Prince Philip loved architecture and design. He was an accomplished oil painter who is best known for his contribution to the restoration of Windsor Castle after a fire destroyed it in 1992. He did this by creating a striking stained glass window for the chapel.
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So it may not come as a surprise that he put his skills to good use before getting married to Princess Elizabeth in 1947. The Duke gave his future wife a stunning diamond bracelet that was extremely sentimental to him. It is one of the most beloved pieces of jewelry in Her late Majesty’s collection and has earned the nickname “The Queen’s Wedding Bracelet.”
Princess Alice of Battenberg, Philip’s mother, owned an exquisite tiara that contained the diamonds used in the bracelet. Elizabeth’s stunning engagement ring, a three carat diamond solitaire with five smaller diamonds on either side, contained diamonds from the tiara, which she gave to her son to create jewelry for his soon-to-be fiancée.
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The remainder of the jewels were then used by Philip to create a custom Art Deco bracelet for his bride, which was made by London jeweler Philip Antrobus and given to the Princess on her wedding day.
The bride also got a diamond and sapphire necklace from the 19th century from her father, King George VI, and a diamond and ruby necklace from her mother, Queen Elizabeth. Additionally, the couple presented a set of diamond and platinum earrings by Cartier.
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The Queen continued to wear the Wedding Gift Bracelet frequently throughout her reign and was pictured doing so numerous times during the couple’s seven decades of marriage, including in her official Diamond Jubilee portrait.
In a touching gesture, the monarch loaned the Duchess of Cambridge her priceless bracelet, which she wore for the first time in 2015 to the Chinese State Banquet. She also wore it to the 2017 BAFTA Awards and the 2016 Diplomatic Reception.
