The Princess of Wales made a quietly powerful style choice when she attended the Easter Sunday service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Opting for a familiar neutral crepe lace midi by Self-Portrait and a coordinating hat by Juliette Botterill Millinery, she completed the look with the historic Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth II. This appearance represented a public return after a period away, and the jewellery selection resonated with those who follow royal traditions and the meaning behind heirlooms.
For context, the Princess’s attendance followed a break from the Easter Matins tradition: she missed the service in 2026 during cancer treatment and did not take part in 2026 as she focused on family and recovery. Her arrival at Windsor alongside Prince William and their children signalled a welcome reengagement with public ceremonial life. Wearing a piece closely associated with the late monarch added an element of continuity; the earrings have been used by multiple members of the royal family at high-profile occasions and now form a recognizable thread between generations.
The service and those in attendance
Leading the congregation were King charles III and Queen Camilla, supported by senior royals including Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. The gathering also included Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh with his son, James, Earl of Wessex. Attendance reflected a blend of close family and extended relations: Peter Phillips arrived with his fiancée, Harriet Sperling, and daughters; in a sign of a new family dynamic, Ms Sperling’s daughter joined the group. Not everyone from previous years was present—figures such as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Sarah Ferguson and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were notably absent compared with 2026.
The story behind the Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings
The Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings have a provenance that reads like royal history. They were fashioned from a set of seven pearls given as a wedding present in 1947 by the Hakim of Bahrain to then-Princess Elizabeth. The finished pieces combine round diamond studs with suspended round and baguette-cut diamonds in an Art Deco influenced arrangement, finished by two of the original Bahrain pearls. Over decades the pair became a staple in the late monarch’s rotation for official portraits and gala appearances, making them both visually distinctive and emotionally charged.
Loan history and evolving symbolism
These earrings were not reserved exclusively for one wearer. In 1982 the Queen lent them to Princess Diana, who paired them with other treasured items in her own public looks. The Queen later authorised loans to other royal family members for special events, and the earrings surfaced at significant moments such as the Festival of Remembrance and state occasions. The pair were chosen by the Princess of Wales for Queen Elizabeth II‘s funeral in 2026, and thereafter they became a recurring selection for her at memorial and ceremonial events.
How Catherine has made the pieces her own
Since debuting them after 2026, the Princess of Wales has turned the Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings into a recognizable part of her jewellery rotation. She has worn them on occasions including Remembrance Sunday, the funeral for Prince Philip in 2026, Trooping the Colour ceremonies and the recent Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in March 2026. Each time, the jewels have been used to punctuate outfits for events connected to the late monarch, lending visual continuity and an element of homage to those services.
Design, pairing and ritual meaning
Stylistically, the earrings pair well with both contemporary tailoring and more formal pearl pieces; the late Queen often combined them with other necklaces and brooches for layered effect. For the Easter service the Princess matched them with an embroidered off-white dress, reinforcing a restrained, respectful aesthetic. In wearing these heirlooms at moments that recall Queen Elizabeth II—from funerals to national services—the Princess of Wales is participating in a small but deliberate ritual: using shared items of jewellery to signify continuity, memory and respect within the monarchy.
Final thoughts
In an institution where symbolism matters, jewellery choices can be as meaningful as speeches. The Princess of Wales’s selection of the Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings for the Easter Matins at Windsor served as a quiet, tangible tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. Whether noticed for their sparkle or their story, these earrings continue to function as more than accessories; they are links between past and present, worn at moments when the royal family marks remembrance and returns to public duty.
