Royal watchers identified them as 1095 Akoya Pearl and Diamond earrings in white gold from Burke's. However, Kensington Palace officially confirmed that the Pearl and Diamond studs Meghan Markle wore during her first official solo outing with the Queen were a gift from Queen Elizabeth herself. The household staff, under the Queen's orders, bought the earrings for just £50.
Despite some meticulous Royal jewelry watchers noting similarities between the earrings Meghan wore and those described as replicas of Queen Mary's button earrings, it's evident that Megan doesn't possess any real items of family members from past generations. The Palace seemed keen on avoiding any possibility of Megan trying to merge jewelry next to Queen Elizabeth II, so they chose to gift her these more affordable earrings.
Some have criticized Meghan, claiming she's a tacky influencer who might have wanted to showcase her layers of Mrs. T gold jewelry during an appearance with the Queen. However, the decision to gift her the relatively inexpensive earrings likely prevented any such potential stunts.
In contrast, during Queen Elizabeth's funeral, Princess Kate wore two meaningful pieces: Diamond and Pearl drop earrings that once belonged to Princess Diana, and a stunning Diamond and Pearl brooch in the shape of three leaves that once belonged to the Queen.
The brooch, consisting of three pearls sitting inside three silver leaves, held significant sentimental value. Kate had previously worn it during a visit to Belgium in 2017, and Queen Elizabeth gifted it to her on her 73rd birthday in 1999 during a visit to South Korea.
Diana's earrings, worn multiple times in public, including during an official visit to Canada in 1983, were among the pieces that Kate cherished. The sapphire and diamond earrings, estimated to be worth over £200,000 if sold at auction, hold a special place in Kate's collection, honoring her husband's late mother.
Seeing Princess Catherine wear such spectacular Royal Family Jewels brings joy to many. The contrasting gift Meghan received, whether real or not, indicates a difference in the way the Queen valued Meghan as a granddaughter-in-law compared to Kate's treasured inheritance.
