The Princess Royal was the picture of springtime elegance in a bright orange coat, which she paired with black leather gloves, boots, and a shoulder bag. Princess Anne also wore a sparkling brooch, crafted in the shape of palm leaves, pinned to her coat.
But it was the Princess’s pearl earrings that caught the attention of royal watchers. Princess Anne is known for her love of pearls – one of the many attitudes that she inherited from her mother. Queen Elizabeth II was famously fond of pearls: on her daytime engagements, she could often be found wearing the diamond and pearl earrings, a pair of heirloom pieces with an impressive royal history.
Princess Mary of Teck, who later became Queen Mary, received them for her 1890 wedding to the future King George V, together with a matching necklace. These earrings were among the wedding presents from Queen Mary to her granddaughter Princess Beatrice and were one of the most worn pieces of jewellery in Victorian times, pearls were used to represent tears, and the Queen wore hers to numerous funerals, including those of the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, Princess Diana and Prince Philip.
Princess Anne inherited her mother’s beloved three-strand pearl necklace, a piece of jewellery that the late Queen wore almost every day of her reign
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Princess Anne has inherited many of Queen Elizabeth’s pearl jewels, including the three-strand pearl necklace that the late sovereign wore almost every day of her 70-year reign. The Princess Royal started wearing the necklace shortly after her mother’s death, and has continued to wear it during many poignant engagements, including Remembrance Sunday Services in 2024.
While Princess Anne was in Regent’s Park, the rest of the Firm gathered at the British Museum, where they were given a first look at the final plans for the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II. King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince Edward, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were all on hand for the occasion.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, known for their warm sense of humour, even found an opportunity to pay tribute to another of Queen Elizabeth II’s great loves. Prince Edward wore a tie printed with horses, while Sophie wore a Gabriella Hearst dress printed with riding boots – a sweet nod to the late sovereign’s lifelong passion for all things equine.