Kate Middleton's jewellery: the meaning behind Princess of Wales' choice of earrings, brooches and more

The Princess of Wales looked sensational in a scarlet Jenny Packham gown at a Buckingham Palace reception last night (Tuesday 6 December). Although all eyes were focused on her dress and Lotus Flower Tiara, one couldn’t help but notice the yellow ribbon brooch pinned to her chest.

If you hone in on Catherine’s brooch, you can see that it is a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II (in her younger days) wearing an evening dress with a ribbon and star of the Order of the Garter. It is significant that the Queen Consort was also seen wearing a similar brooch. The brooches symbolise that the wearer has been made a part of the Royal Family Order and is an honour bestowed upon female members of the family by the monarch.

Catherine also wore a pair of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s antique earrings for the event at Buckingham Palace.

This is not the first time that the Princess of Wales has chosen to honour the late monarch in her choice of jewellery and in particular, brooches. For the funeral procession held to honour the late Queen, Catherine wore a diamond and pearl leaf brooch.

Queen Elizabeth II wore this exact brooch herself on her 73rd birthday in April 1999. She was attending a concert in Seoul, South Korea, at the time.

Catherine previously wore the diamond and leaf brooch while she attended a service to mark the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium in 2017.

When it comes to Catherine’s jewellery choices, there is always significant historic importance behind them. According to Vogue, the "Tiara was actually made from a necklace that was initially given to the late Queen Mother by her husband, George V1 in April of 1923 as a wedding present..." Vogue goes on to say that: "Princess Margaret also wore the tiara on several occasions spanning decades."

Over the years, Catherine has also worn many pieces of jewellery to honour her late mother-in-law Princess Diana. She wore a pair of her diamond and pearl earrings to the 2019 BAFTAS in London and then wore them again at Royal Ascot this year.

More recently, Catherine wore them to the first state visit of King Charles' reign.

The most iconic piece of jewellery that Catherine has inherited from the Princess of Wales has to be the sapphire engagement ring that was created by Garrard. According to Town & Country, the ring ‘features a 12-carat oval Ceylon surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds.’