Kate Middleton Touchingly Honors Late Queen And Princess Di With Jewelry Choice

Sep 20, 2022

Catherine Middleton has shown grace and poise for as long as she’s been together with Prince William. As the woman who is married to a future king and the mother of another, Middleton has ascended to a very prominent role within the royal family. Her position became much more active after she and William wed over ten years ago. 

The entire world watched in 2011 when Prince William and Middleton wed in a beautiful ceremony at Westminster Abbey, London. The heavily publicized wedding prompted all kinds of celebrations, including street parties across England, William and Kate merchandise and plenty of speculation about how the royal couple would navigate their roles as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. 

The couple is particularly prominent in the royal family given that William is next in line to the throne after his father, King Charles III, who ascended in 2022 after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, passed. At the time of their marriage, the couple had been together for eight years after they started dating when they were both students at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where the two completed their undergraduate degrees. 

A lot has happened since those early days, including the couple’s official engagement announcement in 2010, followed by their wedding, which took place in 2011. Since then, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been busy with their children, George, Charlotte, and Louis. 

The family was recently seen all together at the various events honoring the late Queen in September 2022, where Middleton was again noted for her poise and, namely, her fashion choices. 

Middleton has, since entering the spotlight and starting her family, become known for her kind and patient demeanor as well as her stylish fashions.

In 2021, following the death of Prince Philip, it appeared that the queen gave Middleton a “seal of regal approval,” according to royal commentator Daniela Elsner writing for news.com.au. The approval came in the form of a pearl necklace that Kate wore for Prince Philip’s funeral, which was lent to her from the queen’s own personal collection. Lending a piece of jewelry to Kate, and especially considering the occasion at which she wore it, says a lot about the queen’s approval of Middleton. 

But it’s not the first time she wore the iconic pearl choker with matching diamond and pearl drop earrings — Kate wore it several years ago in 2017 to commemorate the queen and Prince Philip’s 70th wedding anniversary, which further adds to the meaning of her wearing it again for his funeral.

After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Middleton again coordinated her outfit to honor the late royal as well as to pay homage to other members of the family. As she joined William in the procession of the Queen’s coffin to Westminster Abbey, the eyes of a mourning nation were on her and her family to see how they would present themselves during this difficult time.

Later, during the solemn, highly-publicized service, Middleton wore an “all-black mourning ensemble: an ebony coat dress, a matching hat with a netted veil, stockings, pointed-toe heels, and a clutch.” 

In addition to this outfit, Middleton’s choice of jewelry for the occasion was particularly notable. She chose two main pieces: a set of diamond-and-pearl drop earrings as well as a diamond-and-pearl brooch in the shape of three leaves. While the jewels are, of course, opulent and eye-catching on their own, anyone with a little bit of backstory on the royal family would have caught their special meaning. 

The silver leafed brooch previously belonged to Queen Elizabeth, who had gifted it to Middleton years earlier. Middleton had worn it once before, on a royal visit to Belgium in 2017, and fittingly included it on this memorable day. 

The earrings Middleton chose also hold similarly hidden meanings. They belonged to another royal, and their appearance at the royal funeral speaks volumes about how carefully Middleton must’ve picked her accessories. The pearls were famously worn by Diana Spencer, the People’s Princess and mother to Middleton’s husband William. Princess Diana wore the earring often, namely during a visit to Canada in 1983. Middleton has often, in inheriting her jewelry, used them as a way to honor Diana’s memory. 

With the Queen’s death, Middleton inherits not only jewels but also Diana’s title as “Princes of Wales.” She and her husband have commented, saying they “will approach their (new) roles in the modest and humble way they’ve approached their work previously.” On inheriting Diana’s title in particular, Middleton has said she “appreciates the history associated with this role” and hopes “to look to the future as she creates her own path.”

What’s your most memorable moment of Catherine Middleton? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family, and any fellow royalists!