Kate Middleton made a dignified appearance on the balcony of the Foreign Office, her signature poise evident as she stood overlooking the Cenotaph during the annual Remembrance Sunday service yesterday.
True to her style of paying tribute to both Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana through her jewellery, the Princess chose to wear the iconic Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings.
Jewellery experts at UK retailer Steven Stone have shared all the fascinating details about these heirlooms – from their impressive value to the deep symbolism they hold as a cherished royal piece.
The Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings were exquisitely crafted from a shell containing seven lustrous pearls, which were a precious wedding gift presented to Queen Elizabeth II by the ruler of Bahrain. In the years following the royal wedding, two of the pearls were repurposed to create a stunning new pair of earrings. The elegant earrings are set with round diamond studs, from which cascade a combination of round and baguette-cut diamonds.
Kate Middleton first wore the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings on Remembrance Sunday in November 2016 and has since donned them on several notable occasions. These include her visit to Balmoral Castle in Scotland in August 2018, and the Trooping the Colour parade on 8th June 2019. The earrings hold deep sentimental value for the Princess, as she wore them to both the funerals of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II.
The sentimentality of the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings is further deepened by their history of being worn by other royal ladies. In 1982, Queen Elizabeth II graciously loaned them to Princess Diana, who wore them for a grand banquet at Hampton Court Palace during a state visit by Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus of the Netherlands. In October 2012, the earrings were once again loaned by the late monarch, this time to the Duchess of Edinburgh, who wore them for a performance at the Royal Albert Hall. This shared legacy makes the earrings even more symbolic of the royal family’s bond across generations.
“The Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings, a wedding gift to Queen Elizabeth II, were crafted from a shell containing seven lustrous pearls. After the royal wedding, two pearls were repurposed into a new pair of earrings, set with round and baguette-cut diamonds.
Kate Middleton first wore the earrings on Remembrance Sunday in 2016 and has since worn them on several significant occasions, including to the funerals of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II. The earrings hold deep sentimental value, having also been worn by Princess Diana and the Duchess of Edinburgh, further strengthening their symbolic connection to the royal family.
I’d estimate the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings to be worth £7,000.”
maxwell stone, creative director, steven stone
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