This is how the Queen keeps her diamonds sparkling

Diamonds are no laughing matter in the royal family, in fact there is even a special rule attached to them, which states they shouldn't be worn before 6pm, and there's a host of other protocols to follow when it comes to wedding day tiaras too.

So it doesn't come as a surprise that their maintenance is taken very seriously, as it just wouldn't do if the diamonds didn't sparkle at all times.

However, the Queen's special cleaning hack may come as a surprise, as it's one you can even try at home yourself.

According to Angela Kelly, the Queen's dresser and author of The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe, all that's needed is a bit of gin and water, as revealed in HELLO! and in her book.

And that's not the only cleaning hack she uses. Apparently a spot of washing up liquid is ideal to remove hair spray stains that could tarnish jewellery.

In her book, Angela also reveals the Queen loves a good bargain, and she tries to keep costs down where she can. So much so that on a trip to Singapore, Kelly picked up some silk in a bargain bucket and almost missed the royal flight as she'd been told she could claim tax back on them at the airport, making it just in time for take off.

'The look on the Queen's face was priceless as I handed her the tax refund,' she writes.

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Contributing Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK. She writes about catwalk trends and the latest high street and Instagram sartorial must-haves. She also helms the Women Who Win franchise.

She has worked in fashion for over 10 years, contributing to publications such as Cosmopolitan, Red, Good Housekeeping, and Stylist.