This is India's first billionaire, diamond necklace for Queen Elizabeth II, now worn by Kate Middleton
India's No. 1 billionaire presented the diamond Cartier necklace to Elizabeth II, which was later worn by Princess Kate, connecting the Indian royal family with British tradition.
This is the first billionaire in India to bring a dazzling diamond necklace to the British Royal Princess to the British Royal Princess.
At a time when billionaires are almost unheard of, Hyderabad’s last Nizham Mir Osman Ali Khan is one of the richest people in the world. From 1911 to 1948, he ruled Hyderabad, and was considered the first billionaire in India, with an estimated net worth of about Rs 17 billion in the 1940s, which was a huge fortune at the time.
Mir Osman Ali Khan is known not only for his wealth, but also for his loyalty to the British. During World War I, he made generous financial contributions to supporting Britain's efforts and was awarded “a loyal ally of the British royal family”. His friendly connection with the royal family became even more apparent in 1947, when he gave Princess Elizabeth a stunning diamond necklace as a wedding gift for Prince Philip’s marriage.
Since Nizam himself was unable to attend the wedding, he instructed the famous jeweler Cartier to let Elizabeth choose any jewelry she liked. The young princess chose two pieces: a diamond necklace and a headdress, both showing elegant British rose-inspired designs. The necklace is made of platinum and made in 1935 and has about 300 diamonds, including geometric shapes set as abstract floral patterns.
The necklace quickly became one of the Queen's favorite works. She wore it for the official royal engagement, and even wore it in portraits before becoming queen. According to Royal Jewelry expert Hugh Roberts, the original design of 1937 included a few drops of diamonds. However, nine of them were later removed to design the head decorations, resulting in the final version we see today.
Decades later, in 2014, the necklace made headlines again when Queen Elizabeth II lends it to Princess Kate Middleton. Kate wore it while visiting the National Portrait Gallery, pairing it with a dark blue silk gown designed by Jenny Packham. This royal heirloom continues to shine, a symbol of history, elegance and timeless craftsmanship.
