The Princess of Wales last night paid tribute to the Queen by wearing a pair of her earrings, it is believed.

Kate, 40, donned a simple pair of pearl and diamond earrings as she joined her husband Prince William and other senior royals including King Charles, the Queen Consort and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to receive the Queen’s coffin at Buckingham Palace.

The earrings are believed to be an elegant pair the Princess has worn on a number of previous occasions, including the day she left hospital after the birth of Prince Louis.

Kate also chose them for a day of engagements in The Netherlands in 2016, her first official solo overseas visit without Prince William.

It is believed they previously belonged to the Queen with Her Majesty wearing them to a number of events over the years.

The Queen is known for being generous with her private jewellery collection and has passed on tiaras, earrings and necklaces to members of her family.

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Kate, 40, donned a simple pair of pearl and diamond earrings as she joined her husband Prince William and other senior royals including King Charles, the Queen Consort and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to receive the Queen’s coffin at Buckingham Palace. It is believed they previously belonged to the Queen with Her Majesty wearing them to a number of events over the years. Pictured, the Queen wearing the earrings in 1977 (left) and the Princess of Wales last night (right)

The Princess of Wales also wore a string of pearls – an unusual choice of jewellery for Her Royal Highness which has been interpreted by royal fans as a nod to the Queen, who was rarely seen without hers.

Arseiny Budrevich, founder of Budrevich Fine Jewellery Studio, told Express.co.uk that royals, notably Queen Elizabeth, loved pearls because they ‘represent the aristocratic virtues of liberality, magnificence and generosity’, and they ‘symbolise purity and chastity’.

‘Pearls have been associated with class, elegance and sophistication since the Ptolemaic dynasty in ancient Egypt, where the Royal Family wore pearls to show their status,’ he added.

‘This tradition was then passed down through the holy Roman empire to the French monarchs who carried it into fashion in the middle ages, where it was subsequently dispersed through Europe. This is when the British empire picked up the style.’

Today the Prince and Princess of Wales will join senior royals in paying tribute to the Queen at the funeral procession through central London.

1977: Queen Elizabeth II seen wearing her pearl and diamond earrings

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The earrings are believed to be an elegant pair the Princess has worn on a number of previous occasions, including the day she left hospital after the birth of Prince Louis (left). Also pictured: Kate in 2019 (centre) and on Remembrance Day 2020

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The Princess of Wales also wore a string of pearls – an unusual choice of jewellery for Her Royal Highness which has been interpreted by royal fans as a nod to the Queen, who was rarely seen without hers

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The Queen was rarely seen without her pearls, prompting royal fans to believe Kate was paying tribute with her jewellery. Pictured, the Queen with her pearls in 2011 (left) and in 2017 (right)

The King was photographed arriving at the palace after leaving Clarence House, hours before Prince William and Prince Harry will set aside their feud and support their father by marching with him behind the coffin.

The royal family will accompany their matriarch on foot on the journey to Westminster Hall this afternoon where hundreds of thousands of people are expected to pay their respects after queueing for hours.

Charles, the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex, along with the Duke of York, the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex, will form part of the procession. Anne’s son Peter Phillips and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will also walk behind the procession, as well as the Duke of Gloucester and the Earl of Snowdon.

The Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales, the Countess of Wessex and the Duchess of Sussex will travel by car. The procession will leave the palace at 2.22pm and is expected to arrive at Westminster Hall at 3pm.

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King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla arriving at Buckingham Palace last night, ahead of receiving the Queen’s coffin

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The car carrying Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex driving towards Buckingham Palace

Her Majesty spent her final night in the Bow Room of Buckingham Palace before she is conveyed on a gun carriage to Westminster Hall – the ancient heart of Parliament – where she will lie in state for four days until her funeral on Monday.

More than 1million people are expected to queue in central London for up to 35 hours to walk past her casket – but experts believe only 400,000 will make it inside meaning 600,000 people will be left disappointed.

The Queen arrived at Buckingham Palace last night to tears and cheers from the huge crowds who stood in the pouring rain to welcome her home after her death at Balmoral last Thursday. The route from RAF Northolt to the palace was packed. There was a wave of lights as many raised their mobile phones in the air to film the hearse as it passed.

As the hearse drove through the gates, Charles could be seen bowing his head with Harry and Meghan stood solemnly behind the monarch.

At 2.22pm exactly this afternoon, the Queen’s coffin will be placed on a gun carriage and lead a procession down a packed Mall, along Whitehall and then into Parliament Square before entering the Palace of Westminster followed by her son, the new King, and her children and grandchildren.