Princess Kate’s Necklace at the Duchess of Kent’s Funeral Had a Hidden Meaning Not Many Noticed
Kate Middleton joined Prince William, King Charles, and other senior royals for the funeral of Katherine, the Duchess of Kent, on September 16. The Duchess had passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 4 at Kensington Palace. For the solemn occasion, the Princess of Wales wore a traditional black ensemble paired with a four-strand pearl choker, featuring a center diamond clasp. Her choice of necklace carries a sentimental value, as it once belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth.
The late Queen had worn the special necklace for a state banquet in Bangladesh in 1983 and other royal engagements in 1982. She is said to have commissioned the choker using pearls from her collection, which she received as a gift from Japan in 1975. The necklace has become Middleton’s go-to accessory for all royal funerals. She had sported the choker for both Prince Philip's and the Queen’s funerals in 2021 and 2022, respectively. She also donned the sentimental jewelry for the Queen’s 70th anniversary with Philip. Another royal who received the honor of wearing the necklace was the late Princess Diana, who wore it for a banquet at Hampton Court Palace.
Fashion expert Bethan Hold previously spoke about the necklace’s special royal connection. She told PEOPLE, "Pearls are one of the very few jewelry items you can wear in mourning and are inextricably linked with Queen Elizabeth and her personal jewelry legacy. It's a symbol of mourning a monarch, but also a grandmother or great-grandmother." The late Queen adored wearing pearls since she was a little girl, when her father, King George VI, gifted her a platinum chain with two pearls added on each birthday. Reflecting on the tradition, British jeweler Claudia Bradby said, "[The pearls'] power lies in the fact that they aren't overwhelming. It's a subtle and slightly restrained look and, of course, the connection to the Queen is incredibly strong."
But, interestingly, the tradition to wear pearls for funerals was reportedly started by Queen Victoria, after the death of her husband, Prince Albert, in 1861, as she believed colorless jewelry was more respectful during mourning periods.
As for the Duchess of Kent's funeral, her service made history as the first ever Catholic funeral, following her conversion to the religion in 1994. After the funeral service, Katherine’s coffin travelled by hearse to the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore, Windsor. Out of respect for her, flags were lowered to half-mast at all official royal residences flying the Union Jack flags. For her part, Middleton was seen greeting the dean upon arrival, offering her support to the Kent family, and putting her arm on the Duke of Kent’s shoulder to comfort him.