The British monarch leaves behind one of the biggest private collection of jewels in the world. Which royal will be their inheritor?
With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the members of the British royal family now stand to gain more than just new titles. Throughout her 70-year reign, the British monarch amassed an estimated personal fortune of over US$500 million—which her oldest son, now christened King Charles III, will inherit.
Queen Elizabeth’s exorbitant wealth can be credited to her diverse portfolio of personal assets, including her investments, real estate holdings (most notable are the castles Sandringham House and the Balmoral Castle, where she died), art collection and, of course, her jewels.
Read more: In Pictures: The Life of Queen Elizabeth II
The late ruler boasted one of the most impressive—and expensive—collection of jewels in the world, comprising historic tiaras, brooches, necklaces, and rings that date all the way back to the reign of Queen Victoria, her great-great-grandmother.
On top of her personal jewellery collection, Queen Elizabeth also had access to the Crown Jewels, which is estimated to be worth US$3.48 billion in total.
Those priceless jewellery assets would make an even richer man out of King Charles, whose own private wealth was estimated to be US$100 million before his mother’s death.
Below, we take a closer look at the fate of Queen Elizabeth’s jewels.
Don't miss: In Pictures: Queen Elizabeth’s Most Iconic Style Moments