Princess Catherine made an unexpected appearance alongside Prince William at a Holocaust Memorial event, marking her second official engagement of 2025.
Her attendance was confirmed by Buckingham Palace just hours before the ceremony, which commemorated the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. For the occasion, she opted for a classic and understated look, moving away from the jewel tones, tartan prints, and structured coats she has favored in recent months. Dressed in a simple black coat and trousers, she chose to honor the memory of those lost in the Holocaust through her jewelry selection, wearing two significant pearl pieces that carried a deeper meaning.
As she arrived at London's Guildhall, accompanied by Prince William, Holocaust survivors, and British government officials, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Princess Catherine's choice of pearl jewelry stood out. She wore Bahrain Pearl drop earrings, adorned with diamond embellishments, which were originally gifted to Queen Elizabeth II in 1947 by the ruler of Bahrain.
Her sleek, side-parted hairstyle, with her long brunette hair tucked behind her right ear, ensured that the elegant earrings remained prominently displayed. Complementing them was a five-strand pearl necklace, sourced from Jewish-owned London vintage jewelry dealer Susan Kaplan, adding a luminous touch to her black ensemble.
Pearls have long held a symbolic role within the royal family, particularly as a sign of mourning, a tradition dating back to Queen Victoria. The late monarch famously wore pearls as a tribute to her beloved husband, Prince Albert, following his passing. Princess Catherine has embraced this sartorial custom over the years, most notably wearing the Bahrain Pearl drop earrings during her Remembrance Day appearance. She also previously paired them with a pearl collar choker valued at over $25,000 for both Prince Philip's and Queen Elizabeth II's funerals.
Pearls remain one of the few jewelry pieces considered appropriate for mourning and are deeply intertwined with Queen Elizabeth’s personal jewelry legacy. As royal fashion expert Bethan Holt, author of The Queen: 70 Years of Majestic Style, previously noted, pearls symbolize not only the mourning of a monarch but also the remembrance of a beloved grandmother or great-grandmother.
