Why Princess Kate and Meghan Markle never got to wear necklace worn by Princess Diana just before her death

The late Princess Diana’s famous diamond and pearl necklace, which she famously wore at her last official engagement before her tragic death, is one special necklace that neither the Princess of Wales nor the Duchess of Sussex have ever worn.

The magnificent piece was made in 1997 by Crown jewelers Garrard out of 178 diamonds weighing a combined 51 carats and five identical 12mm South Sea pearls.

At the Swan Lake gala evening at the Royal Albert Hall in June 1997, Diana made her debut wearing the jewel, which was rumored to be the first one she had chosen for herself and not one she had borrowed from the Crown.

Contrary to rumors, Diana never actually owned the jewel; she also had no plans to buy or keep it after the event. She was involved in the design and creation of the jewel for many months before its debut.

Diana gave the necklace back to David Thomas at Garrard after the Princess’ formal engagement. David later created a matching pair of diamond and pearl drop earrings mounted in platinum, but they hadn’t been completed when Diana passed away in August of that year.

Princess Diana’s family gave permission for the Swan Lake Suite to be sold to a private buyer after her passing, and they designated a portion of the proceeds to UNICEF in recognition of the Princess’s work to abolish landmines.

Evelyne Poumellec, who served as the head of jewelry design at Garrard from 1996 to 1998, recently granted an exclusive interview to the Daily Mail in light of the upcoming auction of the magnificent “Swan Lake Suite,” which includes a matching necklace and earrings.

Evelyne reveals that the necklace has an amazing hidden detail that was intentionally left out in order to represent the Princess’s contemporary approach to fashion.

According to Evelyne, “It has movement by having one row at the back, allowing the wearer flexibility,” “It reflects modernity against a backdrop of formal jewellery; it is classic yet fashionable.”

She continued, “The necklace is based on a reversed tiara and [the style mimics] when you write by hand lots of letter Es joined together. E is the first initial of my name, designed by me and fit for a princess.”

7 photos of Kate and Meghan wearing Diana’s jewels