Kate Middleton has been spotted continuing British royal family mourning traditions as she and husband Prince William traveled to Buckingham Palace to retrieve Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin.
After the Queen’s vigil, which saw her coffin delivered from the country residence in Balmoral to St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. Then, Her Majesty was flown to RAF Northolt and driven to Buckingham Palace.
Senior royals including The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and the King and Queen Consort drove through a crowd of fans who applauded as Queen Elizabeth’s coffin drove through palace gates.
Princess Kate was photographed with Prince William en route to the London palace, wearing all black. But it was the subtle pearl necklace and pearl earrings that caught people’s attention, as it is a royal symbol of mourning.
The Princess of Wales donned simple pearl jewellery, but the accessory was known to be a favourite for Queen Elizabeth II.
The mourning tradition was established by Queen Victoria, who wore black for almost 40 years after her husbands death in 1861 and wore a single white pearl when her daughter died.
During the Victorian era, pearls were used to represent tears.
Queen Elizabeth II followed such royal traditions and wore pearls while attending many funerals, including Prince Philip’s funeral in 2021. Her Majesty wore the Richmond brooch she inherited from her grandmother Queen Mary, which feature single pearl in its center.
Kate Middleton, then Duchess of Cornwall, also wore a pearl necklace borrowed from the Queen’s collection and Queen Bahrain’s pearl drop earrings which were also worn by Princess Diana.
Princess Diana donned a single pearl to Princess Grace of Monaco’s funeral in 1982.
The Queen’s coffin will stay in the Bow Room in Buckingham Palace for one night before she is transported to the Palace of Westminster. She will remain there until 19 September, which is the day of her state funeral at Westminster Abbey.
Queen Elizabeth II will be buried at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, where Prince Philip will be exhumed and moved not long after her burial is completed.