Kate Middleton's Necklace At Prince Philip's Funeral Honored Both Queen Elizabeth II And Princess Diana

Apr 19, 2021 by apost team

On Friday, April 9, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, passed away at the age of 99 years old. Not long before his death, the Queen's beloved husband was discharged from the hospital after spending several days there due to complications with an infection. Prince Philip's infection was reportedly not due to coronavirus, as he and the Queen were vaccinated in January of this year, according to BBC. Philip's passing ends his reign as the longest-serving royal spouse, having served alongside Queen Elizabeth II for 65 years and having been married to the monarch for 73 years in total.

Philip's funeral on April 17, 2021, was a quiet affair with only 30 people in attendance due to the coronavirus restrictions. Generally, a man of Philips's stature would have received a state funeral with a minimum of 800 people in attendance, but this could not happen due to the ongoing pandemic. The guestlist of 30 people only comprised of the closest royal family members, which naturally included Prince William and Prince Harry.

The brothers have faced challenged in their relationship for the last year and the whole world had their eyes on the brothers' interaction at the funeral. However, Prince William's wife — Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge — has been seen by many as a peacekeeper between the two brothers. Her role as such was definitely played out at the funeral on Saturday, but it's not just the two brothers that Middleton has been thinking about.

Kate Middleton's accessories at the funeral were more thoughtful than ever, as her necklace was a tribute to both the newly widowed Queen Elizabeth, as well as the late Princess Diana.

Read on to learn more about the significance behind the necklace Kate Middleton wore to Prince Philip's funeral on Saturday. 

The funeral marked the first time Harry was back on English soil after stepping down from the duties of a senior royal just a year ago, Metro reports. His wife Meghan Markle could not join him, as the couple is expecting their second child soon. Due to Markle being heavily pregnant, she has been advised by doctors not to fly during this time. It is understood, however, that she had made every effort to join her husband until her doctors did not give her clearance, as per the news outlet. 

BBC reported that the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of Cambridge were seen talking together after they left the funeral of their grandfather. During the procession from Windsor Castle to St. George's Chapel, the princes walked with their cousin Peter Phillips between them. After the service, the brothers were deep in conversation and later were joined by Harry's sister-in-law Kate Middleton. 

The Sun reported that William has previously called his wife a "peacemaker" in the family, and that may have helped to thaw the cold relationship between Harry and his brother. Harry was first seen talking to Kate after the queen left the funeral in her car. After other mourners had left the chapel, William let Harry and Kate catch up before joining them. The three of them then walked together, before Kate stepped back ever so slightly so that the brother could walk and chat together. This small gesture by Kate allowed a pathway for the brothers to connect in a better way. Kate may truly be a subtle but powerful peacemaker for the brothers. 

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Since Philip's death, there have been a significant number of tributes and condolences pouring in, and though people were told to refrain from sending flowers to remain safe, a large collection of flowers, trinkets and cards are constantly piling up outside Buckingham Palace. It's no surprise then that important funeral attendees such as Kate have decided to tribute not only Philip, but also Elizabeth in her choice of accessories for the funeral on Saturday.

Kate's four-stranded Japanese choker featured a diamond clasp and was absolutely colorless to complement the somber mood of the funeral. Kate had previously worn the same choker at a dinner celebrating the Queen and Philip's 70th wedding anniversary. The same dangling earrings and matching choker pair were once worn by the late Princess Diana.

According to The Court Jeweller, the necklace was a gift to the queen from the Japanese government and was made by Garrand. According to Harper's Bazaar, the queen had once worn the jewels during a visit to Bangladesh in the 1980s and were worn by Diana during a state visit to the Netherlands back in 1982. The earrings, however, have a different story. They were gifted to the queen by the Hakim of Bahrain as a wedding present when she married Philip in 1947.

Given the highly sentimental meaning behind the jewels, it's to no surprise that Kate chose to wear them to Philip's funeral on Saturday. Not only was Kate serving as a means of peace between her husband William and his brother Harry, but Kate clearly also made the choice to be extra thoughtful about her attire for the funeral — even down to the necklace and earrings. 

What do you think about Kate Middleton's necklace choice? Did you notice any other thoughtful accessories at the funeral on Saturday? Let us know your thoughts and be sure to pass this article on to others who are interested in learning about the details of Prince Philip's funeral.