Bracelet that never lost its charm

OnE of the few items in Diana’s jewellery box before her courtship with Charles was a plain gold chain link bracelet. To show his love for her, Charles pledged to buy her a charm every year on her birthday, each one with special meaning. Despite everything, he kept it up for ten years (inset).

The first charm to be added was a ‘W’, marking William’s birth in 1982, followed by a little gold wombat, the young Prince William’s nickname as a baby, given after their tour to australia in 1983. The following year there was an ‘H’ for Harry, all made by the jeweller Collingwood.

Other charms included a pair of ballet shoes (she once dreamed of being a dancer), a tennis racket (her favourite hobby), a polo cap (they shared a love of the sport) and a miniature St Paul’s Cathedral to represent their marriage. There was also a teddy and an apple for her love of new York.

Diana stopped wearing the bracelet in public in 1984, but kept it on her person in private, a precious reminder of happier times.

The Duchess of Cambridge was spotted wearing a similar chain link bracelet, bearing just one charm — a heart-shaped locket — in 2011.