While Queen Elizabeth II was known to wear many radiant gems and sparkling suites throughout her years on the throne, Princess Kate has been much more conservative as far as showcasing the Crown’s timeless trinkets and treasures. Not one to bathe herself in bling, Kate often sticks to simple and classic pearls, dainty and delicate necklaces with petite pendants and rarely new rings or bracelets.
Still, the princess does splurge on occasion and sometimes enjoys giving her lovely lobes a dose of rich rainbow. She often wears the colorful and creative statement earrings courtesy of English jeweler Kiki McDonough.
Revered for her striking color combinations, pretty pastel gemstones and enchanting designs inspired by everything from ballet dancers to fireflies at twilight, Kiki has long been Kate’s go-to accessory maker. In fact, the princess owns over 20 pieces from the fifth generation British jewelry designer.
Here are 8 of Kate Middleton’s Most Dazzling Kiki McDonough Earrings:
1. Kiki White Topaz Cushion Drop and Diamond Earrings
These stunning cushion drops are created from 18 carat white gold set on a sparkling diamond hoops. Perfect for day or evening engagements, the $2000 earrings have detachable white gold and diamond hoops for versatile wear.
The classic earrings are comprised of 0.13 carat diamonds and are accented with 8.50 carats of white topaz. Kate has worn the pretty pair on three occasions; first, with a Smythe glen check blazer to Coach Core in 2018 and again with a Dolce and Gabbana tweed skirt suit in February 2019. Later, she donned the earrings with a Catherine Walker grey belted dress at King’s College London with the late Queen in March 2019.
2. Kiki McDonough Citrine Pear Drop Earrings
Even before she was browsing the Buckingham jewelry case, Kate was a longtime fan of Kiki’s vivid gems and jewels. In June 2009 (two years ahead of the royal wedding), Kate was spotted wearing these canary colored citrine earrings.
At nearly $900, the classic drops set in 18 carat gold were a must-have for Kate’s princess-in-training wardrobe. With a 4.90 carats worth of glowing and glamorous citrine, the sunny sparklers are perfect for adding a hint of color to any chic ensemble. The Princess of Wales has worn the citrine earrings over 50 times.
3. Kiki McDonough Grace White Topaz and Diamond Stud Earrings
Pretty but not pretentious, these $1100 earrings hail from the designer’s ‘Grace’ collection and feature a round white topaz gemstone surrounded by a halo of diamonds set in 18 carat white gold.
The diamonds weigh in at approximately 0.19 carats and the white topaz 2.55 carats. First worn for royal duty, just a couple months prior to her wedding at St. Andrews University in February 2011, the princess has repeated these sleek studs on nearly 30 occasions.
4. Kiki McDonough Lola Blue Topaz Hoop Earrings
A nearly $4500 these earrings were originally crafted as a bespoke piece just for the princess but later became a fixture in Kiki’s Lola collection. The shiny and shimmering blue topaz earrings are modern and magical.
Featuring 11 blue topaz stones set in white gold, the earrings have been spotted on Princess Kate on seven occasions including for the London Olympics in 2012, a Royal Variety Performance in 2014 and recently at a Buckingham Palace garden party in May 2023.
5. Kiki McDonough Green Amethyst Oval Drop and Diamond Hoop Earrings
Mesmerizing mint green earrings, these $2700 earrings feature 0.38 carats of diamonds surrounding 5.30 carats of green amethyst.
Set on an 18 carat yellow gold and diamond hoop, these accessories have appeared on the princess on six occasions; notably for Christmas Day in 2011 and 2013, in the Solomon Islands in September 2012 and on St. Patrick’s Day in 2012. The earrings were last were seen on Princess Kate during a visit to the opening of the Kantor Centre in May 2019.
6. Kiki Classic Peridot and Blue Topaz Double Oval Earrings
Dazzling and dynamic, these opulent oval earrings feature a cool colorblock design of stacked green peridot and blue topaz.
Priced at $2100, Kate has worn the distinctive earrings on just one occasion to the African Cats premiere in April 2012; she sported the studs with a Matthew Williamson embellished sheath featuring turquoise and gold beading. Kate had the original diamonds in the earrings replaced with peridot stones. Extravagant but not too outlandish, the combined peridot and topaz gems weigh in at approximately 6.5 carats.
7. Kiki Cushion Citrine Drops and Hoops
Playing jewelry mixmaster, Kate has reinvented these cushion drops and exchanged the diamond and gold hoops depending on the occasions.
The 18 carat yellow gold cushion drops cost approximately $1100. Kate has worn the sparkling earrings on five occasions most recently in September 2023 on a charity visit in East London clad in a sandy shaded Roland Mouret pantsuit.
8. Kiki McDonough Morganite Cushion Drop and Diamond
Costing around $4300 these pretty pink sparklers are soft, feminine and romantic. Kate wore the cushion drops set on 18 carat white gold hoops at the Commonwealth Day Service in 2015.
Expecting little Princess Charlotte at the time, Kate dropped a subtle clue as to the new baby gender with her pale pink earrings. The British beauty has worn the 0.13 carat diamond and 8.40 carat morganite earrings on 11 total occasions.
Photo Credits: Getty, PA