Kate Middleton Gave a Special Nod to Princess Diana at the Earthshot Prize Awards

Kate Middleton may never have had the chance to meet Princess Diana in real life, but she’s still found myriad ways to honor her late mother-in-law by proudly wearing some of the same jewels that Diana loved so much. In fact, she just did so at a recent high-profile engagement that’s got the internet talking!

How Did Kate Pay Tribute to Princess Diana?

On Dec. 2, while attending the 2022 Earthshot Prize Awards in Boston with her husband Prince William, Kate sported one of Diana’s most prized accessories: a diamond and emerald art deco choker. The choker, originally given to Queen Mary and then inherited by Queen Elizabeth II, was gifted to Princess Diana after her wedding to Prince Charles. It was eventually returned to Queen Elizabeth upon the princess’s death in 1997.

Kate paired the choker, estimated to be worth $20 million, with a minty-green, off-the-shoulder dress from Solace London that she reportedly rented for roughly $80. (The eco-conscious princess has long been a fan of re-wearing her gowns, and even renting them for special occasions. The move was fitting, considering the Earthshot Prize goes to people behind innovative solutions to help repair the planet.)

The pricey choker, which Diana last wore on her 36th birthday, was perhaps made most famous when the late Princess of Wales wore it as a headband during a Bicentennial dinner and dance in Melbourne, Australia in 1988—a move that was considered either a fashion faux pas or super fashion-forward, depending on who you asked! A royal biographer claims the sartorial choice actually happened by accident, and that the choker had become stuck that way as Diana tried to pull it over her head. Someone then convinced her that it looked great and to wear it as a headpiece!

This recent visit to America wasn’t the first time Princess Kate was proud to wear something that once belonged to Princess Diana. She’s also been seen wearing Diana’s beloved diamond and south sea pearl earrings on numerous occasions. Kate also favors the pearl and diamond Lover’s Knot tiara that Diana wore on various occasions. After separating from Charles in 1992, Diana returned the tiara to Queen Elizabeth, and it wasn’t seen again until Kate brought it out 23 years later, in 2015 as part of her outfit for a Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace.