Fourteen Stand-Out Royal Jewelry Moments from the Princess of Wales

Princess Catherine, who celebrated her birthday this week, will mark the fourteenth anniversary of her tenure as a member of the British royal family this year.

Fourteen years ago this April, Catherine Middleton married the Duke of Cambridge in a glittering ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Now Prince and Princess of Wales, the couple have navigated a uniquely challenging year. As the Princess celebrates her birthday this week, we’re taking a closer look at fourteen of her most impressive royal jewelry appearances to date.

The Princess of Wales attends a banquet at the Al Husseiniya Palace in Amman following the wedding of the Crown Prince of Jordan on June 1, 2023 (Albert Nieboer/Royal Hashemite Court/Alamy)

Catherine “Kate” Middleton was not born to the royal vaults. Her marriage to the future King William V in 2011 brought her into the royal fold, and she has learned about the intricacies of gala jewelry wearing from family members like Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Camilla. Now the second lady in the land, she has increased access to collections of royal jewelry worn by three important royal women: Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and Diana, Princess of Wales.

There are those who have suggested that Kate has been a disappointment where jewelry-wearing is concerned. She has a predilection for small pieces, including high-street earrings and petite matching sets, and she has yet to fully embrace that signature royal jewelry item, the brooch. But a survey of fourteen stand-out appearances from her years as a working member of the royal family shows a woman who is becoming increasingly confident at gala events, trying out new jewels from the royal vaults and wearing them beautifully. Even as Princess of Wales, the jewels of queenship are still far out of her reach, and we won’t see her come into her full potential until after she is crowned, one day in the future, at Westminster Abbey.

Until then, there are tiaras, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and brooches to enjoy. Here are fourteen of my favorite jewelry moments from Kate’s decade-plus as the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess of Wales. Be sure to let me know in the comments if there are other jewelry appearances that would make your best-of list.

The Duchess of Cambridge waves to well-wishes after her wedding at Westminster Abbey in London on April 29, 2011 (Mike Egerton/PA Images/Alamy)

The Royal Wedding, April 2011

Catherine Middleton arrived at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 as a commoner and departed as HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, wife of the future king. While other royal brides have arrived at the altar wearing ensembles that emphasized that transformation—Sarah Ferguson’s crown of flowers comes to mind—Kate strode confidently down the aisle on her father’s arm in a Cartier tiara that originally belonged to the Queen Mother.

Kate has often implied that she’s patterning her supportive royal role after that of the Queen Mum, so wearing one of Elizabeth’s tiaras on the big day was a particularly meaningful choice. Add in a pair of bespoke diamond earrings from Robinson Pelham, featuring the oak and acorn symbolism so important to the Middleton family, and Kate’s jewelry signaled a clear desire to maintain her own identity while forging a new path within the Firm.