Who will inherit Queen Elizabeth’s extensive jewelry collection?

• Queen Elizabeth left behind several jewels, tiaras and brooches when she died on Thursday.
• Some of the items remain as part of the Crown Jewels on display at the Tower of London.
• Others are expected to be handed over to King Charles, Camilla, the Queen Consort and the newly named Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton.

When King Charles III inherited a new title on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Thursday, he must have acquired an extensive collection of jewels, crowns and brooches.

Some of these objects remain as part of the Crown Jewels, a collection of royal ceremonial objects on public display at the Tower of London. However, the Queen’s personal collection – worth millions of dollars and including family heirlooms, gifts and items bought by the monarch herself – is expected to be passed down to members of the Windsor family, starting with King Charles.

Royal analyst Josh Rome told the New York Post: “She may want to pass on items from her personal collection to her loved ones. Most of the set goes to Charles – Camilla as the Queen consort – and then Kate, so they don’t leave out anything big. [in the will].”

According to Vanity Fair, the royal collection dates back to Queen Victoria’s reign in the 1800s when the former monarch began collecting jewelry as part of the expansion of Britain’s empire. The collection continued to grow during Queen Mary’s reign as she traveled the world and met with jewelers and world leaders to collect exquisite pieces, Vanity Fair reported.

Many of Queen Mary’s jewels were given to her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, who loaned her various pieces during her 70 years on the throne. Among them is the Cartier halo tiara with 1,000 diamonds worn by Kate Middleton at their wedding. Meghan Markle has sported her diamond band on her wedding vows, the New York Post reports.

Rome told The Post that the Queen could bequeath these crowns to family members who borrowed them, but if they were left in her will, recipients would be required to pay 40% inheritance tax.

Considering the value of some of these items, it may be beneficial for the family to leave items as part of the royal collection.