Long live the Queen’s Pearl.
Duchess Kate paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II on her 100th birthday by wearing her favorite three-strand pearl necklace to a reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
The 44-year-old Princess of Wales chose a bespoke Emilia Wickstead lilac midi dress with three-quarter length sleeves for the occasion, which she paired with the Queen’s Bahraini pearl earrings, made from pearls given to the then Princess Elizabeth on her wedding day in 1947.
Middleton gathered in the palace’s Marble Hall with other members of the royal family, including Prince William (43), King Charles and Queen Camilla, and interacted with members of the public who were also celebrating their 100th birthday.
Since Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022, the late monarch’s signature pearls have been a key part of Middleton’s wardrobe. She wore the three-strand necklace, along with Princess Diana’s pearl bracelet and the Queen’s silver jubilee pearl earrings, at a reception at Buckingham Palace ahead of her funeral.
Since then, she has rotated the necklace into her most important fashion moments, including during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit last July, when she paired it with a pale pink Dior ensemble, wearing the French fashion house for the first time.
The 100th anniversary celebration extended beyond the reception. King Charles and Queen Camilla visited a new exhibition at Buckingham Palace featuring more than 300 pieces from Queen Elizabeth II’s wardrobe, while Princess Anne opened the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Gardens in Regent’s Park.
The Prince and Princess of Wales also paid tribute on social media with photos of their children – Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 – and their great-grandmother.
“In memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her 100th birthday,” the couple wrote. “Inspiring generations through a lifelong mission.”
