“Pearls are traditional for Queens going back one thousand years — there has never been a Queen who didn’t wear pearls.” Leslie Field, author of The Queen’s Jewels
In our blog, Elizabeth II: The Queen of Pearls we celebrate the incredible reign of the world’s oldest living monarch. Besides the warm familiarity of her smile and wave, we have also become accustomed to seeing her signature three-strand pearl necklace which she has incorporated into her outfits for public engagements.
She is very rarely seen without it – one could say that wearing her beloved pearls has become as steadfast and familiar as her reign.
The royal family has a long custom of wearing pearls not only for regality and special occasions, but also daily for a simple yet classy elegance. There is one necklace in particular however that holds a special meaning to the Queen.
A Family Tradition Spanning the Centuries
Queen Elizabeth’s love and appreciation of pearls began at a young age due in part to a family tradition that was started by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901.
Queen Victoria gave each of her daughters and granddaughters a single pearl for their birthdays for the first eighteen years of their life. By the time they were 18 years old, they had enough pearls to have their first pearl strand necklace, culminating in a cherished piece of jewelry that captured their childhoods.
Queen Elizabeth’s father King George VI also continued this tradition by gifting her with two pearls for each birthday. This created her own single-strand necklace, and although it may have been the first pearl necklace the Queen owned, it certainly wasn’t the last.
A Father’s Gift
The Queen will almost always be spotted wearing the stunning three-strand pearl necklace which was a gift from her father, King George VI. They were very close until his death in 1952 when she was only 25 years old, leaving her heartbroken. It is said that the Queen loved her father’s gift so much that another, almost identical necklace was made so that she could wear them interchangeably, and not wear out the original that she cherished.
Now celebrating a historic 70-year reign as of February 6, 2022, the Queen’s jewelry collection is an extravagant treasure of diamonds, sapphires, rubies, brooches and pearls. Not only inheritances from the royal lineage, but many items in her collection are also gifts from other royalty such as the Emir of Qatar who presented her with yet another three-strand pearl necklace in 1953.
The Timeless Style Embraced by Modern Royalty
Queen Elizabeth has carried on the family tradition of wearing pearls every day as her mother and grandmother did before her. The next generation of royals have eagerly adopted the same love for pearls, and why wouldn’t they? Their timeless style can be perfectly paired with just about any modern outfit for every occasion.
Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, is so often seen wearing pearls that she has matched them with just about every color, with solid hues, bold patterns, and even lace. Her pearl drop earrings are a key element of her wardrobe, and at Prince Phillip’s funeral, Kate wore the Queen’s pearl choker necklace which the Queen had previously lent to the late Princess Diana. Kate has also worn Princess Diana’s favorite tiara which features several long pearl drops.
Move Over Diamonds
The affordability, luster and versatility of pearls mean we can all feel like royalty every day. Our collection has the perfect jewelry piece for every age, style and budget.
Less is more with the Simple Elegance Pearl Necklace & Earrings Gift Set, or maybe vintage flair is more your style with the White Endless Fashion Pearl Necklace.
Special occasions call for the exquisite and versatile four-stranded Flower of Life Pearl Necklace which can be worn three different ways.
Live like a pearl and feel like royalty!
