Prince Philip funeral: Kate Middleton pays homage to Queen and Diana by pairing pearl choker with $2,220 dress
Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge aka Kate Middleton paid a tribute to Queen Elizabeth as well as her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, through her choice of accessories at Prince Philip's funeral on Saturday, April 17.
Keeping her look simple, yet elegant and graceful, the Duchess of Cambridge teamed a chic black $2,220 Roland Mouret dress with the Queen's pearl choker, from the monarch's personal collection, to attend the poignant service at St George's Chapel. The dress had an asymmetrical neckline. It was the same one she donned for the 'Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance' in 2018. Among her accessories were drop pearl earrings, which also came from the private collection of the Queen. She finished off her look with a black face covering and pillar-box hat featuring a net veil.
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Princess Diana once worn same pearl choker
The Japanese Pearl choker necklace which Kate wore for Prince Philip's funeral, was a tribute to the Queen and his late husband since the Duchess of Cambridge had worn the same piece of jewelry for the couple's 70th wedding anniversary dinner at Windsor Castle in 2017.
Incidentally, it was also worn by Princess Diana in 1982. The Queen had loaned it to Diana because the latter loved pearls. The "people's Princess" had worn it for a banquet thrown by Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus of the Netherlands at Hampton Court Palace during the Dutch royal family's visit to the UK. The four-row choker in question made from 'the finest cultured pearls' was a gift from the Japanese government to the Queen. It features four strands of pearls with a central curved diamond clasp.
The monarch, who asked for the choker to be specially redesigned, wore it in the 1980s and 1990s, and to a dinner celebrating former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's 70th birthday in London in 1995.
Kate, the mediator
There have been reports that the Duchess of Cambridge always used to play the mediator whenever Prince William and Prince Harry fought in the past. And on Saturday, April 17, the situation was no different when she got the two estranged brothers talking again after they laid eyes on each other after more than a year.
After the ceremony was over, Prince William and Prince Harry were spotted speaking to one another, as they made their way out of the chapel and towards Windsor castle. As they made their way out of the chapel, Harry was seen chatting with Kate Middleton as William walked a few paces ahead. However, the Duchess of Cambridge stepped away and let the two reportedly feuding brothers exchange a few words. It seemed like she was urging the both of them to talk to each other.