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.
