The Princess Of Wales Pays Tribute To The Queen With A Sentimental Pearl Brooch

Catherine’s earrings, meanwhile, honoured Diana, Princess of Wales – whose title she assumed following the Queen’s death on 8 September. Originally gifted to Diana by Collingwood Jewellers ahead of her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981, the pearl drop style became a favourite of the late royal, who often paired them with Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara. The Duchess of Cambridge has followed suit during a number of State Banquets at Buckingham Palace over the years, as well as wearing the earrings in one of her 40th birthday portraits, taken by Vogue photographer Paolo Roversi.
The Princess previously wore the Diamond and Pearl Leaf Brooch during a visit to Belgium in 2017. Photo: Getty
In addition to being a personal gift from the Queen, the brooch and earrings are also symbolic of grief; pearls have been associated with mourning since at least the reign of Victoria. It’s widely known that the late monarch never wore colour again after the death of Prince Albert, her beloved husband, including precious stones. In lieu of sapphires, emeralds and rubies, Victoria exclusively favoured jet and pearls, cementing the latter’s association with tears in the 19th century.
The Duchess of Cambridge wore Diana, Princess of Wales’s earrings for her 40th birthday portraits. Photo: Paolo Roversi

Expect to see many more tributes to the Queen – sartorial and otherwise – from the Windsors in the coming days.
Originally published in Vogue.co.uk
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