For most of us, the phrase 'Granny's Chips' would evoke images of our beloved nannies frying potatoes for a comforting dinner, but for the Royal Family, it has a far grander meaning. Worlds away from the deep fat fryer, it's the sweet nickname that the late Queen Elizabeth II gave one of her most prized possessions, as nestled in her extensive personal jewellery collection lies a breath-taking diamond brooch that's known to be the most valuable in the world.
The late monarch's precious jewels hold huge historic weight as well as staggering value, having been passed down from generation to generation of kings and queens. Much like many of her other beloved pieces, Her Majesty was gifted the diamonds by her grandmother, Queen Mary, and only wore the brooch a handful of times throughout her 70-year reign.
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The dazzling accessory is made up of two enormous diamonds, the Cullinan III and the Cullinan IV, which, when worn together form a brooch, known fondly by the late Queen as 'Granny's Chips'.
Jewellers have estimated that the two diamonds boast a worth of more than £50 million, making the late Queen's heirloom the most valuable brooch in the world.
Outside of their staggering worth, the precious jewels have a fascinating history, as scientists estimate that the diamonds were formed 250-400 miles below the earth's surface over 1 billion years ago, meaning they pre-date dinosaurs and, in fact, any life on our planet.
The hefty jewels the Queen owned were cut from an even larger diamond, known as the Cullinan, a one-of-a-kind gem which boasted a total weight of 3106 carats (a whopping 621.35 grams).
Meanwhile, the Cullinan III and Cullinan IV, which comprise the late monarch's brooch, weigh 94.4 and 63.6 carats, respectively.
Gifted to King Edward VII as a badge of loyalty from the South African British Colony, the Cullinan is largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found, and bears the name of the founder of the South African mine it was discovered in back in 1905.
While the diamonds are jaw-droppingly large, they are also revered for their clarity and clear white colour - the pinnacle characteristics when it comes to rough diamonds.
Owing to the wonderous nature of such a stone, there are various historical legends that surround the Cullinan, only adding to its lucrative charm.
Rumour has it that the diamond was sent to England in an ordinary parcel, while a heavily guarded replica travelled via steamboat, in order to cunningly protect the precious jewel.
Another legend, which many historical sources point to be true, was that the man assigned the painstaking job of cutting the diamond, Joseph Asscher, fainted when he first cleaved it.
He reportedly tried to cut the diamond a few days earlier, but it was so hard that it broke his specialist tools. It took 18 months for three experts working 14-hour days to cut and polish the nine large stones the Cullinan was transformed into, and each individual gem was given a Roman numeral ranging from I to IX.
King Edward VII gifted the diamonds Cullinan III and Cullinan IV diamonds to the Asscher brothers after they cut the original stone. After South Africa purchased them back, the country gifted the gems to Queen Mary, and the jewels have been handed down royal generations ever since.
Away from their incredible history and eye-watering worth, the jewels held sentimental meaning for the late monarch, as they were a gift from her grandmother.
Queen Mary wore the Cullinan III and Cullinan IV diamonds for her coronation in 1911. Ahead of her granddaughter's coronation in 1953, the spectacular diamonds were handed down to Queen Elizabeth when she was just 27-years-old.
The late monarch wore the cherished family heirloom on significant occasions throughout her life, including her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 where she celebrated 60 years on the throne.
Her sweet nickname for the diamonds was no doubt a loving nod to her grandmother, but many have speculated over another potential reason behind the 'Granny's chips' name, and it seems to derive from classically British dry humour.
As the Cullinan III and Cullinan IV diamonds were cut from a much larger stone, their nickname seems to insinuate that they were small 'chips' compared to the other larger diamonds cut from the Cullinan - which are now part of the Crown Jewels.
Following Queen Elizabeth II's passing, many royal fans have been left wondering what may happen to her precious jewellery. This question came into particular focus after many Royal Family members were seen wearing pieces gifted or loaned to them by the late monarch at her state funeral, including Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle.
There is no way to know for definite who exactly will inherit each piece from the Queen's personal collection, as royal wills are kept private, but it is likely that royal members will continue to don the sentimental jewels in the following months as an ode to the Queen.
The late monarch's personal collection differs from the Crown Jewels, which are ceremonial and sacred pieces held in a trust by the monarch, and kept in the Tower of London. These objects are only worn at coronations and during the State Opening of Parliament.
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