A royal tribute. It was considered a high honor whenever the late Queen Elizabeth II would allow family members to borrow her jewels — and Princess Kate made sure to return the favor by honoring the monarch with her chosen gems.
Throughout her seven decades as Britain’s longest-reigning sovereign, the queen — who died in September 2022 at age 96 — would lend her jewelry out on special occasions, always abiding by royal protocol. Tiaras, in particular, came with their own set of rules, including one that states family members can’t wear the headpiece until they’re married — and non-family members can’t don one until they marry into the family.
Kate first wore one of Queen Elizabeth’s tiaras at her April 2011 wedding to Prince William, sporting the sparkling Cartier “Halo” design that held her sheer veil. The stunning headpiece was initially purchased by the monarch’s father, King George VI, for his wife, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who passed it down to her eldest daughter on Elizabeth’s 18th birthday.
While Kate has often chosen to honor her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, with her style and jewels, she has also frequently worn many of the queen’s accessories — at celebratory and somber occasions alike — in the years since she wed William.
At the queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, the Duchess of Cambridge gave a nod to the crown while wearing the sovereign’s Bahrain pearl drop earrings at the Service of Thanksgiving. Though Elizabeth was unable to attend the ceremony due to experiencing “some discomfort,” as Buckingham Palace said in a statement at the time, her granddaughter-in-law’s subtle tribute made her presence known.
During Prince Philip’s April 2021 funeral, Kate paid homage to the royals — and Elizabeth and Philip’s love story — by borrowing the queen’s four row Japanese pearl choker, which she previously wore at the royals’ 70th wedding anniversary celebration in 2017.
Two years prior to Queen Elizabeth’s death, a source exclusively told Us Weekly about the bond between Kate and the monarch.
“Her Majesty sees the Cambridges as the future of the monarchy and trusts Kate and William’s judgment implicitly,” the insider told Us in April 2020. “Kate asks for advice about speeches she’s due to make, whom she can depend on most within the palace and protocol dos and don’ts. The queen’s more than happy to impart her wisdom — she’s proud to be Catherine’s go-to adviser about royal life.”
Keep scrolling to see every time Kate honored the late monarch with her jewelry:
A royal tribute. It was considered a high honor whenever the late Queen Elizabeth II would allow family members to borrow her jewels — and Princess Kate made sure to return the favor by honoring the monarch with her chosen gems.
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Throughout her seven decades as Britain’s longest-reigning sovereign, the queen — who died in September 2022 at age 96 — would lend her jewelry out on special occasions, always abiding by royal protocol. Tiaras, in particular, came with their own set of rules, including one that states family members can’t wear the headpiece until they’re married — and non-family members can’t don one until they marry into the family.
Kate first wore one of Queen Elizabeth’s tiaras at her April 2011 wedding to Prince William, sporting the sparkling Cartier “Halo” design that held her sheer veil. The stunning headpiece was initially purchased by the monarch’s father, King George VI, for his wife, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who passed it down to her eldest daughter on Elizabeth’s 18th birthday.
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While Kate has often chosen to honor her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, with her style and jewels, she has also frequently worn many of the queen’s accessories — at celebratory and somber occasions alike — in the years since she wed William.
At the queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, the Duchess of Cambridge gave a nod to the crown while wearing the sovereign’s Bahrain pearl drop earrings at the Service of Thanksgiving. Though Elizabeth was unable to attend the ceremony due to experiencing “some discomfort,” as Buckingham Palace said in a statement at the time, her granddaughter-in-law’s subtle tribute made her presence known.
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During Prince Philip’s April 2021 funeral, Kate paid homage to the royals — and Elizabeth and Philip’s love story — by borrowing the queen’s four row Japanese pearl choker, which she previously wore at the royals’ 70th wedding anniversary celebration in 2017.
Two years prior to Queen Elizabeth’s death, a source exclusively told Us Weekly about the bond between Kate and the monarch.
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“Her Majesty sees the Cambridges as the future of the monarchy and trusts Kate and William’s judgment implicitly,” the insider told Us in April 2020. “Kate asks for advice about speeches she’s due to make, whom she can depend on most within the palace and protocol dos and don’ts. The queen’s more than happy to impart her wisdom — she’s proud to be Catherine’s go-to adviser about royal life.”
Keep scrolling to see every time Kate honored the late monarch with her jewelry:
Credit: MEGA
Four-Strand Pearl Necklace
Kate, who wore the four-strand necklace to the queen’s funeral, added the baubles to her Remembrance Festival outfit in November 2022.
Credit: James Whatling / MEGA
Four-Strand Pearl Necklace
To pay her respects to Queen Elizabeth at Her Majesty’s state funeral in September 2022, Kate donned a pearl-string necklace. The Princess of Wales paired the piece, which was also worn by Princess Diana in the 1980s, with dangling earrings and a veiled fascinator.
Credit: Stefan Rousseau/WPA Pool/Shutterstock
Three-Strand Pearl Necklace
The Princess of Wales held a lunch for the governors-general of the Commonwealth nations at Buckingham Palace in September 2022, and she wore the late queen’s favorite accessory — a triple set of pearls.
Credit: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
Pearl-Leaf Brooch
Kate wore the sparkler atop her black coat dress as she participated in Her Majesty’s procession to Westminster Hall in September 2022.
Credit: Kevin Dietsch/UPI/Shutterstock
Cartier ‘Halo’ Tiara
As her 2011 wedding to William officially made her a member of the royal family, Kate marked the occasion by wearing the queen’s Cartier tiara.
Credit: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings
Though Elizabeth wasn’t in attendance at the Service of Thanksgiving celebration during her June 2022 Platinum Jubilee, Kate paid tribute to the sovereign through her choice of earrings — on loan from the queen herself.
Credit: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock
Sapphire and Diamond Earrings
The University of St. Andrews alum stunned in these sapphire and diamond earrings, which originally belonged to the Queen Mother.
Credit: Shutterstock
Cambridge Lovers’ Knot Tiara
A favorite of the late Princess of Wales — loaned to her by the queen as well — Kate has worn the aptly titled Cambridge Lovers’ Knot tiara on multiple occasions.
Credit: Shutterstock
Diamond Chandelier Earrings
A clear fan of the queen’s earrings — and diamonds — the duchess dazzled while wearing this stunning set from the monarch.
Credit: Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Shutterstock
Four Row Japanese Pearl Choker
Kate opted to pay tribute to Philip and the queen at the Duke of Edinburgh’s 2021 funeral by wearing a matching set of pearl earrings and a pearl choker, which she borrowed from Elizabeth.
Credit: Shutterstock
Diamond Quarterfoil Bracelet
Kate, like her grandmother-in-law before her, shined bright like a diamond whenever she borrowed this jewel of a bracelet from the monarch.
Credit: Shutterstock
Queen Elizabeth’s Wedding Bracelet
It doesn’t get any more special than borrowing the same bracelet Her Majesty wore on her wedding day, seen here on Kate in 2015.
Credit: Shutterstock
Maple Leaf Brooch
The late sovereign, known for her bright style and special brooches, lent her maple leaf-shaped pin to her granddaughter-in-law on her 2016 tour of Canada.
Credit: Beretta/Sims/Shutterstock
Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace
This diamond-encrusted beauty is fit for a queen — literally.
Michelle McGahan
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