Savoring the Horological Tastes of His Majesty King Charles lll and Members of The Royal Family
8 min read
Millions of people across the United Kingdom and many more witnessed the coronation of King Charles lll. The ceremony was a grandeur exhibit of religious services and pageantry. Becoming the 40th reigning monarch to be crowned at Westminster Abbey, King Charles fills in the footsteps of his late mother Queen Elizabeth ll, who ended one of the longest reigns in modern history.
As watch lovers, we couldn’t help but seek the not-so-guilty pleasures of wrist-checking His Majesty King Charles lll himself, members of the Royal Family present at the occasion, and other dignitaries as well. Alongside the king’s active interest in the diverse endeavors of public life, he is known to be an admirer of fine things and like other members of the Royal Family, maintains an impeccable taste when it comes to luxury watches.
A Timepiece Collection Worthy of The Royal Grandeur
The royal family is known to own some of the most significant timepieces in history and as a discerning watch collector himself, King Charles lll has been spotted adorning watches from fabled manufacturers such as Breguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Patek Philippe, Cartier, and owns a humble Hamilton as well.
All the royals do have their past favorites when it comes to watches and they have been spotted with a few timepieces during their public appearances.
Doing It in Style - The British Royal Family’s Impeccable Taste in Watches and The Timepieces They Own
The curiosity to learn about the watches that the members of the Royal Family prefer to wear is an emotion that matches the fine grandeur of the coronation ceremony itself. There have been myriad instances where we have seen the royal members adorning their favorite timepieces and here, we will try to discover their collections and highlight their most beloved pieces.
King Charles lll And His Watches
Throughout his life, King Charles lll has been seen wearing a few timepieces, and the entirety of the collection is best known to the man himself. From what we have seen on his wrist, it is impossible to deny his appreciation and passion for watches. It proves that the King knows a thing or two about timepieces.
We have compiled a list of a few timepieces that His Majesty has been seen or captured wearing in public and we begin with probably his favorite timepiece, the coronation watch.
Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Chronograph
The Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Chronograph is a timepiece that has probably earned the highest number of public appearances on King Chagres lll’s wrist. Whether it is his first official state appearance, at Prince Harry’s wedding, the time Barack Obama hosted him at the White House or the celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last year and also during the ceremony for the signing of the Proclamation, his beloved Parmigiani Fleurier Toric Chronograph was seen gleaming beneath the cuffs of his royal adornments as a constant companion every single time.
Cartier Santos
- A two-tone Santos paired with a leather strap
- Hamilton RAF Pilot’s Chronograph
- A military-issued “Fab Four” chronograph
- Breguet Piece Unique
- An amazing one-off Breguet 3680 B
- Patek Philippe Calatrava “Disco Volante”
- Avery special Patek Philippe Calatrava ref. 2551
- Jaeger Le-Coultre Reverso
- A Jaeger Le-Coultre Reverso for the polo-passionate king
Watches of Camilla - The Queen Consort
Part of the Royal Family since 2005, Camilla - Queen Consort has chosen for herself a wise choice of favorite timepiece. She has been repeatedly seen wearing her beloved Cartier Tank Francaise in yellow gold and paired with a black leather strap.
While we might know Camilla for her minimalist style, her timepiece of choice is the epitome of aesthetic mastery and perfectly encapsulates the ideal classic watch features.
The Watches of Prince William
Although the senior generations of the Royal Family are undeniably avid watch lovers, the passion hasn’t caught the younger members as seriously. For Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, his favorite watch might not be anything extravagant, but it sure is a meaningful and dear gift from his late mother, Princess Diana.
His prized possession, the Omega Seamaster Professional 300M Mid-Size was a gift from his mother and he has proudly adorned the timepiece at milestone achievements of his life and even on his wedding day.
Kate Middleton’s Watches
Although the entirety of Catherine Middleton’s watch collections remains unknown, we know that she owns a Cartier Ballon Bleu in 33mm. The Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge have been photographed wearing this timepiece which is a gift from Prince William on numerous occasions.
As an absolute pinnacle of graceful personality and elegance, the watch effortlessly matches her style.
Prince Harry’s Watches
From what is known of Prince Harry’s watch collection, we can surely guess that he is a lover of rugged timepieces. Gracing his collection are the following watches -
- Rolex Explorer II
- Breitling Aerospace Avantage
Having served in the Royal Air Force, the Rolex Explorer II was seen on the wrist of the Duke of Sussex during his time in the military in which he was part of an Apache attack helicopter regiment.
The Limited-Edition Breitling Aerospace Avantage in his collection is a gift after he successfully accomplished the assigned missions on the Afghan frontlines.
The Watches of Meghan Markle - The Duchess of Sussex
An epitome of a glamorous and elegant personality, the Duchess of Sussex and renowned American actress Meghan Markle sure stirred controversy within the Royal Family. When looking at her favorite watches, they sure resonate with the aesthetic charms of the Duchess herself and befit her vibe.
She owns the following timepieces -
- Cartier Tank
- Cartier Tank Francaise
Meghan also proudly adorned Princess Diana's classic Cartier watch which was inherited by her husband, Prince Harry.
Remembering The Watches of The Departed
Queen Elizabeth ll, the longest-serving monarch of the kingdom was known to be a serious watch collector. Even at 96, she was a graceful epitome of style as well as sophistication and loved to pair her outfits with equally beguiling timepieces.
She probably owned some of the rarest Patek Philippe watches and also had some impressive Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger Le-Coultre and Omega watches in her collections.
Watches of Queen Elizabeth ll
Here is a list of her favorite timepiece that se owned in her lifetime:
- Patek Philippe Ladies Calatrava
- Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse
- Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 101
- Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars
- Omega Ladymatic
- Patek Philippe 4975/1G
Some of the rare watches which Late Queen Elizabeth ll owned during her lifetime, source - royal.uk
Princess Diana’s Watches
Princess Diana wasn’t only the favorite royal member for many but she was a favorite human soul for millions across the globe. Frequently seen adorning her wrist was probably her favorite watch, a Patek Philippe Oval Face watch in yellow gold.
Her impressive watch collection also included the following timepieces -
- Cartier Tank Francaise
- Vacheron Constantin 4481
- Cartier Tank
- Patek Philippe Calatrava 3618
The Vacheron Constantin 4481 in her collection was a gift from the Queen and the gold Patek was gifted to her by the then Prince Charles.
The Appreciation for Heritage and A Stylish Horological Flair
From dressy Pateks, and jeweled JLCs to sporty military watches and classic Cartier Tanks, the British Royal Family members have tasted it all. While not all of their timepieces scream royalty, they sure find a close attachment to the people they are associated with and symbolize their appreciation for artisanal, utilitarian, and meaningful timekeepers.
The Royal Family members have surely influenced watch collectors to seek the rare, appreciate the well-built, and stay attached to heirloom timepieces. Each watch we find in their collection can be associated with an emotional meaning and is symbolic of the love they have for each other.
