Charlotte & Lilibet Will Both Inherit Royal Jewels - But How Do Their Collections Differ?
As Disney movies taught us, not all princesses are alike — compare the regal Cinderella with snarky racer Princess Vanellope, from "Wreck-It Ralph." So it is with William, Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex's daughters. Princess Lilibet's 2026 birthday pic highlighted the difference between her life and Princess Charlotte's. Lilibet and her older brother, Prince Archie, have more privacy than Charlotte and her brothers because their parents aren't working royals anymore. As the child of the future king, Charlotte may also be expected to take on official duties on her father's behalf, while Lilibet is under no obligation to continue either Harry's charity work or to go into acting, like mom Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex (Meghan herself may not be returning to acting either).
Still, the royal cousins do have one major thing in common: privilege. Thanks to their dads, they have access to A-list celebrities and top-tier sporting events. Neither girl will ever have to worry about living on ramen noodles while they pay back their college student loans. Plus, not only do Charlotte and Lilibet have substantial financial inheritances in their futures but they also have some pretty sweet bling coming to them. Both Meghan and Catherine, Princess of Wales, have amassed a fine jewelry collection to rival the Smithsonian's.
Some of their priciest pieces were gifts from the late Queen Elizabeth II, including the eye-popping $85 million Nizam of Hyderbad diamond necklace she gave Kate Middleton and the diamond and pearl earrings bestowed upon her sister-in-law. The royal moms also have a number of pieces that once belonged to their late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. The most famous, of course, is her diamond-and-sapphire engagement ring, which now graces Kate's hand, while Meghan is fond of Diana's Asprey Aquamarine ring, worth an estimated $115,000.
Some of Kate and Meghan's best jewelry doesn't come from the royal vaults
Comparing Princess Catherine's and Meghan Markle's jewelry, there's a clear winner when it comes to the price tag. The future queen consort has a collection estimated at over $108 million, including pieces given to her by Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III, and of course her husband, Prince William. The former "Suits" star, on the other hand, owns a $660,000 Cartier watch, a $200,000 Cartier diamond bracelet, and several other gems passed down from Princess Diana, yet the total value — just under $3 million — is just a fraction of what her sister-in-law's collection is worth. Even so, by the time Princess Charlotte and Princess Lilibet are old enough to wear their mothers' fine pieces, their total hauls will no doubt have grown even bigger.
It should be noted that some of the biggest dazzlers worn by female royals are strictly loaners. Kate Middleton recently dusted off some priceless royal jewels for the first time in over a decade when she attended the London premiere of Tom Cruise film "Digger." But the Queen Mother's gorgeous Amethyst Sautoir Necklace was promptly put back into the royal collection once the princess returned home. The stunning tiaras worn by both Meghan and Kate on their wedding days are also part of the royal collection and as such belong to the reigning monarch.
Lilibet and Charlotte may also inherit some jewelry that's priceless for reasons other than money. Meghan's outfits often feature a cheeky nod to Archie and Lilibet, including her necklaces with constellation pendants corresponding to their astrological signs. Kate's own sentimental pieces include emerald earrings representing Charlotte's May birthday, and a necklace with the initials "G," "C," and "L," a sweet shout-out to all three of her children.