The Princess of Wales has joined her husband Prince William and two of their children, Princess Charlotte and Prince George as the Queen's state funeral begins. Kate Middleton is wearing a carefully-selected piece of jewellery to pay her respects to the late monarch. She chose to wear Queen Elizabeth's pearl choker that she has previously borrowed from the sovereign to wear during the monarch's 70th wedding anniversary dinner.
The Four Row Japanese pearl choker is adorned with a central diamond clasp in a statement curved shape. Each side of the clasp boasts three rows of diamonds that come together at the top and bottom with marquise diamonds.
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Kate is rarely seen wearing the monarch's jewellery, making the symbolic choice even more poignant.
The late monarch loaned the choker to Kate for the first time in 2017, to mark the Queen and Prince Philip's 70th wedding anniversary.
Kate wore the string of pearls to a dinner to mark the occasion and has chosen to wear the necklace for the Queen's state funeral.
A renowned fan of pearls, the late Princess Diana also once wore the same piece at a state banquet in 1982 - coincidentally the year Kate was born.
The pearl choker was commissioned by the Queen using cultured pearls that were a gift from the Japanese government, and she wore it regularly in the 1980s and 1990s.
Pearl jewellery has made a regular appearance during the period of national mourning, as many royals have opted for poignant pieces to show their respect to the late monarch.
The Princess of Wales wore the Queen's pearl and diamond brooch and the late Diana's pearl earrings for an earlier funeral procession.
The brooch was a rare piece of Queen Elizabeth II's, as it was hardly seen. It is adorned with a trio of pearls at the centre of a pave-set leaf.
The Princess of Wales is wearing a large black hat with a veil for the Queen's state funeral, with a simple black dress that allows the sentimental pearl choker to shine.
