Kate Middleton Rewears Dazzling Pearl Necklace Worn by Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana

As is typical for the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton’s look worn to Katharine, the Duchess of Kent’s funeral on September 16 was loaded with symbolism and meaning.

The future queen chose to re-wear the black Roland Mouret dress she previously wore to the funeral of Prince Philip in April 2021, paired with the four-strand Japanese pearl choker that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth. Arriving at Westminster Cathedral for the Duchess’s funeral alongside her husband Prince William, Kate also wore a pillbox hat and a delicate veil partially covering her face; she added drop pearl earrings, a Chanel quilted bag, black tights, and black pumps to complete the look.

The four-strand pearl choker was originally given to the Queen during a state visit to Japan in 1975; she wore it with frequency, and also loaned it on occasion to her daughter-in-law, Princess Diana, who wore it to one of her first royal engagements after marrying Prince Charles in 1981. Kate has worn the piece to the funerals of both Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth, as well as to happier occasions like state visits and the Queen and Prince Philip’s 70th wedding anniversary celebrations in 2017.

After receiving the gift 50 years ago, the Queen reconstructed the pearls into a multi-strand necklace made by Garrard, with its four strands fastened together by a diamond clasp in the center.

Kate choosing to wear pearls to a funeral is a deeply meaningful decision. According to Town & Country, pearls have been linked with mourning dating all the way back to Queen Victoria’s reign. After her husband Prince Albert died in 1861 at just 42 years old, Queen Victoria famously only wore black and colorless jewelry for the rest of her life—including pearls. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales were joined by King Charles at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral on Tuesday, but Queen Camilla pulled out of attending at the last minute, citing “acute sinusitis,” according to People. The funeral comes ahead of a busy week for the royal family, who will host U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump beginning on September 17.

Of the Duchess of Kent—who died at 92 years old on September 4—William and Kate previously wrote of her on social media, saying she “worked tirelessly to help others and supported many causes, including through her love of music. She will be a much missed member of the family.”

The Duchess of Kent’s funeral made history in a couple of ways: first of all, it was the first royal family funeral to be held at Westminster Cathedral since its construction in 1903, and it’s also the first Catholic funeral held for a member of the royal family since the Reformation. When the Duchess of Kent converted to Catholicism in 1994, she became the first member of the British royal family to become part of the Roman Catholic Church since 1685, according to The Irish Times.