Kate Middleton’s Pearls Mean More Than You Realize
Wpa Pool/Getty Images By Kristin Conard/Sept. 30, 2022 6:17 pm EST
Millions of people watched the funeral and committal service for Queen Elizabeth II, and the royal family was inherently in the spotlight. William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales brought their eldest two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, to the funeral, and people were impressed about how well behaved the two young royals were. People also took notice of the smallest details in how the royals were dressed for the funeral and in the events leading up to it — from Prince Harry’s military uniform to the brooch that Princess Charlotte wore to the funeral. Both Sophie, Countess of Sussex and Kate Middleton also wore jewelry that was a tribute to the queen. For Kate Middleton’s part, she wore a four-strand pearl and diamond choker, which was from the queen’s collection, and the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings that were a wedding gift to the queen in 1947, according to People. Kate wore the same jewelry to Prince Philip’s funeral. And while it was a touching tribute by Kate to wear the queen’s own jewelry, there’s a deeper meaning to Kate and others in the royal family wearing pearls.
Queen Elizabeth had a lifelong love of pearls
Print Collector/Getty Images
Queen Victoria contributed to Queen Elizabeth II’s lifelong affinity for pearls. Author of “The Queen’s Jewels” Leslie Field told People that for the birthdays of her daughters and granddaughters, Queen Victoria would give them a pearl, which would be made into a necklace when they turned 18. King George VI did the same for Queen Elizabeth, giving her two pearls each birthday as she grew up.
Pearls have long been associated with royalty. Queen Elizabeth I wore them to symbolize both her purity and power, according to Vanity Fair. Some of Queen Elizabeth I’s pearls, which can allegedly be traced back to a gift from Pope Clement VII to Catherine de Medici, are in the Imperial State Crown, made in 1937, per the Royal Collection Trust. This was the crown that was on the queen’s coffin during the lying in state. While Queen Elizabeth II had an extensive personal jewelry collection including a sparkling array of tiaras, rings, brooches, and earrings, the queen was often seen wearing pearls throughout her life, even at home with family and at more casual events. Author of “The Queen’s Jewels” Leslie Field told People that the queen wore “pearls every day as her mother and grandmother did before her.” It became a part of the trademark look of the queen. Queen Elizabeth II was even reportedly buried with only two pieces of jewelry, one of which was a pair of simple pearl earrings.
Kate Middleton’s Pearls Mean More Than You Realize
Wpa Pool/Getty Images
By Kristin Conard/Sept. 30, 2022 6:17 pm EST
Millions of people watched the funeral and committal service for Queen Elizabeth II, and the royal family was inherently in the spotlight. William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales brought their eldest two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, to the funeral, and people were impressed about how well behaved the two young royals were. People also took notice of the smallest details in how the royals were dressed for the funeral and in the events leading up to it — from Prince Harry’s military uniform to the brooch that Princess Charlotte wore to the funeral. Both Sophie, Countess of Sussex and Kate Middleton also wore jewelry that was a tribute to the queen. For Kate Middleton’s part, she wore a four-strand pearl and diamond choker, which was from the queen’s collection, and the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings that were a wedding gift to the queen in 1947, according to People. Kate wore the same jewelry to Prince Philip’s funeral. And while it was a touching tribute by Kate to wear the queen’s own jewelry, there’s a deeper meaning to Kate and others in the royal family wearing pearls.
The royal history of wearing pearls for mourning ties to Queen Victoria
Max Mumby/indigo/Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth had a lifelong love of pearls
Print Collector/Getty Images
Queen Victoria contributed to Queen Elizabeth II’s lifelong affinity for pearls. Author of “The Queen’s Jewels” Leslie Field told People that for the birthdays of her daughters and granddaughters, Queen Victoria would give them a pearl, which would be made into a necklace when they turned 18. King George VI did the same for Queen Elizabeth, giving her two pearls each birthday as she grew up.
Pearls have long been associated with royalty. Queen Elizabeth I wore them to symbolize both her purity and power, according to Vanity Fair. Some of Queen Elizabeth I’s pearls, which can allegedly be traced back to a gift from Pope Clement VII to Catherine de Medici, are in the Imperial State Crown, made in 1937, per the Royal Collection Trust. This was the crown that was on the queen’s coffin during the lying in state. While Queen Elizabeth II had an extensive personal jewelry collection including a sparkling array of tiaras, rings, brooches, and earrings, the queen was often seen wearing pearls throughout her life, even at home with family and at more casual events. Author of “The Queen’s Jewels” Leslie Field told People that the queen wore “pearls every day as her mother and grandmother did before her.” It became a part of the trademark look of the queen. Queen Elizabeth II was even reportedly buried with only two pieces of jewelry, one of which was a pair of simple pearl earrings.
Pearls have long been associated with royalty. Queen Elizabeth I wore them to symbolize both her purity and power, according to Vanity Fair. Some of Queen Elizabeth I’s pearls, which can allegedly be traced back to a gift from Pope Clement VII to Catherine de Medici, are in the Imperial State Crown, made in 1937, per the Royal Collection Trust. This was the crown that was on the queen’s coffin during the lying in state.
While Queen Elizabeth II had an extensive personal jewelry collection including a sparkling array of tiaras, rings, brooches, and earrings, the queen was often seen wearing pearls throughout her life, even at home with family and at more casual events. Author of “The Queen’s Jewels” Leslie Field told People that the queen wore “pearls every day as her mother and grandmother did before her.” It became a part of the trademark look of the queen. Queen Elizabeth II was even reportedly buried with only two pieces of jewelry, one of which was a pair of simple pearl earrings.
