The Queen lets Duchess Kate borrow valued possession during Balmoral Castle visit
The Duchess of Cambridge made a rare sighting on the weekend, appearing in public during her maternity leave to attend church in Balmoral with her royal family.
Duchess Kate was seen travelling to Crathie Kirk parish in Scotland, sitting next to the Queen in the car and behind her husband Prince William, who was in the front passenger seat.
Kate showcased her classy style while wearing a Catherine Walker coatdress and hat, but it was her jewellery which sent royal fans into a frenzy.
The mother-of-three was seen wearing a pair of pearl earrings that were borrowed from Her Majesty’s very own jewellery box.
The Bahrain pearl and diamond drop earrings are very special to the Queen as the pearls were gifted to the monarch on her wedding day.
According to Her Majesty’s Jewel Vault, the earrings were made from two of the seven pearls that were given to the Queen and Prince Philip for their 1947 wedding from the ruler of Bahrain at the time.
The earrings also made an appearance in the Buckingham Palace summer exhibit that marked the royal couple’s 60th wedding anniversary.
William and Kate have joined the Queen and Prince Philip on their annual summer holiday trip to Balmoral Castle.
As the royals made the trip to the local church on the cool 14-degree day, Kate was seen with a cosy blue blanket draped across her knees for the duration of the drive.
The Queen also looked elegant in a blue ensemble, while also wearing a pair of pearl earrings.
Kate is not the only in-law who has had the privilege of borrowing a piece of jewellery from the Queen’s personal collection, with Duchess Meghan also previously wearing jewels belonging to Queen Elizabeth II.
At her wedding to Prince Harry, Meghan wore the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara from the Queen’s jewellery vault, which was previously owned by the monarch’s grandmother, Queen Mary.
It is also believed that when Meghan was invited for the first time to accompany the Queen on a public engagement, Her Majesty gifted the newlywed a pair of pearl and diamond drop earrings similar to her own version.
Meghan wore the special present during their trip to Cheshire, where the duo were photographed giggling with each other throughout the day.