A spokesperson for the Sussexes confirmed to Insider that the drop earrings worn by Meghan Markle during her first official solo outing with the Queen were indeed a gift from the late monarch. These earrings were identified by Royal Watchers as a pair of £50 pearl and diamond earrings in white gold from Burke's.
It's worth noting that these earrings are not the famous Queen Mary's button earrings, as Queen Mary was known never to wear earrings this small. Moreover, everything that belonged to Queen Mary is now part of the royal collection, and Meghan does not possess any of the royal jewels. Some keen Royal jewelry watchers observed a resemblance between the earrings Meghan wore and replicas of Queen Mary's button earrings.
The royal family deliberately opted not to give Meghan any real items from past generations to prevent any complications or attempts to merge jewelry alongside Queen Elizabeth II. Instead, they presented her with inexpensive earrings as a gift. Some critics have been quick to comment on Meghan's taste in jewelry and her propensity for promoting her brands, but the Palace aimed to avoid any such incidents during royal appearances.
On the other hand, Kate Middleton gracefully adorned a four-row Japanese Pearl choker alongside Bahrain Pearl drop earrings, which were part of Queen Elizabeth II's Royal collection. The necklace features a central diamond clasp in a curved shape with four rows of pearls and three rows of diamonds on each side, joining at the top and bottom with Marquis diamonds.
Queen Elizabeth II had loaned this choker to Kate for the first time in 2017, and it had also been famously loaned to Princess Diana during a state visit from Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in November 1982.
This wasn't the first time Kate paired the necklace and earrings together. She previously donned them for Prince Philip's funeral last year and during the Queen's 70th wedding anniversary celebration to Prince Philip. The jewelry combination holds significant meaning for Kate, representing her association with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip and their enduring love.
Throughout the mourning period, Kate honored her late grandmother-in-law by wearing a pair of pearl earrings that were once owned by Queen Elizabeth II and a simple cross necklace during her time at Sandringham with Prince William. Pearls have been a frequent choice for Kate, symbolizing the traditional stone to represent mourning.
Additionally, she wore the Queen's own Pearl and Diamond brooch during the procession of the late Queen's coffin. These thoughtful accessories served as a heartfelt tribute to the memory of Queen Elizabeth II.
