The origin of Meghan Markle’s diamond chandelier earrings revealed

By Joshua Hendren

The mysterious origins of the diamond chandelier earrings worn by Meghan Markle have come to light in a new book by royal commentator Valentine Low.

The earrings were first photographed on Meghan during a state banquet in Fiji during her royal tour of Australia and the Pacific in 2018.

At the time the earrings were paired with Meghan’s wedding band and a dainty bracelet. A few weeks later, the Duchess of Sussex was seen again sporting the piece for King Charles III’s 70th birthday at Buckingham Palace.

While it was assumed that the earrings were a borrowed piece from Queen Elizabeth II’s personal collection, Kensington Palace refused to share who loaned her the piece, sparking curiosity from royal watchers.

Writing in Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, Mr Low reveals that the earrings were a gift from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Bin Salman. The incident happened just a few days after his regime admitted killing journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi embassy in Istanbul.

In an edited extract from his upcoming book, Mr Low claims staff responsible for registering details of all royal gifts had recognised the jewels and alerted Kensington Palace after noticing Meghan had worn them in Fiji.

However, Prince Harry and Meghan’s aides decided “not to confront” the royals on the issue “out of fear for what their reaction would be”, according to a source reported by Mr Low.

The lawyers of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the royal correspondent added, “deny he was ever questioned about their provenance.”

Mr Low also adds that the law firm representing Meghan and Harry, Schillings, argued in February 2021 Meghan had “no idea about Sheikh Mohammed’s involvement in Khashoggi’s murder”.

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