In a stylish return to her working duties, Kate Middleton joined Prince William to welcome the Emir of Qatar and his wife, Sheikha Jawaher, for the country’s state visit in London. The Princess of Wales, 42, emerged from a health-related absence from work, looking as poised as ever in a head-to-toe burgundy ensemble—a hue that served as a nod to Qatar’s flag colours.
Braving the cold, Middleton opted for a tailored coat dress by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, the same designer responsible for her iconic 2011 wedding dress. She paired the hybrid look with a coordinating hat by Sahar Millinery, Gianvito Rossi leather boots, and the Chanel Art Nouvelle Small Flap Bag, which she’s been known to tote occasionally.
Disrupting the monochromatic look was her special choice of jewellery: the Four Row Japanese Pearl Choker. While the unique and eye-catching design of pearls and diamonds is enough to intrigue, it also holds a bit of family lore.
According to The Court Jeweller, the Garrard-constructed necklace was once a gift from the Japanese government to Queen Elizabeth II, presented to her in the 1970s when she visited the country. As with all the crown jewels, the piece carries decades of royal sentiment. Famously worn by Princess Diana during a banquet in 1982, the choker became a symbol of approval as it was lent from the late matriarch to her then-new daughter-in-law. At the time, the Princess of Wales paired it with Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara, another piece that became a staple accessory of hers.
This isn’t the first time Middleton has adorned the choker. She honoured the late Queen and her mother-in-law when she chose to wear it at the funerals of both Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II.
Paired with the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings—another heirloom from the Queen—the jewellery reflected Middleton’s reverence for her family’s sartorial history.
