Princess Kate Channels Queen Elizabeth with Pearl Brooch Earrings on Remembrance Sunday

Princess Kate Middleton paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II when she appeared at The Cenotaph during the National Service of Remembrance procession. On Sunday, November 12, the 41-year-old Princess of Wales stood on the London balcony with Queen Camilla, both wearing black coats, hats, and poppy lapel pins. Kate, who chose to re-wear a Catherine Walker dress, accessorized her ensemble with pearl earrings embellished with clusters of diamonds.

According to Hello! magazine, Kate's earrings seemed to be made from the demi-parure of Elizabeth's Diamond and Pearl Leaf brooch. This partial set of jewelry had never been seen before in public until now.

The brooch collection of the late queen, who passed away in September 2022 at the age of 96, was quite extensive. Elizabeth rarely wore the Diamond and Pearl Leaf bauble, with her last appearance wearing it in 1999 during a concert in South Korea. Subsequently, the brooch, which showcases three pearls in the center of a leaf adorned with pave-set diamonds, has been loaned to Kate.

The jewelry item was first worn by the Duchess of Cornwall during an official appearance in Belgium in July 2017. She visited the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Tyne Cot Cemetery. In 2018, Kate wore the brooch again at the Festival of Remembrance, adding poppy pins to the pearls. The most recent occasion she wore the piece was at Elizabeth’s lying-in-state ceremony at Westminster Hall in September 2022.

Princess Catherine, PA Images/INSTARimages.

In addition, Kate donned the late queen's jewels during the Festival of Remembrance service at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, November 11. She elegantly adorned a triple-strand pearl necklace, seemingly on loan from Elizabeth's personal collection.

Both the Festival of Remembrance and the Remembrance Sunday procession honor veterans who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces. Throughout the memorial weekend, it is customary for members of the royal family to attend multiple events. On Sunday, Kate and Camilla were accompanied by their husbands, Prince William and King Charles III, respectively. The 74-year-old king and the 41-year-old Prince of Wales took part in the procession, while William paid his respects by laying a wreath at The Cenotaph, as Kate and Camilla observed from the balcony.

Kate, who has three children with William, has been redefining her role within the royal family. According to a source in the latest issue of We, Kate is feeling the increased scrutiny since the queen's passing. She is entering a new phase of her life and wants her image and actions to convey that. Previously known for embodying the ideal wife, mother, and caregiver, Kate now aspires to be recognized as a strong and compassionate leader in the realm of humanitarian work.