Buckingham Palace is refusing to explain why approximately £80 million worth of gifted jewellery is not being held in a trove of national heritage. The 11 pieces of jewellery have been worn by Queen Elizabeth II, Camilla, the Queen Consort, and Catherine, Princess of Wales.
Amongst the missing pieces is a set of aquamarine jewellery, four brooches and six necklaces, and a Cartier necklace, the Nizam of Hyderabad. The necklace contains emerald and brilliant-cut diamonds which was given to Queen Elizabeth II by Indian Price, Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last ruler of Hyderabad as a wedding gift in 1947.
The Royal Collection Trust confirmed the pieces are not in their custody. “Official gifts are not the personal property of the member of the royal family who receives them, but may be held by the sovereign in right of the crown or designated in due course as part of the royal collection,” the spokesperson says. The Buckingham Palace spokesperson declined to comment on the current owner or whereabouts of the jewellery.
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