10 Things You'll Find Inside Kate Middleton's Jewelry Box

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Kate Middleton has been gifted with some beautiful jewelry from Prince William over the years, and she also has access to the royal vaults — but there is a lot more in her personal collection worth taking a look at. From holiday finds to the $30 bargain she wore to a Royal Gala Premiere to the meaning behind some of her most cherished items — we take a peek inside the royal jewel box.

01

Oak Leaves and Acorns

Before she married into the royal family, Kate Middleton needed a coat of arms, and the one that was designed featured the oak leaves and acorns that are abundant in her home county of Berkshire. Since then, the duchess has developed a personal collection of oak leaf and acorn jewelry. The first items were the Robinson Pelham earrings that were a wedding gift from her parents — her "something new" on her wedding day. They each feature a curled oak leaf set with diamonds, and are hung with a diamond-covered acorn.

02

During Kate's tour of Australia and New Zealand, there were many occasions when she wore a set of Asprey "woodland charms" on a necklace that included a diamond acorn and diamond oak leaf. She also wore a gold Kristin Magnusson acorn necklace to Wimbledon with sister Pippa in 2012.

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A particularly pretty piece is the Victorian diamond oak leaf brooch set with pearl acorns, which Kate wore to a Sandringham church service at the end of 2015.

04

Her Favorite Earring Designer

Even before she was a duchess, there was a special place in Kate's jewelry box for Kiki McDonough earrings. She has worn pieces straight from the store and some that have been specially customized. The Eternal citrine drops have been worn many, many times, throughout Kate's entire Canadian tour in 2011 and Asia tour in 2012 and to Prince George's christening, and as recently as an engagement in Wales at the end of 2015.

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Kate wore Kiki's citrine cushion drop earrings to the Cheltenham Festival in 2013.

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Kiki's green peridot and blue topaz cushion-cut earrings were customized for Kate, and she wore them to the African Cats premiere in 2012.

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Kate wore her specially customized green amethyst earrings for the first time to the Sandringham Christmas Day church service in 2011, leading many to believe that they had been a Christmas present from Prince William. They have become a firm favorite and she has worn them many times since.

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Kate wore a pair of Kiki's green amethyst classic cushion drops for the opening of the ICAP Art Room in 2014.

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Kiki's blue topaz and diamond Lola circle earrings have become a favorite of Kate's. She wore them to the Diamond Jubilee concert, the opening ceremony of the London Olympics, and an evening reception in New York in 2014.

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The latest Kiki sparklers that have been added to Kate's collection are the pale pink morganite classic cushion-drop earrings which she wore to the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in 2015.

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Kiki's diamond and white topaz Grace studs are a go-to for so many of Kate's engagements, from a St. Andrews visit in 2010 to her first Trooping the Colour and hockey practice with the Olympic team.

12

Overseas Mementos

Kate's first official engagement as a member of the royal family was a meeting with Barack and Michelle Obama, and for the occasion she wore a distinctive cowrie shell necklace and earrings. Since it was just two weeks after her Seychelles honeymoon, and the shop at their resort sold high-end locally sourced jewelry, it seems these were a holiday purchase.

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During her tour of Canada in 2011, Kate was gifted with a polar bear brooch in the subarctic town of Yellowknife that was made from locally mined diamonds.

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Later on the tour, Kate was given a pair of turquoise earrings made by local designer Corrie McLeod, and wore them straight away to the Calgary Stampede.

15

Gifts From Her In-Laws

When Kate married into the royal family, Prince Charles presented her with a white and yellow diamond art deco set of jewelry, comprised of a bracelet, earrings, and ring. In a sweet nod to her new father-in-law, Kate wore the set when she stood in for him at a dinner he was set to host for recycling charity In Kind Direct, but couldn't make because of a last-minute overseas engagement. She has worn the items together and separately since at Zara Phillips's wedding, the War Horse premiere, and assorted state evening engagements.

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Camilla also gifted Kate with jewelry when she married Prince William. The Duchess of Cornwall had a gold link bracelet designed that was hung with a solid gold disc engraved with both of their initials. On one side is Catherine's cursive "C" and coronet, and on the other is Camilla's printed "C" with a crown. Kate has worn the gift for many occasions, including Wimbledon in 2011, a trip to LA, and Zara Philips's pre-wedding party.

