The Princess Royal made a subtle sentimental tribute to her family on Tuesday when she wore a particular pair of earrings while accompanying her late mother, the Queen, as her coffin was carried out of St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh ahead of its move to London. The monarch sadly passed away last week at the age of 96 while at Balmoral castle, and her coffin was today flown from Edinburgh to London, where it will then be carried by hearse to Buckingham Palace.
And while accompanying the coffin on its journey, 72-year-old Princess Anne opted to finish her smart black ensemble with her Grima pearl earrings, which was gifted by her parents - Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip - in the 1960s.
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The earrings carry huge sentimental weight for Anne, as not only were they a gift from her mum and dad, but she also wore them to her father's funeral in 2021, and on her wedding day to Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence - who joined her in Edinburgh on Tuesday - in 1992.
Anne even donned the timeless pieces of jewellery on her first royal tour, the Daily Mail reports, when she was 19 years old and travelling to Australia with her mother, as well as to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June this year.
The classic earrings were made by jeweller Andrew Grima and feature a leaf design that includes gold, pearl, and diamonds.
Speaking about the Princess Royal's earrings last month, Max Stone, managing director of luxury jeweller Steven Stone told Woman & Home : "Gifted to her by the Queen and Prince Philip in the late 1960s, the earrings are one of Princess Anne's longest serving pieces of jewellery and have huge sentimental value.
"Worn frequently at public appearances, the Princess most notably wore them on her first royal tour as an adult, in Australia when she was with her mother at just 19 years old, to her wedding to Timothy Laurence in 1992 and to Prince Phillip's funeral in 2021."
Mr Stone valued Anne's earrings at "the top end" of $3,600 (£3,120).
And while on her journey with the Queen's coffin from Scotland to London, Princess Anne issued a moving statement paying tribute to her late mother.
She said: "I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest Mother's life. It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys.
"Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting. We will all share unique memories. I offer my thanks to each and every one who shares our sense of loss. We may have been reminded how much of her presence and contribution to our national identity we took for granted.
"I am also so grateful for the support and understanding offered to my dear brother Charles as he accepts the added responsibilities of The Monarch.
"To my mother, The Queen, thank you."
You can leave your tributes to Queen Elizabeth II here.
