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The special meanings behind the Queen and Kate Middleton's jewels at Prince Philip's funeral

The special meanings behind the Queen and Kate Middleton's jewels at Prince Philip's funeral

Do you know why the women of the royal family wore colourless jewels?
18 Apr, 2021

Queen Elizabeth II and all of Great Britain bid farewell to Prince Philip at a royal funeral like no other, restricted by coronavirus rules but reflecting his long life of military and public service.

Saturday's 50-minute service for the Duke of Edinburgh, who died on April 9 at age 99, was attended by just 30 guests.

Elizabeth, dressed in black and in a white trimmed black face mask, stood alone, head bowed as her husband of 73 years was lowered into the Royal Vault of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Her sombre attire had only one statement piece: a large diamond brooch. Known as the Richmond Brooch, it is believed to be the largest in the Queen's brooches collection.

According to Elle, Elizabeth's grandmother, Queen Mary, was gifted the brooch, made by Hunt and Raskell, in 1893 as a wedding present. "The brooch features diamonds, set with two pearls — one large round centre pearl and the detachable pearl. Mary wore the broach on her honeymoon at Osborne House on Isle of Wight," said the publication.

The Queen, known for her statement-making brooches, paired the dazzling piece with pearl earrings.

The jewellery worn by the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, also held special meaning.

Kate, clad in a black Roland Mouret dress and a veil, wore a pair of diamond and pearl earrings along with a four-row pearl choker — both reported to be on a long-term loan to her from the Queen from her personal collection.

Photo via British Vogue
Photo via British Vogue

According to British Vogue, the jewels were gifted to the Queen in 1947 in celebration of her marriage to Philip. Made from cultured pearls gifted to Her Majesty by the Japanese government and designed by Garrard, the Queen has worn the necklace on a variety of high-profile occasions.

Kate wore the same choker during a celebration dinner for the Queen and Prince Philip's 70th wedding anniversary.

The Queen also famously loaned the necklace to Princess Diana — whose style reportedly inspired the design of the choker — just over a year after her marriage to Charles, added Vogue. Diana wore it to meet Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands at Hampton Court Palace in 1982 with Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara.

Camilla, the wife of Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall, chose the silver Rifles Brooch that she previously wore in July 2020, which is when Prince Philip’s role as Colonel-in-Chief of the infantry regiment The Rifles was formally handed over to her.

The women notedly wore only pearls and diamonds because, as The Independent explained, it is tradition to wear colourless jewels during periods of mourning.

Following the death of Prince Albert in 1861, Queen Victoria never wore colour again, a sartorial rule that extended to her jewellery, said the Vogue article. "Instead, she stuck to diamonds, jet, and countless strings of pearls, which have been associated with grief and tears since at least Roman times."

Through the years, the article noted, the Windsors have followed her example, with pearls becoming a hallmark of their traditional mourning dress.

Comments

Cye Apr 18, 2021 06:09pm
Who cares.
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well-wisher Apr 18, 2021 06:29pm
Following rich traditions. Jewels have only earthly value.
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Ali Apr 18, 2021 07:23pm
Probably another item that was stolen from a poor country during the colonial period in the name of democracy
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Apr 18, 2021 09:18pm
All that glitters is not gold, silver or even jewels.
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bhaRAT© Apr 18, 2021 09:34pm
@Ali Probably not!
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Alina Apr 18, 2021 10:15pm
Interesting!
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Gt Apr 18, 2021 10:43pm
Most looted jewels were from India during their rule of 200 years
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Rashid Nasim Apr 18, 2021 11:25pm
Why do we care about these things.
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NYS Apr 18, 2021 11:41pm
Jewels weather diamond or pearls are unnecessary at the mourning but what the commoners it's royal world and royalty
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Laila Apr 18, 2021 11:41pm
Is it just me or does Williams wife Catherine looks absolutely stunning in the first picture? Something about the niqab that's makes a woman more attractive.
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Salman Apr 19, 2021 01:27am
@Cye as a human you do. We all go through such pains.
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Rumi Apr 19, 2021 01:36am
Very interesting!
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Zak Apr 19, 2021 02:32am
Duchess Kate Middleton is beautiful and she loved Pakistan and Pakistanis just like her beautiful mother in law, princess Diana.
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Raza Apr 19, 2021 04:59am
Stolen from looted and plundered colonies
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Jamil Apr 19, 2021 05:49am
Kate tried to look at charismatic as late princess Diana, but couldn't.
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Yousuf Zahid Apr 19, 2021 06:24am
This was a match-winning article.
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Shahid Apr 19, 2021 07:39am
@bhaRAT© Probably stolen from India
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safir shaheen Apr 19, 2021 09:02am
loot from whole world
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Cye Apr 19, 2021 05:25pm
@Ali for sure, they looted and still looting from poor countries.
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Anika Apr 20, 2021 11:02pm
@Ali exactly what I was thinking.
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Ali Apr 22, 2021 06:41pm
@Ali If you read the article the pieces of jewellery are referenced. Not all can be assumed as stolen. Why is it so difficult to accept that colonization of India happened due to a weak Mughal dynasty in India and infighting among the princely states and not a direct conquer as projected.
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