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The source of a lavish diamond and ruby necklace and bracelet set has always been a mystery, although it has been confirmed it was a wedding gift from a close family member. Kate has only worn it once, but since the event she chose was The Sun Military Awards that she attended with Prince Harry — and Kate has a history of wearing items as a thoughtful tribute to the gift-giver — is it possible this bling came from her royal brother-in-law?

18

Recommendations From Sophie

The Countess of Wessex has been a fan of costume jewelers Heavenly necklaces for the past six years, and it seems she introduced Kate to the brand. Kate first wore a $70 pair of their reconstituted pearl and cubic zirconia earrings in 2011 when she viewed her wedding dress exhibition with the Queen.

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Royal recommendations go both ways, and Kate has introduced Sophie to the work of Zimbabwean designer Patrick Mavros. Kate first came across Patrick when she was designing jewelry for Jigsaw, and wore a pair of his silver Ndoro drop earrings (seen here) several times before she was married, and a pair of silver crocodile earrings in New York. Sophie wore the brand for the first time in 2013, choosing the Zozo elephant pendant and later the matching earrings.

20

Budget Buys

Kate isn't nicknamed the "High Street Duchess" for nothing, and some of her less expensive buys have been as popular as those with a heftier price tag. She wore her Jon Richardson pavé ball earrings ($30) to an Olympics event at The National Portrait Gallery, and to play ping pong at a Coach Core project.

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Kate picked up a pair of Azuni London earrings (seen here) from her favorite department store, Peter Jones, for $35. She wore them in Tuvalu, to a friend's wedding, and on a shopping trip to Chelsea. On the same tour of Asia, she also wore a pair of $52 Seretta coral earrings from the website My Flash Trash for dinner in the Solomon Islands.

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She wore a $30 Zara necklace to the Royal Gala Premiere of Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.

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Everyday Favorites

A simple but striking favorite of Kate's are her gold Catherine Zoraida double leaf earrings, which she has worn during a visit in LA, to an evening reception in Malaysia, church on Christmas Day in 2014, a party at Buckingham Palace, and during her tour of Australia and New Zealand.

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One of Kate's all-time favorites are her pearl drop earrings by Anoushka; she has worn them for engagements as varied as her Asia and Australia tours, daytime shopping trips to Chelsea, the Olympics, weddings, and leaving the hospital with Princess Charlotte.

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The white topaz Links of London hope egg earrings had their most famous outing for Kate's engagement portrait with William, but have also been worn many times on her Canadian tour and for a trip to the store Fortnum and Mason with the Queen.

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Daytime Diamonds

Discreet and classic, Kate has a few items she can reach for on many different occasions. Her Asprey 167 button diamond pavé pendant has been a favorite since before she was married. It was also worn during her Canadian tour, when she viewed her wedding dress exhibition with the Queen, and at the unveiling of her portrait at the National Portrait Gallery.

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More recent purchases have been from Mappin and Webb — Kate has worn the Fortune white gold drop pendant to assorted engagements, and chose their Empress pendant and earrings for Princess Charlotte's christening.

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Treats From William?

We know that William has gifted Kate with some special items of jewelry over the years, yet there are a few pieces that have never been confirmed but we couldn't help but wonder . . .

These diamond and emerald earrings that Kate wore to the opening of the Treasures Gallery at the Natural History Museum and a St. Patrick's Day parade are so similar to the diamond and sapphire pair that were remodeled from Princess Diana's collection — perhaps they were commissioned by William?

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The Cartier necklace that Kate wore to an Olympics event and an evening reception in NYC is encrusted with diamonds and worth $71,600, so it's unlikely Kate would have bought it for herself.

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Likewise, the diamond and tanzanite necklace and earrings by G. Collins and Sons that Kate wore to a service at St. Pauls in 2015 are likely to have been a gift. The set works perfectly with Kate's engagement ring, and her favorite color is blue, so it could be that this was a personal gift from her hubby?

31

Postbaby Presents

The Merci Maman charms necklace was sent to Pippa Middleton to pass on to Kate following the birth of Prince George. Featuring a disc engraved with George's name, a heart engraved with a "W" for William, and a little boy charm, Kate wore it for it for a trip to the shops back in 2013, just after she became a mum for the first time.

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