Kate’s chic final tribute to the Queen: How the Princess of Wales and other royal women honoured monarch at her funeral two years ago today with their choice of outfits and jewellery
As the wife of her beloved grandson Prince William, Kate Middleton always had a special place in Queen Elizabeth’s heart.
It was therefore no surprise that the Princess of Wales honoured Her Majesty with her choice of clothing and jewellery at the Queen’s funeral two years ago.
Her choker and earrings were both wedding gifts to the late monarch, while Kate’s Alexander McQueen dress was effortlessly stylish and utterly fitting for the occasion.
But Catherine wasn’t the only royal to honor the Queen with clothing or jewelry. The Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Charlotte, and Meghan Markle also paid tribute in subtle ways, as we reveal below.
Millions of people mourned the passing of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, after her death was announced in September 2022
Catherine, Princess of Wales
Kate’s Alexander McQueen dress was based on a white version she wore earlier that year at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
For accessories, she wore the late Queen’s Japanese pearl choker and Bahraini pearl earrings, both made from pearls Elizabeth had received on her wedding day in 1947.
The Princess of Wales completed the look with a wide-brimmed hat by Philip Treacy and wore her brunette locks in a bun, accentuating the elegance of her jewellery.
Pearls were a particularly fitting choice, a tradition in royal mourning dating back to Queen Victoria.
The choker, which was first lent to Kate in honor of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s 70th wedding anniversary in 2017, was also worn by the princess at Prince Philip’s funeral in 2021.
The Princess of Wales kept her style credentials high in an Alexander McQueen coat dress, modelled on a white version she wore to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June of that year.
Kate accessorised with the late Queen’s Japanese pearl choker and Bahraini pearl earrings, both made from pearls given to Elizabeth on her wedding day in 1947. Above right: The Queen wears the choker in Bangladesh in 1983.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, also honored Queen Elizabeth with carefully chosen clothes.
She showed off a bespoke dress by Suzannah London, embroidered with lilies of the valley – the late monarch’s favourite flower – and other flowers Elizabeth carried in her bridal bouquet in 1947.
On her lapel, Sophie wore a sparkling brooch with two strawberries decorated with black and silver diamonds. The last time she wore it in public was alongside Queen Elizabeth at Royal Ascot in 2014.
In addition, Sophie’s hat, designed by Jane Taylor, referenced the Queen’s bridal bouquet and her passion for horses.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, wore a dress by Suzannah London embroidered with lily of the valley, the late monarch’s favourite flower, and flowers she carried in her 1947 bridal bouquet.
Sophie’s stunning dress – and the patterns that paid tribute to the Queen – on display during production
Princess Charlotte
Even Princess Charlotte, dressed in a similar style to her mother, paid a subtle tribute to Queen Elizabeth.
Her traditional Ancar wool coat was adorned with a diamond horseshoe-shaped brooch, believed to have been a gift from her late grandmother.
This sparkling piece was originally worn by the Queen Mother in the 1920s. It is believed she was given it as a gift from her mother-in-law, Queen Mary.
It was the first time the princess, third in line to the throne, had worn such symbolic jewelry.
Princess Charlotte paid subtle tribute to her grandmother by wearing a horseshoe brooch that was a gift from Queen Elizabeth. The Queen Mother wore the same brooch in 1929
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Meghan Markle opted for a Stella McCartney cape dress, paired with a lavish Stephen Jones hat.
She previously wore the navy version of this striking dress at Queen Elizabeth’s 92nd birthday celebrations in 2018.
Meghan chose a touching accessory: a pair of pearl earrings given to her by the late monarch in honor of their first solo outing together in 2018.
Meghan opted for a Stella McCartney cape dress, paired with a lavish Stephen Jones hat. Like Kate, the Duchess of Sussex wore a pair of pearl earrings given to her by the late monarch to mark their first solo outing together in 2018.
Queen Camilla
Camilla paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth by wearing a brooch that once belonged to Queen Victoria.
The Queen has worn the Hesse Diamond Jubilee Brooch on several occasions since her marriage to King Charles, including the celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
This brooch, given to Queen Victoria in 1897 by her Hessian grandchildren, bears the number 60 in Slavic letters, surrounded by a diamond heart with three sapphires.
The brooch stood out beautifully against Camilla’s mid-length black coat dress by Fiona Clare.
She carried a clutch from Queen Elizabeth’s favourite accessories brand, Launer.
Camilla paid tribute to Elizabeth by wearing the Hesse Diamond Jubilee Brooch, which once belonged to Queen Victoria
Zara Tindall
Zara Tindall turned to her favourite designers to create her impeccable mourning outfit.
She wore a fitted Laura Green coat, complete with a belted waist and duchesse satin collar, paired with a floral hat by Juliette Millinery and suede pumps by Emmy London.
Her outfit was completed with pearl earrings, which further accentuated her blonde, cropped hair, which was styled as if in an updo.
Zara Tindall wore a fitted Laura Green coat, complete with a belted waist and duchesse satin collar, paired with a floral hat by Juliette Millinery and suede pumps by Emmy London
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie attended the state funeral in matching black outfits.
Beatrice paired a knee-length dress by Louis Vuitton with a short tuxedo jacket by The Kooples and completed the look with a hat by Sarah Cant and pumps by Jimmy Choo.
Eugenie, meanwhile, opted for a stylish Day Birger Et Mikkelsen coat with striking gold buttons, a boat shoe by Emily London and a bag by Gabriela Hearst.
A few days before the funeral, the sisters posted a heartfelt joint statement on Instagram: “Grandma, we are so happy you are back with Grandpa,” accompanied by a photo of the late monarch with them as children.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie attended the state funeral in matching black outfits