Now they're no longer working royals, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, aren't spotted out and about wearing the Crown Jewels - but that doesn't mean we don't sometimes spot a special piece of jewellery with a historic royal connection. This weekend, it was a small duo worn by Meghan which had a sentimental link to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
On Saturday (8 August), Meghan wore a pair of earrings in the shape of a butterfly, which used to belong to her husband's mother. However, the connection goes deeper, given the location of where she chose to wear them.
Stepping out in a sweeping, floor length black gown for the David Foster Foundation 40th Anniversary Celebration in Canada, Meghan wore her hair smoothed back into a sleek bun. Her pared back hairstyle revealed her gold, butterfly earrings, which are studded with diamonds and deep blue gemstones. The pair are part of set, which includes a co-ordinating necklace - although Meghan chose to wear the earrings alone on this occasion.
Princess Diana was first spotted wearing the jewellery as early as the 1980s, choosing them for a trip to Canada in 1986. Given Meghan was also visiting the same nation, the earrings were a poignant decision which mirrored Princess Diana's own trip thirty years earlier, giving a subtle nod to her late mother-in-law.
Meghan has worn the earrings on a number of occasions in the past, including a trip to Australia in 2018. The Royal Family have a large private collection of jewellery which is often shared between the senior women of the family. Pieces are usually chosen for their significance or connection to a particular event or location. For instance, the Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch which was once worn by The Queen Mother in Canada, has been worn by further generations, including the Princess of Wales. It will usually be chosen for visits to Canada or for events connected to the nation, given the maple leaf is the official emblem of the country.
Last month, Meghan arrived in the UK with her children Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie to join Prince Harry, who was here for the Invictus Games. The family enjoyed a holiday together, which included visiting Althorp Park, the childhood home and final resting place of Princess Diana.
In a post on Instagram, Meghan shared a selection of images documenting the family's travels. One of the photographs showed Prince Harry walking alongside Prince Archie between a row of trees at Althorp Park, with Princess Lilibet following behind. All carried bouquets of flowers, presumably to pay their respects to the late Princess Diana.
