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Entertainment

The Heartwarming Story Behind the Pearls Queen Elizabeth Wears to Every Royal Wedding

By Jess Catcher

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Queen Elizabeth might be more well-known for the brightly colored outfits that make her impossible to miss at any special event she happens to be attending — but have you ever noticed the one accessory she tends to top each of those off with? We aren’t talking about all of the stunning brooches she likes to add to her lapels, although we love those just as much.

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Royal fans with a keen eye will notice that along with those ornate pins, Elizabeth is apparently a huge fan of a simple pearl necklace. Although there’s no telling how many beautiful sets she might have tucked away in her jewelry collection, it’s clear that she favors pearl necklaces with either two or three strands. As it turns out, each option is steeped with fascinating royal history and, of course, plenty of sentimental value.

Queen Elizabeth’s pearl necklaces are especially noticeable when she attends a wedding, including Prince Charles’ wedding to Diana, and the celebrations for each of her grandsons, William and Harry. You can check out a look at her choice of pearls for all three of those royal weddings — plus a a look back at which strands she decided on for her own nuptials.

Take a look below to learn more about the classic pearl necklaces Queen Elizabeth loves to wear for special occasions! 

  1. Getty Images

    Queen Elizabeth wore two strands of pearls on Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding day. 

    However, it likely wasn't just one necklace, but two separate ones — passed down to her from Queen Anne and Queen — which are always worn together. 

  2. Getty Images

    The Queen Anne and Queen Caroline necklaces were given to Elizabeth on her own wedding day by her parents, King George VI and the Queen Mother. 

    According to a report from Vanity Fair,  Elizabeth almost didn't walk down the aisle with these pearls — she accidentally left them at home that morning. Luckily, one of her private secretaries was able to commandeer the King of Norway's limo and retrieve the necklaces just in time.

  4. Getty Images

    Queen Elizabeth, shown here at William's wedding, switched things up for both grandsons' wedding celebrations by wearing a three-strand pearl necklace instead of two-strands. There are two possibilities for the source of these strands, both of which pay heartwarming tribute to her family's history. 

    Elizabeth's grandfather, King George V, gave both of his granddaughters a necklace when celebrating his his Silver Jubilee in 1935. Princess Margaret received a double-stranded set of pearls, while Elizabeth was given a triple strand.

  5. Getty Images

    Although Elizabeth wore the necklace from her grandfather more often in her younger days, there's still a chance it's what she wore to her grandsons' weddings as well. 

    That said, the strands could also be from a necklace she had commissioned not long after her coronation as queen. It features pearls that were also passed down through the family, but arranged in a graduating order. How special!

  6. Getty Images

    Of course, Queen Elizabeth looks lovely in whichever pearl necklace she might choose to wear for her most important occasions. She even brought back the two-strand set while recreating her engagement photo with Prince Philip on their 70th wedding anniversary. 

    We'll have to wait and see if she decides to mix things up in the future! After more than nine decades of choosing pearls as her go-to accessory, we have a feeling Elizabeth is probably pretty set in her pearly ways. 

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