£3m Royal jewels for auction

A £3m collection of jewellery once owned by the Duchess of Windsor has gone on display ahead of its auction.

By The Newsroom

Published 23rd Sep 2010, 22:38 BST

Updated 23rd Sep 2010, 22:38 BST

The emerald, ruby and diamond brooch made to commemorate the Duke and Duchess of Windsor's 20th wedding anniversary. It is valued at 100,000 to 150,000.

A diamond bracelet by Cartier, made around 1985, which is valued at 100,000 to 150,000.

The pieces chronicle Wallis Simpson's scandalous affair with King Edward VIII that shocked Britain and led to the King abdicating in 1936 for the woman he loved.

The 20 pieces, many made by Cartier, were first sold in Geneva 23 years ago with a host of other objects owned by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, as the pair were later titled.

Sotheby's will auction the collection in November, but is exhibiting the pieces in London until September 29 before showing the items in Hong Kong, Moscow, New York and Geneva.