Princess of Wales wears The Queen’s Pearl Jewellery As She Says Goodbye at The Late Monarch’s Funeral

Kate Middleton personified grace and elegance at the Queen’s funeral (19th of September 2022.).

She looked solemn-yet-striking in her black coat dress, veiled hat and pearl jewellery—a choker, earrings and bracelet from the Queen’s collection, no doubt worn to honour the late monarch.

As I’ve mentioned several times over the last week, pearls are often worn by Royals in mourning. It’s a tradition that dates back to Queen Victoria.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte attended the funeral too.

Reports say palace aides asked William and Kate to bring George; they thought his attendance would send a clear message to the public, “this is the future King”. It’s understood the two parents thought “very carefully” before agreeing.

Both youngsters did their parents proud.

George looked like William’s mini-me in his dark blue suit. Charlotte looked sweet in her black coat, horseshoe brooch, and hat. The media report the Queen gifted Charlotte with the brooch.

The Queen’s State Funeral took place at Westminster Abbey. The service was beautiful, and of course, emotional. But it also celebrated the monarch’s life and 70-year reign.

After the funeral, the Queens Coffin processed through London to Windsor.

A committal service took place at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

The Queen’s crown was removed for the final time:

The service ended with Queen’s Coffin being lowered in the Royal Vault as The Sovereign’s Piper played a Lement. The Archbishop of Canterbury pronounced a Blessing and the National Anthem was sung.

Later in the evening, the Royal Family attended a private burial service in the King George VI Memorial Chapel. This was not televised or photographed.

If you find yourself wanting to read more about the Queen’s State Funeral and other services, this page on Royal.UK contains all the details.

Let’s take a brief look at Kate’s outfit at the Queen’s funeral.  

The Princess wore a black coat dress by Alexander McQueen.  Poignantly, we know this because she wore the same coat in white at Trooping the Colour during the Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations just three months ago.  (Thanks to Gabi for spotting this.)

I’d guess she’s also wearing a Philip Treacy hat, as she did at the Jubilee. It’s the right shape for the designer, in my opinion. I haven’t confirmed this, and I doubt we’ll find out from the palace or from Philip Treacy. Correction: It has since been confirmed the hat is from British milliner Sean Barrett.

I’d like to take a minute to look at Kate’s pearl jewellery now.  Both the choker necklace and earrings are from the Queen’s collection—The Princess clearly selected the jewellery to honour the late monarch.

Kate wore the necklace last year too, at Prince Philip’s funeral.  She also wore the spectacular piece to a dinner party hosted at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Queen and Prince Philip’s 70th wedding anniversary in 2017.  

The media report the late Queen commissioned the necklace from cultured pearls gifted by  the Japanese government. 

The necklace includes four rows of pearls with a central diamond clasp in a curved shape, each side including three rows of diamonds that join at the top and bottom with marquise diamonds. According to Garrard: The Crown Jewellers for 150 Years, the Queen commissioned this from a set of the “finest cultured pearls presented to her by the Japanese government.” She made her first state visit to Japan in 1975; the choker was in use by at least 1982.

Her Majesty’s Jewel Vault

Regular readers will know the earrings are often referred to as the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings. Kate’s worn them a number of times since joining the Royal Family in 2011. A look at Kate wearing the pretty diamond and pearl earrings during the Jubilee, just a few months ago:

The earrings feature round diamond studs, from which are suspended round- and baguette-cut diamonds in an arrangement typical of the late 1940s.

The Court Jeweller

They’re crafted from pearls given to the then-Princess Elizabeth on her wedding day in 1947. They were gifted by the Hakim of Bahrain. Two of the pearls were made into these earrings – hence the name. You can read a good article about the earrings, and see pictures, at The Court Jeweller’s website here.

Kate also wore a four-strand pearl bracelet to the funeral. Unless I’m mistaken, little is known about the piece. It’s assumed it’s another item that belonged to the Queen. It’s not the first time the Princess has worn the bracelet. We saw her with it at the State Banquet in 2019.

I think Princess Kate carried her Cornelia James Beatrice Bow Gloves, wore her Gianvito Rossi 105 heels in black suede and carried her Stuart Weitzman Muse clutch in black suede.