The reason why pearls are a significant choice by royals as the mourning jewellery because it is considered to the symbol of grief. The tradition dates back to Queen Victoria's era. After her husband Prince Albert died in 1861, Queen Victoria ditched all colours and wore black for 40 years.
But pearls are also steeped in royal family tradition. (What isn't?) According to People, Elizabeth's fondness for pearls began when she was a little girl and her father King George VI—carrying on a tradition started by Queen Victoria—gave her a platinum chain to which he would add two pearls on each birthday.
The tradition dates back to Queen Victoria's reign in the late 1800s. Following her husband's death, she wore black for 40 years—and her outfits were lightened only with the addition of pearls. It was said that the unique shape of a pearl also alludes to a tear drop, which is appropriate for mourning.
The necklace is also a fitting tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, as pearls are often referred to as 'mourning jewellery' – a royal tradition that stems from Queen Victoria.
She divided the pearls fairly amongst her five daughters, giving each two pearls every year until they came of age. Four pearls remained and they ended up in the Queen's Imperial Crown, which can, to this day, be seen in the Tower of London amongst the Crown Jewels.
In Spencer, Diana is horrified (though seemingly unsurprised) to discover her husband gave her the same pearl necklace he gave to his then-mistress, Camilla Parker-Bowles. There's no evidence to suggest this gift-giving snafu ever happened (or that she ate them at the dinner table).
During the Renaissance, given their rarity and high value, these jewels of the sea became associated with wealth and high social rank. For Queen Elizabeth I, keen to project her image as the Virgin Queen, pearls represented purity and chastity, as well as being a visual code that conveyed her extreme wealth and power.
Diana's love for pearls started early in her life. While her school friends often wore diamond studs, the future princess usually chose pearls. At the age of 15, Lady Diana Spencer was first seen wearing a pair of simple pearl earrings; she wore them as a bridesmaid at her sister's wedding.
It's no secret Diana was a fan of pearls, and this 11-strand choker is one of her most enviable pieces of pearl jewelry. While she had many pearl chokers, this one, made with 900 pearls and columns of diamonds and rubies, was a favorite of hers to wear to film premieres and nights at the theater.
'She gave me some beautiful pearl earrings and a matching necklace.
Meanwhile, the duchess's jewelry, a pair of oversized cream pearls and her beloved gold Cartier bracelet, added a welcome touch of bling to her simple attire.
Who will inherit the Queen's jewels? It is likely that these jewels will be passed down to members of the Windsor family and if the Queen follows tradition, she will leave the majority of them to the next monarch, which in this case is King Charles III.
Discover The Only Jewels Queen Elizabeth Will Be Buried With
According to royal expert Lisa Levinson, the only jewelry Queen Elizabeth II will be buried with will be the Welsh gold wedding ring she received at her wedding to Prince Philip in 1947 and a pair of pearl earrings.
The royal family, of course, are lucky enough to wear largely natural pearl jewelry. Queen Elizabeth herself wore them when she was mourning her father George VI after his death in February 1952.
Meghan was wearing pearl earrings while Kate accessorized with pearl drop earrings and a pearl and diamond choker.
Not Wearing Pearls on Your Wedding Day
In some cultures, wearing pearls on your wedding day is frowned upon, as they are said to represent the tears that you'll shed during your marriage.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl explained that, again, in typical royal fashion, “there is a hierarchy in all of this,” she says. “The Queen Consort, really, gets first choice of the Queen's jewelry. And after that is Princess of Wales, of course, Kate.
Fear not, though: Harry got to pay tribute to his late mother with his engagement, too. Harry designed Meghan's ring himself, and the two diamonds on either side of the larger one came from Diana's personal collection.
Perhaps the most famous piece of jewelry Kate inherited from Princess Diana is this sapphire engagement ring. The ring was created by British jeweler Garrard and chosen by Prince Charles for his proposal to Diana in 1981.
The necklace was Diana's private property and, as such, is expected to have been inherited by Princes William and Harry after her death. It has not been seen publicly since then.
I leave the exact division of the jewellery to your discretion." Over the course of their relationship, Prince Harry's wife Meghan Markle has been seen sporting a number of items that once belonged to his mother, from butterfly earrings to a vibrant cocktail ring.
One of the most potent ways that Meghan has been able to do this is through the wearing of items of jewelry from Diana's collection. After Diana's tragic death at the age of 36 in a 1997 Paris car crash, her jewelry was inherited by her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
While Kate inherited $110 million in jewelry from the Queen, that collection did not include the Spencer tiara, a diamond-encrusted crown inherited by William's late mother, Princess Diana, in the mid-1970s. Diana wore the tiara in her wedding to King Charles—then Prince Charles—in 1981.
After the death of her husband Prince Albert in 1861, Queen Victoria was so overcome with grief that she famously wore only black for the next 40 years until the end of her own life, accessorising her colourless outfits with pearls which were said to represent tears.
Pearls can be a good option. Small sterling silver, gold, or jeweled pieces are also usually a fine choice if they are not distracting. Religious jewelry, such as a simple cross, would also be appropriate. But, it's best to avoid any jewelry that might swing, clank together, or cause a disturbance to others.