Rihanna and Beyoncé’s jewels to feature at Kensington Palace

The diamond ring worn by Rihanna to the 2021 Met Gala, and the necklace worn by Beyoncé to promote her Mrs. Carter world tour will go on display at Kensington Palace's largest ever exhibit, 'Crown to Couture'

By Kim Parker

From 5th April until 29th October this year, Kensington Palace will play host to jewels worn by modern music royalty, including pieces owned by Beyoncé and Rihanna, alongside historic treasures from 18th century.

The largest exhibition ever staged at the Palace, ‘Crown to Couture’ will explore the origins of couture from the Georgian royal court to today (and the parallels between both ancient and modern dressing), with over 200 objects displayed throughout the historic State Apartments, from the ‘Silver Tissue Gown’ worn at the court of Charles II to Lady Gaga’s voluminous green ballgown from the 2020 MTV VMAs and Lizzo’s Thom Browne dress from the 2022 Met Gala.

Garrard Marguerite necklace which will be at Kensington Palace — The ‘Crown to Couture’ exhibition at Kensington Palace will feature this diamond, pearl and sapphire Garrard necklace worn by Beyoncé in 2013

Supported by Garrard and Blavatnik Family Foundation, the exhibition will also feature a host of dazzling contemporary jewels, expertly curated by jewellery expert and author Melanie Grant (who recently curated the Brilliant & Black jewellery exhibition at Sotheby’s). Garrard’s white gold, Akoya pearl, sapphire and diamond Marguerite earrings and necklace worn by Queen Bey in 2013 to promote her Mrs. Carter Show world tour will be on show, as will the ‘Rebel Black’ diamond and ceramic ring worn by Rihanna to the 2021 Met Gala in New York.

Other modern jewellers in the sparkling line up will include red carpet regulars like Chopard, Fernando Jorge, Verdura, Lorraine Schwartz, Schiaparelli, Fred Leighton and Sacred Skulls.

Thelma West diamond ring which will be displayed at Kensington Palace — The Rebel Black ring by Thelma West, which boasts a 5-carat pear shaped diamond set in thorn-like black ceramic

“It was such an honour to see Rihanna wearing Rebel Black at the Met Gala – I consider it one of the major highlights of my career,” recalls West, of seeing the megastar in her design. “To have this moment and my work celebrated in Crown to Couture makes it all the more impactful. I’m excited for the general public to see the ring in person and share the same wonderment I experienced when I saw Rihanna step onto the red carpet wearing it.”

‘Crown to Couture’ at Kensington Palace will run from 5 April to 29 October 2023.

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