The Princess Diana Heirloom That Granddaughter Charlotte Might Inherit
The life of a young princess is bittersweet. From engaging in regular everyday activities like soccer games and school to partaking in events most will never get to experience in person — such as snagging a front seat at the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee or frolicking through the gardens of Kensington Palace (per Town & Country) — the royal family life packs a big punch for its pint-sized members.
Now, with the queen's funeral already a distant memory (via The New York Times), the world is reminded of how quickly power is passed down through the generations. In case you were wondering, Foreign Policy reports that British royals are worth a collective gasp-inducing $28 billion in assets alone. Among the most lucrative, of course, are the Kensington Palace and the Crown Estate, according to Forbes. At the tender age of 7, Princess Charlotte of Wales, daughter of Prince William and Princess Catherine, is unlikely to inherit.
She might inherit Princess Diana's sought-after Spencer Tiara
New Idea reports that while Princess Charlotte might not be in line for the throne, she is in line for some of the most sought-after pieces of jewelry that her late grandmother, the beloved Princess Diana, once possessed. Palace insiders proclaim that when the time is right, young Princess Charlotte will indeed have her "pick of the palace jewels," which is quite the extravagant prize.
The little princess — affectionately referred to as "Lottie," according to Town & Country — is the first granddaughter of the late Princess Diana of Wales and the first in line for the crowned inheritance. At this particular moment, the famous tiara is under the care of Charles, 9th Earl Spencer, who is Diana's brother. The earl is Prince William's maternal uncle (via Hello! Magazine) and, as such, the two have already openly discussed the prospect of gifting Princess Lottie the Spencer Tiara and have pretty much agreed to do so.
One unnamed palace insider reportedly said (via New Idea), "William is quite aware the earl has daughters of his own, but the two have agreed that Diana's iconic piece belongs to her first granddaughter."
What makes the spencer tiara so special?
When it comes to crowns, the Spencer tiara is pretty rich, both in jewels and — perhaps more importantly — in history. According to Vogue, the coveted headpiece was first crafted in 1930 for Lady Cynthia Hamilton to don at her wedding to the 7th Earl Spencer Albert Edward John, but you might recognize it as the tiara Princess Diana wore on her wedding day back in 1981 (above).
The relatively lightweight accessory is fitted with several Spencer diamonds positioned around a diamond-encrusted floral piece. Reader's Digest reports that it was crafted by world-renowned court jeweler Garrard, whose handiwork can be found on the heads of modern royals to this very day. While some claim the stylish Princess Diana chose to wed in this tiara for the sake of comfort (it was one of the lighter pieces she had to choose from), others believe it made a subtle statement about the leading lady holding power in her own right — and right on the top of her head.
In addition to its rich history, the tiara also takes the crown for popularity, beating out even Kate Middleton's Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara in terms of public appeal. According to the Daily Express, the popular headpiece is priced at approximately £400,000 British. There is certainly nothing light about the price tag.
This potential inheritance still isn't set in stone
According to Insider, the Spencer tiara is the property of the Spencer family. Whenever the stunning headpiece isn't being displayed in elaborate museum exhibitions, its home is with the Spencers, and it has not officially been gifted to Charlotte ... just yet. According to People, much of the speculation originally derives from the "Power & Image: Royal & Aristocratic Tiaras" exhibition, which displayed the coveted accessory bedazzled in pear, rose-cut, and circular diamonds for the first time in several decades. Beneath the stunning display lay the following caption, "The tiara was most recently worn by Celia McCorquodale — niece of the 10th Earl Spencer Charles — at her wedding in the Spring of 2018. The Spencer Tiara is now set to be inherited by Princess Charlotte."
While several palace insiders have weighed in on the discussion, stating that Princess Charlotte will, in fact, inherit the tiara, this conclusion still has some critics. Notedly, The Court Jeweler projects that the tiara will actually wind up in the hands of Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp, who is Princess Diana's oldest nephew. The reasoning behind the theory is pretty straightforward: It centers on keeping the bling in the Spencer family by passing it down through male heirs.