Kate Middleton made a sweet tribute to her late mother-in-law while paying her respects to the Queen at her lying in state service.

The former Duchess of Cambridge, who became the Princess of Wales following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, looked somber as she attended the late monarch’s lying in state service at Westminster Hall and stood by her husband’s side.

For the poignant occasion, which was attended by Queen’s children and grandchildren, Kate donned the pearl earrings that were gifted to her late mother-in-law in 1981 prior to her wedding to Charles.

Decades later, the Collingwood pearl earrings in question once more ended up in the hands of the Princess of Wales as Kate proudly wore them to honor the memory of her late mother-in-law and the Queen who adored pearls herself.

The earrings’ main attraction are the round diamond studs complemented by several rows of small diamonds.

They were gifted to Diana by Collingwood shortly before she married Prince Charles and became the Princess of Wales.

From then on, Diana frequently sported the pearl earrings for a wide variety of occasions and events including her 1985 trip to the US and her 1994 appearance at a Vanity Fair party.

As for Kate, she has since her marriage to Prince William also worn the same set of earrings on several occasions including the photoshoot to mark her 40th birthday.

Diana received the pearl earrings in 1981 after the palace warned that gifting her a diamond necklace and diamond earrings that Collingwood previously loaned to her to mark her engagement to Prince Charles could be considered too extravagant.

Choosing the ‘safer’ option, the palace decided to give Diana the pearl earrings as a present instead.

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