What jewellery is in The Crown season 5?

By Joshua Hendren

As royal fans anxiously await the return of Netflix’s The Crown, we explore the most notable jewellery pieces we can expect to see in the show’s hotly-anticipated fifth season. From the iconic Lover’s Knot tiara to Princess Diana’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring, here are five royal jewels we’re keeping an eye out for.

The Spencer Tiara

In a touching tribute to her family, Princess Diana chose not to wear one of Queen Elizabeth II’s many diadems from the royal collection on her wedding day, but instead opted for a family heirloom named the Spencer tiara. In the possession of the Spencer family for nearly a century, the tiara is composed of multiple parts: a wedding gift from Lady Sarah Spencer to Lady Cynthia Hamilton, Diana’s grandmother, in 1919, when she married Viscount Althorp and elements from Lady Sarah’s collection, acquired in the 1870s. In the 1930s, Garrard constructed what is today known as the Spencer tiara, which features stylised flowers and foliage made of diamonds, all set in silver and gold. Following Diana’s death in 1997, it was passed on to Earl Spencer.

The Lover’s Knot Tiara

This sparking pearl heirloom was a favourite of Princess Diana and boasts a fascinating history. Created by crown jeweller Garrard in 1914 for Queen Mary from 19 teardrop pearls and diamonds already owned by her family, the tiara was inspired by the design of an earlier diadem, the Cambridge Lover’s Knot owned by Princess Augusta of Cambridge and worn by her to Queen Victoria’s coronation. After Queen Mary died in 1953, the topper was passed down to her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, who wore the tiara several times in the 1950s, before favouring pieces like the Ireland and Girls of Great Britain tiara instead. Loaned to Princess Diana on at least five known occasions, it is one of only two tiaras she ever officially wore.

Prince of Wales Feather Brooch

This heraldic badge was presented to Princess Alexandra of Denmark by the Ladies of North Wales in 1863 to commemorate her marriage to the future King Edward VII. At its centre, the brooch features three ostrich feathers encircled by a crown, the traditional symbol of the Prince of Wales. The crown bears the motto, Ich Dien, or “I serve,” and is surrounded by 18 round-cut diamonds alternating with tiny emeralds. A detachable emerald pendant also hangs from the bottom of the brooch.

Following then-Prince Charles’ investiture as Prince of Wales in 1958, and his marriage to Princess Diana in 1981, he gifted her the brooch. Princess Diana preferred necklaces, however, so she combined the piece with a diamond line necklace and debuted it at the Royal Opera House in 1982. The royal brooch was given back to Queen Elizabeth II after Charles and Diana’s divorce in 1996 and resurfaced in 2006, worn by King Charles’ new bride, Camilla Parker Bowles.

Princess Diana’s Sapphire and Diamond Engagement Ring

We couldn’t delight in Princess Diana’s most breathtaking jewels without discussing her sapphire and diamond engagement ring. Designed by Garrard, the piece features a 12-carat Ceylon sapphire encircled by diamonds and set in 18K white gold. 

Unlike most royal engagement rings, the one Princess Diana chose wasn’t a one-of-kind commission, but rather a catalog offering, meaning it was available to anyone else who might have a spare £47,000. Despite raising several eyebrows in the royal family, the ring does, in fact, boast a close connection to Queen Victoria. The design of Princess Diana’s engagement ring was inspired by a sapphire brooch by Garrard gifted by Prince Albert to his future wife, Victoria, that the Queen later wore as “something blue” at her wedding.

Collingwood & Co. Pearl Drop Earrings

These pearl and diamond earrings were a wedding gift to Princess Diana from Collingwood & Co, a go-to London jeweller of the Spencer family. These statement earrings feature pearl drops in a bell cap ringed with three rows of diamonds and suspended from a round diamond stud. The pearl drop earrings are currently owned by Catherine, Princess of Wales who has worn them several times, including during the procession of the Queen’s coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.

Like this? Here’s what you need to know about Princess Diana’s engagement ring