As the world bids farewell to the late Queen Elizabeth II today, I’m sharing a few details about some of the significant jewelry pieces worn for her state funeral. The women of the British royal family paid tribute to the memory of the late Queen by wearing appropriate, beautiful jewelry pieces, several of which had important symbolic resonance.
The Queen Consort wore a very important royal heirloom brooch for the service. This is the Hesse Diamond Jubilee Brooch, a gift presented to Queen Victoria in 1897. The diamond and sapphire jewel was a present from eight of Victoria’s grandchildren and their spouses: Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra of Russia, Grand Duke Ernest Louis and Grand Duchess Victoria Melita of Hesse, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich and Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna of Russia, and Prince and Princess Louis of Battenberg (later Marquess and Marchioness of Milford Haven). All were members of the family of Victoria’s late daughter, Princess Alice. The main diamond portion of the brooch forms a heart shape, and inside the heart is the number 60 (the number of years in a Diamond Jubilee reign) in Cyrillic numerals.
Camilla also wore a pair of diamond and sapphire cluster earrings, as well as her usual necklace with pendants and bracelets.
The Princess of Wales wore familiar pearl pieces for the state funeral—all of which are believed to have been loaned to her by the late Queen.
Kate wore the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings, made using pearls received by the Queen as a wedding present in 1947, as well as the Queen’s four-row pearl choker necklace, which has a distinctive modern diamond clasp. The necklace was reportedly made using pearls gifted by the Japanese government, and it was also loaned to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Kate wore both the necklace and the earrings for the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral in 2021.
Kate also wore a four-row pearl bracelet on her right wrist, which we previously saw her wear for the American state banquet in 2019. This bracelet is also believed to have been loaned by the Queen.
Prince George and Prince Charlotte of Wales joined their parents for today’s state funeral, and for the occasion, Princess Charlotte wore her first piece of significant jewelry in public. A small diamond horseshoe brooch was pinned to her jacket. People has confirmed that the brooch was given to Charlotte by the late Queen, her great-grandmother.
The Duchess of Sussex was elegant in a pair of simple pearl and diamond earrings. The size of the jewels belies their significance: they were given to Meghan by the Queen, along with a coordinating necklace, in 2018.
The Princess Royal was in uniform as part of the procession today, wearing only a simple pair of gold stud earrings.
Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall, chose a lovely pair of pearl drop earrings for the funeral service.
Both Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, as usual, kept their accessories minimal for the funeral. Eugenie wore a pair of gold hoop earrings and a delicate necklace for the service.
The mother of the two princesses, Sarah, Duchess of York, was at the service with the rest of the royal family. She wore diamond floral earrings with a diamond brooch in the shape of a dove.
The Countess of Wessex wore pavé-set diamond earrings with her diamond berry brooch for the funeral. The brooch coordinated beautifully with the subtle floral embroidery on her dress.
Lady Louise Windsor, who shared a love for equestrian pursuits with her grandparents, paid tribute to their memory by wearing a necklace with a pendant shaped like a horse’s head.
The always-elegant Lady Sarah Chatto, daughter of the late Princess Margaret, wore gorgeous jewels for the service. With her diamond starburst earrings and pearl bracelet, she wore one of the Snowdon Floral Brooches. The diamond brooch is part of a set that can also be worn on a tiara frame (as Sarah did on her wedding day).
The extended royal family was also in attendance at the service, and I’ll share photographs of their jewels as they’re available. Here is the Duchess of Gloucester with her son and daughter-in-law, the Earl and Countess of Ulster, and their children, Lord Culloden and Lady Cosima Windsor.
Birgitte wore gorgeous diamonds and pearls for the service, including a diamond floral brooch.
The Kents were in attendance as well. Princess Michael of Kent was accompanied by her son, Lord Frederick Windsor, and his wife, Sophie Winkleman. Both ladies wore pearls.
Here’s a closer look at Marie-Christine’s pearls, including diamond and pearl cluster earrings.
Prince and Princess Michael’s daughter, Lady Gabriella, was also at the service with her husband, Thomas Kingston. She wore elegant pearl earrings as well.
I’ll be updating this post as I can secure the rights to publish more images, and I’ll have a second post later on today featuring the jewels worn by the foreign royals who attended today’s state funeral.
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