Royal Heirlooms and Remembrance: Princess Catherine Pays Tribute to Princess Diana with Collingwood Pearl Earrings
Attending the annual National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London, Catherine, Princess of Wales, joined senior members of the British Royal Family in honoring the service and sacrifice of British and Commonwealth armed forces. Watching the solemn proceedings from the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) building alongside Queen Camilla, the Princess incorporated a deeply personal family tribute into her attire by wearing the historic Collingwood Pearl Drop earrings that once belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
The Collingwood Pearls: A Storied Royal Heirloom
The Collingwood earrings—featuring a diamond-encrusted stud suspending a classic tear-drop pearl—hold a central place in modern royal jewellery history:
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A Wedding Gift for Diana: The jewels were gifted to Lady Diana Spencer by Collingwood Jewellers ahead of her July 1981 wedding to the then-Prince Charles. Diana debuted them publicly a month before the royal wedding and wore them frequently throughout the 1980s and 1990s, most famously pairing them with her black Christina Stambolian “revenge dress” at the Serpentine Gallery in June 1994.
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Catherine’s Enduring Tribute: Catherine first debuted the heirlooms at a Spanish state banquet in 2017. Since then, she has chosen the earrings for high-profile milestones, including her official 40th birthday portrait series, Commonwealth Day services, and previous Remembrance commemorations.
Ensemble Breakdown: Remembrance Sunday Ceremony
Beyond the historic earrings, the Princess’s look combined traditional mourning codes with personal military connections:
| Attire Component | Designer / Origin | Significance & Details |
| Coat Dress | Catherine Walker | A tailored black coat featuring velvet collar accents and structured lapels. |
| Millinery | Jane Taylor | A wide-brimmed black hat framing an elegant swept-back low bun. |
| Earrings | Collingwood Jewellers | Diamond stud with tear-drop pearl drop, formerly belonging to Princess Diana. |
| Regimental Brooch | James Porter & Son | The silver HMS Glasgow Brooch, reflecting her ceremonial appointment as Lady Sponsor of the Royal Navy warship and featuring thistle and naval crown motifs. |
| Poppy Tribute | Royal British Legion | A cluster of three red poppies pinned above her brooch, a traditional tribute symbolizing wartime remembrance. |
A Continuing Tradition of Heirloom Storytelling
Catherine’s use of Princess Diana’s heirloom pieces continues a longstanding practice of subtly weaving royal heritage into state ceremonies. Alongside the iconic 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire engagement ring presented to her by Prince William in 2010, the Collingwood pearls serve as a recurring visual link between the late Princess of Wales and her daughter-in-law, balancing the solemnity of national remembrance with enduring family memory.