Princess of Wales wears late Queen’s pearl earrings to attend the Festival of Remembrance

The Princess of Wales cut a sombre figure as she stepped out in an all-black ensemble at the annual Festival of Remembrance last night.

Kate, 40, joined other senior royals as they attended the annual event hosted by the British Legion at London‘s Albert Hall.

It was one of a series the royals are attending to commemorate the nation’s war dead, ahead of today’s Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall. 

And the royal also paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who died on September 8 at the age of 96, by wearing two pieces of the late monarch’s jewellery – drop pearl earrings and a pearl choker.

Dressing in all-black outfit for the evening engagement, Kate chose a belted Self Portrait gown, featuring a midi skirt topped with a blazer. She has previously worn the same gown in ivory.

Kate paid tribute to the late Queen (pictured here at a banquet in Bangladesh in 1983) by wearing one of Her Majesty’s necklaces – a pearl choker (pictured) and pearl drop earrings

The royal (pictured at yesterday’s Festival of Remembrance event at Albert Hall) gave a subtle nod to the Queen through her choice of jewellery

Keeping the look simple, she coordinated the frock with a pair of pointed black pumps, and sheer black tights, as well as a small black clutch bag.

She wore her shiny brown locks in a simple down do, letting her tresses fall down her back. Meanwhile, her make-up was simple and elegant, with a dark smokey eye, and natural pink lip.

The only splash of colour on the sombre outfit was her three red poppies. 

While the palace has never confirmed the reason the royal dons more than one, it has been speculated that the three flowers represent three of her relatives who were killed during the first World War.

Kate’s accessories were the focal point of her outfit, with her pearl earrings and choker having a special meaning.

Both pieces once belonged to Queen Elizabeth, who was photographed wearing them multiple times during her 70-year reign. They were also worn by Diana, Princess of Wales on some occasions. 

The Princess of Wales paid tribute to the Queen by wearing her delicate drop earrings and a pearl choker necklace which were also loaned to Diana, Princess of Wales (pictured here at a banquet for the British royal family given by Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus of the Netherlands in 1982)

The necklace, described as a Japanese choker, features with four rows of pearls and a curved central diamond clasp.

It is said to have been commissioned by the Queen using pearls which were a gift from the Japanese government after her first state visit to the nation in 1975. 

Her Majesty the Queen was pictured wearing the set during an engagement in Bangladesh in 1983, having loaned the set a year earlier to Diana to wear during a state visit from Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.

Kate was seen wearing the necklace to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s 70th wedding anniversary dinner in 2017.

Meanwhile the Bahrain Pearl Diamond Drop Earrings, which also came from Her Majesty’s private collection, were also worn by Diana in 1982. 

The Queen wore the pearl drop earrings in her first Royal Command portrait by Dorothy Wilding in July 1952 (pictured)

They were crafted from pearls gifted to the Queen and Philip from the ruler of Bahrain at the time of their wedding in 1947.   

The monarch famously wore the jewels in her first Royal Command portrait by Dorothy Wilding in July 1952.

She then wore the earrings several times throughout her reign, and she has also lent them to her daughter-in-law Sophie Wessex, 57, on occasion. 

This is not the first time Kate has borrowed the earrings. She first wore them in 2016 for the Remembrance Day service at Westminster Abbey. She also wore them to attend Prince Philip’s funeral in 2021.

Last night’s event marked King Charles’ first Remembrance Day as monarch. 

The Royal Family all were seen clapping during the service of the British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance – held to commemorate the service and sacrifice of servicemen and women and will mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands war

The Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall paid a special tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who died on September 8

The service doubled as a tribute to the late Queen and her contribution to the cause, as Royal British Legion patron, the longest serving Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces and the former Subaltern Elizabeth Windsor; after rising through the ranks of the Auxiliary Territorial Service as a driver, mechanic and junior commander.

Her family – and the nation – watched on as archive footage of the former monarch was played at the Royal Albert Hall. In one clip, the Queen spoke of the ‘tremendous contribution’ the Armed Forces made to Britain’s ‘standing and reputation’ during her reign.

‘When Prince Philip and I were married, Britain had just endured six years of war, emerging battered but victorious. Prince Philip had served with the Royal Navy in the Far East while I was in the ATS learning to drive an ambulance with care. The wartime generation – my generation – is resilient and it is with humility and pleasure on behalf of the entire country, indeed the whole free world, that I say to you all: thank you.’

As well as the King and Queen Consort, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, the event was attended by the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra.