The Princess of Wales has been described by a former Vogue editor as her approach to jewelery is a ‘disappointment’.
Suzy Menkes, 79, from Beaconfield, Buckinghamshire, made the shocking comments in the latest episode of her podcast Creative Conversations.
The distinguished critic – who was awarded an OBE by the late Queen for her contribution to fashion journalism in 2014 – invited British Vogue jewelery editor Carol Woolton to the show, where they discussed the Princess of Wales’ latest outfits.
The former Vogue International editor accused Kate, 41, of being apathetic about collecting rare and precious jewelery and said she didn’t think she was as passionate about gems as her mother-in-law Camilla, 75.
He said: ‘A bit disappointing about the Princess of Wales jewellery. He gives the impression that he only puts it on when he absolutely has to.
Pictured: Kate Middleton, 41, wore a pair of diamond and emerald earrings to a state dinner during a visit to Jamaica last March
‘I imagine her looking beautiful in one of those gowns behind the curtain and then pulling a face as if saying, “Do I have to wear this?”
‘She gives no sense of adoring the jewelery and being happy wearing it.’
Furthermore, the fashion critic highlighted how Queen Camilla – who visited Monica Vinader’s headquarters yesterday – seemed to be very interested in jewels.
Suzy added: ‘Camilla doesn’t seem to enjoy wearing her jewellery.’
However, critics remain on the fence about whether Kate’s attitude towards jewelery will change as she gets closer to the throne.
He continued: ‘We now have a new Queen, so perhaps her first chance to see the jewels.
‘We can imagine that the next in line to the throne will be something that is very special, so will we see Catherine wearing jewelery that is more dramatic, that is more personal to her?
‘I don’t know. I can’t help feeling things of beauty, whether you like it or not.’
Suzy Menkes (pictured), 79, from Beaconfield, Buckinghamshire, made the shocking comments in the latest episode of her podcast Creative Conversations.
Left: Kate wears Princess Diana’s pearl earrings to attend her first state dinner under her new title at Buckingham Palace last November. Right: The mother-of-three wore £17.99 ZARA rose gold dangle earrings with beautiful embellished leaves to the annual BAFTAs in London
Since marrying into the royal family, the Princess of Wales has worn a mix of jewelery from the royal collection and other items picked up from the high street.
In November 2022, Kate wore a pair of Princess Diana’s diamond and pearl earrings to attend her first state dinner at Buckingham Palace with her new title.
In March, the mother-of-three wore £17.99 ZARA rose gold dangling earrings with beautiful embellished leaves to the annual BAFTAs in London.
Last December, it was revealed that Prince William had bought Kate £100 earrings from high street brand Cézanne – which she wore to a church service in Sandringham.
Suzie’s verdict may come as a shock to the royals, as she was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth in 2014.
Menkes, who served as Vogue International’s editor until October 2020, has defined her career as articulate and fearless.
Vogue has had a close relationship with the royal family for years – since the Princess of Wales famously appeared on the front cover of British Vogue in 2016 to mark the 100th anniversary.
In July 2019, the Duchess of Sussex also guest-edited the September issue of Vogue – and put ‘trailblazers’ on her front cover, alongside Greta Thunberg and Jane Fonda.
The Princess of Wales, 40, was pictured wearing £100 earrings her husband bought her outside St Mary Magdalene Church on Christmas Day
The Queen (right) admitted her granddaughters were ‘incredibly jealous’ of her as she toured the headquarters of British design success Monica Vinader (left) yesterday
Suzy added more salt to the wounds of the royals’ views by further criticizing the family for not being open about how some of the jewels in the royal collection were acquired.
He added: ‘It’s one of these weird mysteries. It hasn’t been discussed, and I can see why some are skeptical. They are from India.
‘I wouldn’t say they were stolen but perhaps they were given and taken by the British royal family, they didn’t steal it but they occupied a country at the time and thought and took the jewels which was an interesting thing to take back to England with them.’
Queen Camilla admitted her grandchildren were ‘incredibly jealous’ of her as she toured the headquarters of British design success Monica Vinader yesterday.
Camilla, 76, visited the company’s headquarters in Norfolk – where she had previously stopped at a horse sanctuary – which was started just 15 years ago by Ms Vinader and her sister in a converted forge next to her home but is now worth around $100 million.
The company prides itself on its green credentials and last year was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development – the latter named after Queen Elizabeth.
Expressing concern over the brand, Camilla told the designer: ‘My grandchildren – my grandchildren coming here today make me incredibly jealous.’
He added with a laugh: ‘They follow you [on social media]. When they found out I was coming here they started dropping lots of hints about what they would like for their birthdays.’