Film crews in California have captured Meghan Markle sporting what royal enthusiasts suspect is a timepiece once owned by Princess Diana.
The 44-year-old appeared on the Close Personal Friends set wearing a gold watch that differs from her usual choice of Diana’s jewellery.
Observers have identified the piece as potentially being a Panthère de Cartier model, which royal biographer Judy Wade noted was amongst numerous lavish presents Dodi Al Fayed gave to Diana during their romance.
The biographer described how Mr Al Fayed, whose father owned Harrods, presented Diana with extravagant gifts, including “a huge box of tropical fruit and a roomful of pink roses”.
Meghan Markle sparks speculation she is wearing Diana’s watch as Duchess returns to acting
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The luxury timepiece collection commands prices reaching £138,000 in today’s market.
The Duchess typically favours another piece from Diana’s collection – a Cartier Tank Française valued at £17,800.
Cartier describes the Panthère collection as drawing inspiration from the fashion house’s signature animal, featuring an “ultra-flexible structure” that mirrors feline movements.
The brand positions it as both a timepiece and jewellery item, calling it “a veritable fashion icon for women with bold style”.
Princess Diana wearing a Cartier watch in 1997
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PACreated during the 1980s, the watch takes its design cues from a bracelet bearing the same name.
The piece represents one of several items from Diana’s collection that appear to have been passed to the Duchess since her 2018 marriage to Prince Harry.
The Duchess complemented the timepiece with multiple pieces of significant jewellery during Wednesday’s filming.
Her £120,000 engagement ring, personally designed by Prince Harry, features a central cushion-cut diamond from Botswana commemorating their first holiday together, flanked by two smaller stones from Diana’s collection.
Meghan Markle wearing a Cartier watch in 2023
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She paired this with her £10,000 Welsh gold wedding band, a gift from the late Queen following royal custom.
An £80,000 eternity ring, marking her first wedding anniversary, contains conflict-free diamonds with hidden birthstones representing Harry, Archie and herself – sapphire, emerald and peridot respectively.
Additional accessories included an 18-carat Cartier Love bracelet worth approximately £7,050, featuring the brand’s signature screw design symbolising eternal commitment, and a £240 gold-plated ripple bracelet from Bar Wide.
The former actress has returned to Hollywood after an eight-year hiatus from her role as Rachel Zane in the legal drama Suits, which she departed in 2018 to wed Prince Harry and undertake royal duties.
This marks Meghan’s first scripted performance since departing the legal drama ‘Suits’ in 2018, the year she wed the Duke of Sussex
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GETTYProduction sources revealed the Duchess has received numerous acting proposals, though “this one felt right”. The insider confirmed Prince Harry fully backs the project, understanding that performing “brings her joy”.
The Amazon MGM Studios production features an ensemble including Lily Collins, Brie Larson, Jack Quaid and Henry Golding. The storyline centres on two couples, one celebrity and one ordinary, who develop a friendship after meeting in Santa Barbara.
A Los Angeles source disclosed that industry executives have persistently encouraged her return to acting, particularly given her Suits popularity and challenges with subsequent ventures. “She’s finally seen sense”, they stated.