The Dazzling Diamond Wedding Earrings Designed for the Princess of Wales

On Monday, the Prince and Princess of Wales will celebrate their wedding anniversary, and today I’ve got a closer look at special jewelry worn on that day 13 years ago: her unique diamond wedding earrings.

Earlier this month, I did a deep dive on the iconic sapphire and diamond engagement ring worn by both Lady Diana Spencer and Catherine Middleton, and back in April 2022, I shared a long article on the fascinating history of the Cartier Halo Tiara. Both of those jewels are legacies from the royal family, but the earrings that Kate wore on her wedding day were created especially for her–”something new” for the bride.

The diamond earrings were commissioned as a personal gift for Kate by her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton. They were made by the London-based jewelry firm Robinson Pelham. The company’s flagship store is located in Chelsea. They’ve also made other pieces for the Middletons, including the blue topaz and diamond girandole earrings worn by Carole for William and Kate’s wedding reception. (Kate later also wore the earrings for the Royal Film Performance of Spectre in 2015.)

An official press release from the wedding day described the design of the earrings: “diamond-set stylized oak leaves with a pear shaped diamond set drop and a pavé set diamond acorn suspended in the center.”

You’ll note that the curving “oak leaf” stud portions of the earrings very closely resemble the diamond scrolls of the Cartier Halo Tiara. This has always suggested to me that the earrings were designed after Kate chose this jewel for her bridal tiara, as the shape of the earrings seems to directly echo the scrolls of the tiara.

But what about the acorns? That’s a fairly unusual symbol to include in a piece of jewelry worn for a wedding. The answer can be found in the coat of arms that was granted to Michael Middleton ahead of his daughter’s royal marriage. The family was reportedly very closely involved in the design of the coat of arms, and you’ll spot more references here to oak trees. The Middleton family home, Bucklebury Manor, is located in Berkshire, an area that is full of traditional English oak trees. The home where the family lived while raising their children was even called “Oak Acre.” The coat of arms features a trio of acorns and oak leaves to represent the family’s three children, Kate, Pippa, and James.

Oak trees, and their leaves and acorns, have long been used symbolically to represent strength and endurance, in part because they are particularly sturdy and able to withstand strong storms. That’s a nice symbolic resonance to bring to a new royal marriage, especially one that was expected to produce and nurture the next generation of Windsors, including a future monarch.

Acorns and oaks also have additional meaning connected to England itself, and to its royal family. Oak trees have long been revered by people in Britain, who worshipped and wed beneath their branches in generations past. Wood from oak trees has been used to build houses and ships for centuries. And acorns have sometimes even been carried as tokens of good luck. Even the National Trust uses a sprig of oak leaves and acorns as its logo.

For royalists, there’s also an additional important symbolic connection between the Windsors and English oaks. In 1651, in the middle of a civil war, the future King Charles II is said to have hidden inside of an oak tree in Shropshire to elude Cromwell’s troops at the Battle of Worcester. The tree became known as the Royal Oak. It no longer exists today, in part because so many tourists snipped off branches and twigs as souvenirs in the centuries that followed. But there are “descendants” of that famous tree still around today, grown from its acorns. One of them, “Son of Royal Oak,” is pictured above, carefully fenced off near Boscobel House in Shropshire. You can even buy saplings grown from the acorns that descend from the original famous oak tree at a nearby shop.

The story of Charles II’s successful escape has long been commemorated with a holiday. May 29, the date of the restoration of the Stuart monarchy, has been celebrated for centuries as Restoration Day, but it’s also sometimes called Royal Oak Day or Oak Apple Day as a nod to that famous tree. The Royal Hospital Chelsea marks the date each year as its Founders’ Day, and members of the royal family often attend the parade wearing sprigs of oak leaves. Last year, the King and Queen of the Belgians made a special trip to the United Kingdom to take part in the celebration.

The earrings given to Kate by her parents have indeed been part of a royal marriage that has thrived. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcomed three children of their own, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, before becoming Prince and Princess of Wales on the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession of King Charles III in 2022.

Shortly after the royal wedding in 2011, the earrings were showcased for the public to view at Buckingham Palace with the rest of Kate’s bridal ensemble and jewels. She viewed the exhibition alongside the late Queen, who wasn’t a fan of the chosen display. She was overheard exclaiming that it was “horrid” to see the gown and tiara displayed on a mannequin without a head! The earrings were shown in a nearby display case, presumably more to Elizabeth’s liking.

Since then, we’ve only seen Kate wear her wedding earrings on a handful of occasions. In June 2016, she wore the earrings with a bright red outfit and hat for the annual Garter Day service at St. George’s Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

She wore them again at St. George’s Chapel on Easter Sunday in 2019. This time, she also added another oak-themed jewel to her ensemble. The brooch pinned to Kate’s light blue coat is designed as a spray of oak leaves and acorns. The leaves are set with diamonds, while the acorns are made of tiny pearls.