The Duchess of Cambridge’s Five Pearl Brooch

Kate wore the brooch for the first time at Trooping the Colour in June 2014. She pinned the piece to a light blue and gray jacket, coordinating it with a pair of earrings with hoops from Kiki McDonough and pearl drops from Annoushka Ducas.

I’ve always simply called the piece “the Five Pearl Brooch” in my notes, but the canny sleuths who track down everything Kate wears believe that the jewel may be a costume piece. The exact maker of the brooch has never been identified, but Kate has worn several pieces of very similar jewelry, often paired together as a set, that are set with faux pearls.

Here’s a look at Kate wearing the other three parts of the “set,” taken during a reception at the British embassy in Paris in 2017. The earrings have been identified as the Eugenia style by Balenciaga, costume clips set with faux pearls and crystals. The ring, worn on Kate’s right hand, appears to coordinate with the earrings. And the négligée-style necklace features four more of the button-style “pearls,” and it appears to coordinate with the setting of the brooch.

Kate wore the earrings and the brooch together for an important royal engagement in Belgium in July 2017. She and William joined King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians for a ceremony marking the centenary of the battle of Passchendaele, held during the Last Post ceremony at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Ypres.

Here’s a closer look at Kate’s jewels from the occasion. This view highlights the diamond (or crystal) accents between the brooch’s pearls. Similar accents can be found on the chain of the coordinating necklace.

Most recently, Kate wore the earrings and the brooch together for the traditional Easter Sunday service at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in April 2018. The brooch stood out beautifully against Kate’s dark coat for the occasion.