Queen Elizabeth II Funeral: Kate Middleton Pays Heartfelt Homage By Donning Queen Elizabeth's Pearl Necklace

The Princess of Wales paid tribute to her late grandmother-in-law by wearing two pieces of jewellery that had once belonged to the long-reigning monarch.

New Delhi: Kate Middleton, the new Princess of Wales, gave a heartfelt tribute, to Queen Elizabeth II at her funeral on Monday. The Princess of Wales paid tribute to her late grandmother-in-law by wearing two pieces of jewellery that had once belonged to the long-reigning monarch.

Kate wore a black coat dress with a veiled black hat. She complemented her attire by wearing a four-strand Japanese pearl choker with an ornate center diamond clasp and a pair of Bahrain pearl drop earrings from the late Queen's collection. The Princess of Wales came to say her last goodbye to her grandmother-in-law, along with her husband Prince William, and her two children- Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Previously, Kate had worn the same ornaments at Prince Philip's funeral and at the Queen's 70th wedding anniversary as well.

The Court Jeweller stated that the pearls used to make the necklace were reportedly a present from the Japanese government, which was probably acquired during the 1970s when she had made a state visit to that nation. 

The pearl-drop earrings on the other hand were a gift to the Queen for her wedding in 1947 and she had previously worn the striking pearl choker for an event in Bangladesh, in 1983.

It's interesting to note that wearing pearls at Queen Elizabeth's burial has a long tradition because pearls are generally worn at funerals.

At the Queen's funeral, Princess Charlotte, Kate's 7-year-old daughter, also presented an ornament in remembrance of the monarch. To honour her great-grandmother's passion for horses, the youngster wore a brooch in the form of a horseshoe.

The funeral had taken place on September 19, eleven days after The Queen had died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Kate kept an eye on George and Charlotte when Prince William marched alongside his brother, Prince Harry, while The Queen’s coffin was brought inside the church. Once the coffin was inside, Kate and the kids joined William in the procession to their seats.

Since Winston Churchill's burial in 1965, there hasn't been a state funeral in the UK. The Queen was born at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London, on April 21, 1926. She was the first child born to Queen Elizabeth and The Duke and Duchess of York, who eventually became King George VI.