Expert reveals secret meaning behind Princess Kate’s £1.6 million look | Royal | News

Princess Catherine made a striking appearance on the BAFTAs red carpet on Sunday night, stepping out in a blush Gucci gown paired with Oscar de la Renta heels and a Prada clutch –  all pieces she has worn before. The Princess of Wales, 44, delivered a clear message on sustainable dressing at one of the biggest nights in the cultural calendar, which attracted the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, by opting to rewear existing favourites rather than debut new designs. 

All eyes turned to her jewellery, as the Greville Chandelier Earrings, reportedly valued at £1.6 million, were worn alongside Queen Mary’s Diamond Choker Bracelet, believed to be worth around £250,000.

Nothing in Catherine’s outfit was newly commissioned, reinforcing a wardrobe strategy that has become increasingly central to her public appearances, one rooted in longevity, craftsmanship and sustainable investment pieces.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Express jewellery expert Nilesh Rakholia, Founder of Abelini, explained: “Catherine, Princess of Wales understands the language of heirloom jewellery better than almost anyone in public life”.

“At the BAFTAs, her choice of the Greville Chandelier Earrings paired with Queen Mary’s Diamond Choker Bracelet was not simply about glamour. It was about legacy reframed for the modern red carpet.”

The Greville Chandelier Earrings, long associated with the Queen Mother and among the most significant diamond pieces in the royal collection, brought unmistakable presence – their dramatic vertical drop catching the light with every movement.

He continues: “The Greville Chandelier Earrings, long associated with the Queen Mother and among the grandest diamond pieces in the royal vault, are unapologetically architectural. The vertical drop and graduated diamond clusters create movement and light at every turn of the head.”

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“On a red carpet like the BAFTAs, where flash photography is constant, these earrings don’t just sparkle, they command space. Though conceived for candlelit court presentation, they feel entirely at home under cinematic lighting.”

Equally considered was her choice of Queen Mary’s Diamond Choker Bracelet, a historic Art Deco piece whose evolution across generations mirrors Catherine’s modern approach to royal dressing.

“What’s compelling about this piece is its adaptability,” Nilesh explains. “Although conceived as a diamond choker in the 1920s, it has, over time, been worn predominantly at the wrist. That evolution gives it a layered identity. When Catherine wears it as a bracelet, she isn’t subverting tradition. She’s participating in its progression.”

“Historic jewels carry memory,” Nilesh says. “They don’t diminish through repetition, they deepen. Truly iconic diamonds don’t depend on novelty. Each reappearance adds context, strengthening their place within a broader visual narrative. By returning to these pieces, Catherine underscores continuity while allowing their meaning to evolve.”

With her neckline kept deliberately clean, the focus remained on proportion, a signature of Catherine’s red carpet approach.

“She avoids overloading the neckline,” Nilesh observes. “By leaving the décolletage clean, the chandelier earrings create a strong vertical focal point, while the bracelet anchors the look at the wrist. It’s a careful study in proportion.”

Nilesh concludes: “This was not a maximalist royal moment. It was a masterclass in controlled brilliance. Catherine understands that true red-carpet authority comes not from excess, but from intention.”