August 31st will mark the 20th Anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, one of the most iconic women of the last century. In honour of her death anniversary, we are featuring 20 of her most iconic jewels. Today’s feature is her diamond wedding earrings, which belonged to her mother, the Hon. Frances Shand Kydd, and are composed of a central pear-shaped diamond surrounded by 50 smaller diamonds-
The striking Diamond Earrings are each composed of a central pear-shaped diamond surrounded by 50 smaller diamonds in an antique setting. While they rest in a case by Collingwood Jewellers, the exact origin of these Earrings is unknown, but they could have been among the wedding gifts when the Hon. Frances Roche married Viscount Althorp in 1954.
In 1981, Lady Diana Spencer borrowed these striking Diamond Earrings, paired with an infamous black gown from the Emmanuel’s, for a Concert at the Goldsmiths Hall in London, her first Official Engagement just days after announcing her Engagement.
A few months later, Lady Diana paired the Diamond Earrings with the iconic Spencer Tiara for her Wedding to the Prince of Wales at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
The Hon. Frances Shand Kydd wore her Diamond Earrings on numerous occasions, including the Christening of Prince Harry at Windsor Castle in 1984 and Viscount Althrop’s 21st Birthday Party at Spencer House in 1985.
The Hon. Frances Shand Kydd also wore her Diamond Earrings for the Wedding of her only son, Viscount Althrop, in 1989.
In later years, the Hon. Frances Shand Kydd wore the Diamond Earrings for the Funeral of her daughter, Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.
For many years, the Hon. Frances Shand Kydd’s Diamond Earrings were a part of the traveling Diana Exhibition.
After her death in 2004, the Diamond Earrings were inherited by her elder daughter Lady Sarah McCorquodale and in 2011, it made headlines when Lady Sarah withdrew them from the Exhibition to wear at the Wedding Gala of her nephew, Prince William, at Buckingham Palace.
More recently, Lady Sarah wore the earrings at the Wedding of her daughter, Emily McCorquodale, in 2013, and there is no doubt we will continue to see these special family heirlooms worn for years to come!
Diamond Earrings | Fermoy Tiara
Fermoy Tiara
Diamond Earrings
Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara
Spencer Tiara
Spencer Diamond Earrings
Spencer Diamond Rivière
Tourmaline Brooch/Pendant
Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara
Spencer Tiara
Sapphire Engagement Ring
Princess Diana’s Collingwood Pearl Earrings
Princess Diana’s Sapphire Choker
Princess Diana’s Spencer Choker
Princess Diana’s Wedding Earrings
Prince of Wales Feathers Pendant
Princess Diana’s Saudi Sapphire Suite
Queen Mary’s Art Deco Emerald Choker
Princess Diana’s Pearl Bracelet
Princess Diana’s Saudi Sapphire Choker
Princess Diana’s South-Sea Pearl Earrings
Princess Diana’s Emerald Earrings
Princess Diana’s Heart-Shaped Diamond Necklace
Princess Diana’s Pendant Earrings
Princess Diana’s Swan Lake Suite
Queen’s Pear-Drop Diamond Earrings
Princess Diana’s Oman Sapphire Suite
Princess Diana’s Amethyst Suite
Princess Diana’s Aquamarine Earrings
Princess Diana’s Diamond and Pearl Earrings
Princess Diana’s Sapphire Earrings
Princess Diana’s Aquamarine Ring
Princess Diana’s Qatar Pearl Earrings
Princess Diana’s Butterfly Suite
Embed from Getty Images
In 1981, Lady Diana Spencer borrowed her mother’s diamond earrings for her first official engagement with the famous black gown from the Emmanuel’s.
Embed from Getty Images
The most famous appearance of these earrings came a few months later, when Lady Diana wore these earrings (and the Spencer Tiara from her father) to wed the Prince of Wales at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images
While the Princess of Wales never borrowed her mother’s diamond earrings, the Hon. Frances Shand Kydd wore the earrings at a number of important occasions, including Prince Harry’s Christening in 1984, her son’s wedding in 1992, and one of the saddest events, the funeral of her daughter, Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997. After her death in 2004, the earrings were inherited by her daughter Lady Sarah McCorquodale.
Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images
For many years, Frances Shand Kydd’s diamond earrings were a part of the traveling Diana Exhibition. In 2011, it made headlines when Lady Sarah withdrew them from the Exhibition to wear at the wedding ball of her nephew, Prince William. Lady Sarah also wore the earrings at the wedding of her daughter, Emily McCorquodale, in 2013.
