The Princess of Wales paid a poignant tribute to a lesser-known member of the Royal Family with one of her recent sartorial choices, a jewellery expert has claimed.
Princess Kate stepped out in London with Prince William on Monday evening to attend a ceremony commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day, which marked 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp.
The future Queen wore an all-black ensemble which she paired with a set of statement pearl earrings and a faux pearl necklace.
Kate’s earrings, known as her Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings and estimated to be worth £7,000, used to belong to Queen Elizabeth, who received them as a wedding gift.
They’ve been previously worn by the Duchess of Edinburgh and the late Princess Diana; however, in recent years, Kate has opted to wear them for various occasions, including at the funerals of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth.
Meanwhile, her necklace, a £275 five-strand faux pearl necklace by Jewish jeweller Susan Caplan (now sold out), was labelled by a jewellery expert an “especially touching choice” as it closely resembles one worn by Queen Elizabeth’s late sister, Princess Margaret – which is estimated to be worth £60,000.
Maxwell Stone, of jewellers Steven Stone, said: “While Kate’s five-strand faux pearl necklace is reported to retail at a modest £275, its sentimental value far exceeds its price.
“The piece not only honours Holocaust survivors through its association with Susan Caplan, a Jewish-owned brand, but it also carries a poignant connection to Princess Margaret.
“The design closely resembles a necklace once worn by the late princess, which was auctioned in 2006 to help cover her son’s inheritance tax.
“Originally gifted to Princess Margaret by Queen Mary on her 18th birthday, the necklace symbolised not just a milestone in the princess’s life but also the deep, enduring bond between the two women.
“I’d estimate the art deco piece to be worth around £60,000 ($75,000).”
Regarding Kate’s earrings, Mr Stone said they hold a “deep sentimental value” after having been worn by Diana and Duchess Sophie which “further strengthened” their symbolic connection to the Firm.
