The 5 Hidden Secrets Of Kate Middleton's Pre-Royal Jewellery Collaboration That's Still A Bestseller Today

Few people know this, but before she became the Princess of Wales, Catherine, then Kate Middleton, had a short but impactful career as an accessories buyer, which included a surprising foray into jewellery design. This little-known project—a collaboration with British designer Claudia Bradby—resulted in a piece that, as of December 10, 2025, remains one of the brand’s most enduring and meaningful bestsellers, a testament to her innate sense of style and design.

The piece in question is the elegant "Mother & Child Pendant Necklace," a design with a story far deeper than its delicate appearance suggests. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the future Princess's life and her early work focusing on themes of family and connection, long before she became a mother herself.

The Untold Story: Kate's Brief Stint as a Jewellery Designer

The collaboration between Kate Middleton and Claudia Bradby is a historical footnote often overshadowed by her royal life, yet it is a crucial piece of her professional biography.

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• The Role: In 2007, Kate Middleton was working for the British high-street retailer Jigsaw as an assistant accessories buyer.
• The Division: Her work was specifically with the children's line, known as Junior Jigsaw.
• The Collaboration: Jewellery designer Claudia Bradby, whose pieces are known for their use of pearls and natural elements, approached Kate through Jigsaw to collaborate on a piece.
• The Goal: The project was to design a necklace aimed at girls aged 6 to 18, linking back to the Junior Jigsaw brand.
• The Result: The partnership yielded the now-iconic Mother & Child Pendant Necklace.

This period of her life, working behind the scenes in the fashion industry, allowed her to hone the sophisticated, accessible style that defines her public image today. The necklace collaboration was her only official design project before her engagement to Prince William.

The Design Secrets: Why the Mother & Child Necklace Endures

The enduring popularity of the Mother & Child necklace, which continues to sell well over a decade later, is rooted in its simple, symbolic design. It’s a piece that transcends fast fashion and speaks to a universal theme.

1. The Solid Silver Nugget: Kate's Signature Contribution

The central, most distinctive element of the necklace is a textured, solid silver nugget or pebble-shaped charm. This nugget was the element that Kate Middleton directly helped to design.

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It acts as the 'Mother' in the design, symbolising strength, grounding, and the unique, imperfect beauty of a natural form. The nugget contrasts beautifully with the polished perfection of the accompanying pearl.

2. The Freshwater Pearl: A Symbol of the Child

Attached to the silver nugget is a single, small freshwater pearl, representing the 'Child'. Pearls are a classic element in Claudia Bradby's collections and hold a deep, traditional meaning.

The pearl symbolises purity, wisdom, and the preciousness of life. The juxtaposition of the rough, solid silver and the smooth, delicate pearl powerfully captures the protective and nurturing bond between a mother and her child.

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3. The Rose Quartz Variation and Its Meaning

While the classic bestseller features the silver nugget and a pearl, early versions of the collaboration, sometimes referred to as the "Kate Rose Quartz Necklace," featured different stones.

The inclusion of Rose Quartz, a stone traditionally associated with unconditional love, compassion, and emotional healing, further solidified the necklace’s theme of nurturing and familial bonds. The pink pearl, another variation, is a traditional symbol of love.

The Enduring Legacy: From Jigsaw Buyer to Royal Icon

The Mother & Child necklace is more than just a piece of jewellery; it is a tangible link to the Princess of Wales’s pre-royal life and a subtle foreshadowing of her future charitable focus.

A Bestseller for Over Fifteen Years

Despite being designed in 2007, the necklace has maintained its status as a bestseller for the Claudia Bradby brand. Its continuing popularity is driven by several factors:

• Timeless Design: The clean lines and symbolic charms ensure it never goes out of style.
• Royal Connection: The knowledge that the Princess of Wales helped design it provides an irresistible appeal to royal fans and collectors.
• Universal Theme: It is a popular gift for new mothers, Mother's Day, and as a general celebration of family, making it a perennial item.

The piece has been reinterpreted over the years, often featuring a larger white pearl or being offered in different metals, but the core design—the silver nugget and the smaller charm—remains consistent with Kate's original input.

Foreshadowing Kate's Charitable Work

Although the collaboration was for the Junior Jigsaw line, the theme of 'Mother & Child' perfectly aligns with the Princess of Wales's current, high-profile charitable focus on early childhood development and maternal mental health.

Her work with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood and her advocacy for families demonstrates a deep, long-standing commitment to the welfare of children and parents. The 2007 necklace, designed when she was just starting her professional life, proves this focus on family and nurturing was present long before she became a royal patron.

The Claudia Bradby Mother & Child Necklace stands as a fascinating piece of fashion history. It is a rare example of the Princess of Wales's hands-on design work, a beautiful celebration of motherhood, and a piece whose enduring success proves that meaningful, simple design always wins over fleeting trends.