Kate Middleton wears Queen Elizabeth’s pearl earrings on 1st anniversary of monarch’s death

Her spirit shines on.

Kate Middleton and Prince William attended a church service honoring the life of Queen Elizabeth II on the first anniversary of her death Friday, with the Princess of Wales wearing a touching tribute to her late grandmother-in-law.

The 41-year-old royal wore a pair of the late monarch’s pearl-and-diamond drop earrings for the event at St. Davids Cathedral in St. Davids, Wales, bringing back memories of Queen Elizabeth’s signature jewelry style as she attended the private memorial service.

Kate Middleton

Kate Middleton looked radiant in the late queen’s earrings on the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death.
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Kate Middleton, Prince William

Middleton paired her burgundy coat with a matching clutch and pumps.

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Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II wore the same earrings for her Silver Jubilee in 1977.


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The late monarch — who died on September 8, 2022 at the age of 96 — wore the slim pair of earrings called the “Silver Jubilee Pearl Earrings,” per The Court Jeweller.

The classic style, which Queen Elizabeth wore for her Silver Jubilee in 1977, includes a teardrop-shaped pearl hanging from a diamond stud versus the larger round pair she usually wore.

Middleton has worn the earrings on several occasions, including her first solo trip abroad in 2016 and a visit to Sandringham after the queen’s death last year.

Kate Middleton and Prince William

The Prince and Princess of Wales waved to crowds gathered outside the cathedral.
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Kate Middleton, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince George

The royal wore the same coat for her annual Christmas carol concert shortly after Queen Elizabeth’s death last year.
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The princess paired her meaningful pearls with the same maroon coatdress by Eponine that she donned for the 2022 “Together at Christmas” carol concert, wearing her hair in an elegant updo topped with a new burgundy hat by Sahar Millinery.

Middleton’s brother-in-law paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth in his own way Friday, with Prince Harry making a visit to his grandmother’s grave at St. George’s Chapel after making a touching speech in her honor at the WellChild awards on Thursday.

Middleton wore several pieces from the late queen’s collection in the days following her death, including a triple-strand pearl necklace and Queen Elizabeth’s Bahrain Pearl Earrings and pearl choker, which the princess wore for the royal’s funeral.

Kate Middleton

The Princess of Wales wore the late queen’s jewelry for her funeral on September 19, 2022.
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Pearls were indeed a favorite stone for Queen Elizabeth, and she often wore a pair of button-style pearl earrings with a diamond stud on repeat for day-to-day occasions.

Her choice of jewelry is also a significant one in the sense that the pearls have been associated with mourning over the years, as Maxwell Stone of UK jeweler Steven Stone told Page Six Style last year.

“The royal tradition of wearing pearls for mourning dates back to Queen Victoria, who was so overwhelmed with grief when Prince Albert died that she wore nothing but black for the rest of her life,” the jewelry pro said.