Catherine in mourning pearls for the Duchess of Kent’s funeral

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Westminster Cathedral for the funeral of the late Duchess of Kent, somberly dressed in black to pay their respects to the trailblazing royal who died earlier this month at the age of 92.

For Kate, it’s the first of a handful of engagements this week set to revolve around the US State Visit, which officially begins tomorrow at Windsor Castle.

The royal arrived in a minimalist black Catherine Walker coatdress that she’d previously worn to her late grandfather-in-law’s funeral in April 2021 along with pearl earrings and the late Queen Elizabeth II’s four-strand Japanese pearl choker necklace.

Pearls are traditionally seen as a mourning jewel within the British Royal Family, dating back to the Victorian era. Queen Victoria popularized pearls following the death of her husband; for the rest of her life, she only wore minimal or colourless jewels, including pearls.

William and Catherine paid tribute to the late Duchess of Kent earlier this month, releasing a statement in which they said she will be a “much-missed member of the family” and praised her tireless work “to help others and supported many causes, including through her love of music.”

This will be a busy week for Catherine. She’s set to have a starring role in the US State Visit, joining her husband to welcome the President and First Lady as they arrive at Windsor Castle before taking part the carriage ride through Windsor Great Park and the luncheon. She is anticipated to attend tomorrow evening’s state banquet as well.

On Thursday, she will join the First Lady for an engagement with the Scouts at Frogmore to showcase the benefits of nature.