From Kohinoor encrusted crown to Delhi Durbar necklace: Queen Elizabeth II's glorious jewellery collection

Britain's longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II breathed her last on Thursday, leaving the nation in grave grief and shock. A symbol of strength, elegance and style, Elizabeth was always looked upto for her undying spirit, an enviable on her face and power of resilience. While her classy outfits always made news, it was her jewellery collection that was spoken about the most. As we remember the regal queen, we look back at her royal jewellery collection.

Kohinoor is one of the largest cut diamonds in the world and is currently set in the Imperial State Crown, which was originally created in 1937 for the coronation of King George VI. The Queen was spotted wearing it last for the 2016 State Opening. The Imperial State Crown features 2,868 brilliantly-cut diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emerald and 269 pearls. She once revealed in an interview that she was unable to look down to read speeches when wearing it, noting that ‘you have to take the speech up because if you did your neck would break and it would fall off.’

One of the Queen's most most prized possessions was the breathtaking Delhi Durbar necklace, which consists of nine emeralds originally owned by Queen Mary’s grandmother. It also features an 8.8-carat diamond cut from the Cullinan diamond – which is said to be the largest diamond ever found. The necklace was created for the Delhi Durbar, a massive celebration in India, in the year 1911. The Queen Mother wore the necklace with her coronation robes at the Durbar. According to The Court Jeweller, the main event of the celebration, which took place at Delhi’s Coronation Park on December 12 in 1991, was attended by royals from throughout India. Queen Elizabeth II inherited it and it late Princess of Wales, Lady Diana was also seen flaunting it on some occassions.

The sapphire and diamond cluster Albert Brooch remained a favourite of Queen Elizabeth till her last breath, it was said to be commissioned by Prince Albert in 1849, as a gift to his wife, Victoria.

Cartier made a floral brooch with a rough 54.5-carat pink diamond that Elizabeth received as a wedding present from Canadian gemologist John Thorburn Williamson. Cartier set it with 203 white diamonds, making a beautiful brooch.

The queen was seen wearing the popular Double Clip brooch on the 75th anniversary of V-E Day at Windsor Castle. The brooch was said to be bought by the Duke of Kent, who was also the Queen’s uncle, back in 1937.

King Faisal and King Khalid of Saudi Arabia, presented the queen with diamond necklaces from American jewellery house, Harry Winston.

The King Faisal of Saudi Arabia Necklace was gifted to the queen in 1967 during Faisal's state visit to the UK. It features 300 diamonds, weighing 80 carats.

Among her most iconic neckpieces was the one gifted by the Nizam of Hyderabad as a wedding present to the queen in 1947. Asaf Jah VII was the ruler (or Nizam) of Hyderabad, he commissioned Cartier to let the princess pick anything from their existing stock for her present, and this platinum necklace set with approximately 300 diamonds was chosen.

The Nizam of Hyderabad also gifted the queen the famous Hyderabad Tiara which had a design based on English roses with 3 detachable floral brooches, all made of diamonds and set in platinum.

The Queen’s diamond crown was created in 1820 for the coronation of King George IV, Queen Victoria’s uncle. It was traditionally worn by queens and queen consorts to the State Opening of Parliament.