For the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, Kate Middleton chose to pay tribute with a familiar piece of jewellery that eagle-eyed observers of British royal fashion might recognise. On Monday, the new Princess of Wales arrived at the service wearing a four-strand pearl choker that features a bulb-shaped diamond clasp at the centre. She previously wore the same necklace to the funeral of the Queen’s late husband, Prince Philip, which took place in April 2021. And back in 2017, Middleton paired the pearly piece with a black lace dress for the Queen’s 70th wedding anniversary celebration at Windsor Castle.
Pearls are a sartorial standby for many of the royals. The Queen herself often wore them during occasions of mourning or remembrance, which explains why Middleton has taken great care to continue the tradition. At the Queen’s procession on Sept. 14, for instance, she wore pearl drop earrings that previously belonged to the late Princess Diana. Those exact earrings made another appearance at the funeral on Monday, complementing Middleton’s pearl and diamond choker.
Beyond being a gift from her grandmother-in-law, the standout necklace carries additional significance for Middleton. In the 1970s, the Japanese government reportedly gifted the pearls to the Queen. She would go on to wear the choker on numerous occasions, including the 70th birthday of the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1995, according to E! News.
While the Queen may be gone, her style legacy lives on for Middleton. Ahead, see more glimpses of her latest fashion tribute to the late monarch.
Related: Meghan Markle’s Funeral Outfit Pays Tribute to the Queen in So Many Different Ways
