a visit to Austria in 1986 and later at other royal events. After Diana’s death in 1997, the necklace returned to the Royal Collection. Years later, it was redesigned by Camilla into a brooch, and both she and Kate Middleton have worn it on multiple occasions, according to Brides.
The piece is significant not only for its beauty but also for its connection to the Prince of Wales. At its center, it features three diamond-encrusted ostrich feathers, the emblem of the Prince of Wales. Gifting Diana an item directly tied to the Prince of Wales was a reminder by the Queen Mother of her role as the Princess of Wales. This token served as a touchstone into a world she appeared predestined to join.
A Meeting That Changed Everything
Diana, who was just 16 years old, first met 29-year-old Charles through her sister, Sarah Spencer McCorquodale, in 1977. However, it wasn’t until 1980 that the world’s most eligible royal bachelor began dating the youngest Spencer sister.
After being invited to stay at the home of a mutual friend, Philip de Pass, in July 1980, Diana got to know Charles better. He appreciated her sensitivity and reportedly felt comforted by her presence. The royal popped the question to his new girlfriend seven months later, in February 1981. “We met 13 times and we got married,” the Princess of Wales revealed in tapes from the documentary Diana: In Her Own Words, according to ABC News.
Diana and Charles divorced in 1996. She died one year later. They are the parents of two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. Despite their troubled marriage, the legacy of their union continues to be remembered, especially through the items they once wore and the traditions they upheld.
