Kate Middleton Wears Queen Elizabeth's Necklace and Princess Diana's Earrings at Coronation

Kate Middleton's Coronation jewelry

Catherine, Princess of Wales departs the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 06, 2023, in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla(Twitter)

 At the coronation ceremony, the 41-year-old Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana by donning their jewelry, specifically the George VI Festoon Necklace and South Sea Pearl Earrings that were previously owned by her late mother-in-law. The necklace is adorned with three strands of diamonds and was originally created by King George VI for his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, in 1950. Throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth often wore the necklace for important events and state dinners.

Catherine, Princess of Wales departs the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 06, 2023, in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla(Twitter)

Since Queen Elizabeth's passing in September of 2022, the Princess of Wales has paid homage to her grandmother-in-law several times by wearing her jewelry. For funerary events, she wore Queen Elizabeth's pearl and diamond drop earrings and her signature three-strand pearl necklace. For the sovereign's state funeral and committal service, she paired the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings with a four-strand pearl choker previously owned by the Queen. According to Bethan Holt, author of The Queen: 70 Years of Majestic Style, pearls are one of the few jewelry items that can be worn in mourning, and they are closely associated with Queen Elizabeth and her personal jewelry legacy. They symbolize not only mourning a monarch but also a grandmother or great-grandmother.

The Queen Wearing A Sapphire And Diamond Tiara And Necklace Attending A State Banquet Given By President Havel, Prague, Czech Republic.(Getty)

Princess Kate has honored Queen Elizabeth on numerous occasions by wearing jewelry from the monarch's personal collection. One of the most memorable moments was at her royal wedding to Prince William in 2011, where Kate donned the Cartier Halo Tiara. Over the years, the Queen has also lent her various pieces such as the Maple Leaf Brooch, emerald tassel earrings, and the Edinburgh Wedding Bracelet, which was a gift from Prince Philip on their engagement.

Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing a midnight blue velvet, off the shoulder evening dress designed by Victor Edelstein, a sapphire, diamond and pearl choker and diamond and sapphire earrings(Getty)

Kate has also worn Princess Diana's South Sea Pearl Earrings, which the late princess often wore to formal events in the 1990s. At the most recent Remembrance Sunday service, Kate wore the diamond and pearl earrings, but with a subtle twist. According to Vogue, she swapped out the larger, circular pearls that Diana wore for smaller, pear-shaped gems.

In the past, Kate has paid tribute to her mother-in-law through her fashion choices by putting her own fashionable touch on some of Princess Diana's most memorable outfits. She has also been seen wearing Princess Diana's iconic sapphire engagement ring ever since Prince William proposed to her in 2010. Additionally, Kate has a fondness for the Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara, which was famously one of Diana's favorite pieces and is often worn by Kate for state occasions.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Anne, Princess Royal, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla (Getty)

Prince William proposed the idea for Diana's charity gown auction in 1997, citing her as a style icon. The couple may have jointly decided that it is nice for Kate to reference Diana's influence on fashion through her clothing, according to the editor.

In the early years of her marriage, Kate was hesitant to pay tribute to Diana through fashion, but as she grew more confident in her own style, she incorporated subtle nods to Diana's iconic looks into her wardrobe in a meaningful way.

The coronation of her father-in-law saw the Princess of Wales join other members of the royal family at Westminster Abbey on Saturday. Along with a Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen headpiece featuring silver bullion, crystal, and silver threadwork three-dimensional leaf embroidery, Princess Kate completed her jewelry ensemble. Princess Charlotte even matched her mother's headpiece! In the lead-up to the coronation, there was much speculation about whether Princess Kate would wear a tiara as female members of the royal family traditionally wore sparkling head-toppers for past coronations. However, according to sources, the decision on whether or not to wear a tiara was subject to change until as recently as six weeks ago.