Royal heirlooms stand the test of time, and the tradition of passing down precious jewels has spanned many a monarchy, from Queen Elizabeth II to Princess Diana and beyond.
Meghan Markle is the proud owner of several of Diana’s jewels and other royal heirlooms – a dazzling collection she’s been building for decades – after the former Princess of Wales left a letter prior to her death with her accessory wishes: “I would like you to allocate all my jewelry to the share to be held by my sons, so that their wives may, in due course, have it or use it.”
Just as Prince Harry’s mom did for her children, now Markle, 46, is following in Diana’s well-heeled footsteps, by reserving one particularly special piece for her daughter, Lilibet, 3, who will inherit the luxury piece when she’s 18. The item in question is a two-tone Cartier Tank watch, which Markle purchased for herself in 2015 when Suits was green-lit for a third season.
Meghan Markle wears Princess Diana’s Cartier watch in 2022. Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation
“I’ve always coveted the Cartier French Tank watch,” she told Hello! at the time. “When I found out Suits had been picked up for our third season… [it] felt like such a milestone — I totally splurged and bought the two-tone version.”
Markle continued: “I had it engraved on the back, ‘To M.M. From M.M.’ and I plan to give it to my daughter one day. That’s what makes pieces special, the connection you have to them.”
Meghan Markle wears the two-tone Cartier French Tank watch in September 2013. Ray Tamarra/Getty Images
In fact, at that point, Markle hadn’t even met Prince Harry when she purchased the precious watch, which currently retails for just under $9,000. While she had yet to enter her motherhood era, Markle was already set on passing on the timeless watch to her future daughter.
Harry, 40 gifted her with a second style seven years later: none other than Princess Diana’s Cartier Tank Watch, which is among the most items in Markle’s coffer. In fact, she rarely takes it off.
Princess Diana wears the Cartier Tank watch in April 1997. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
The Archwell Foundation cofounder was first spotted wearing the iconic wristwatch in 2022 when she and Harry attended a reception for the Invictus Games.
Markle and her daughter’s coordinating Cartier Tank watches will be a heartfelt link between the late Princess Diana, the Duchess of Sussex and Lilibet — the wee Windsor royal in training.
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