Hidden meanings behind the royals' outfits for Queen Elizabeth's funeral

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Hidden meanings behind the royals' outfits for Queen Elizabeth's funeral
  • Many royal family members nodded to Queen Elizabeth II with their style choices at her funeral.
  • Both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle wore dresses that honored the Queen.
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Kate Middleton's dress for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral was a black version of a dress she has worn before.

Kate Middleton's dress for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral was a black version of a dress she has worn before.
Kate Middleton wore Alexander McQueen to the funeral.Chris Jackson / Staff / WPA Pool / Pool / Getty Images

At the Trooping the Colour in June 2022 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's birthday, Kate wore a white Alexander McQueen coatdress that cinched at the waist with two buttons.

To pay homage to her relationship with the Queen, Kate wore the same dress in black to her funeral.

The dresses were identical aside from the color. Kate paired the black look with a coordinating hat that had a veil.

Kate also paid tribute to the Queen with a necklace.

Kate also paid tribute to the Queen with a necklace.
Kate Middleton paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth by wearing one of her necklaces at her funeral.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images ; Joe Maher/Getty Images

She wore the Queen's Four-Row Japanese Pearl Choker to her funeral, which is made of pearls and diamonds.

Kate previously wore the necklace to Prince Philip's funeral. Princess Diana also wore it in 1982, so the piece nodded to Kate's new role as the Princess of Wales as well.

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The Princess of Wales' pearl earrings also belonged to the Queen.

The Princess of Wales' pearl earrings also belonged to the Queen.
Kate Middleton in Queen Elizabeth's procession to Wellington Arch.TOM JENKINS / Contributor / Getty images

According to Glamour, Kate wore the late monarch's Bahrain pearl drop earrings, which coordinated with her necklace.

The princess wore her hair up, allowing the earrings to shine.

Like her sister-in-law, Meghan Markle's dress nodded to the Queen.

Like her sister-in-law, Meghan Markle's dress nodded to the Queen.
Meghan Markle wore Stella McCartney to the funeral.Karwai Tang / Contributor / Getty Images

Meghan arrived at the funeral in a black cape dress designed by Stella McCartney, which she paired with black gloves, a black hat, black shoes, and black pantyhose.

The Duchess of Sussex previously wore the navy version of the cape dress to Queen Elizabeth II's 92nd birthday celebration in 2018.

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Meghan's earrings were a gift from the Queen.

Meghan's earrings were a gift from the Queen.
Meghan Markle in Queen Elizabeth's procession to Wellington Arch.TOM JENKINS / Contributor / Getty images

Like Kate, Meghan wore earrings that once belonged to the Queen to her funeral.

The Queen gave Meghan the diamond and pearl earrings after she and Prince Harry announced their engagement in 2018.

Princess Charlotte's brooch honored her great-grandmother.

Princess Charlotte's brooch honored her great-grandmother.
Princess Charlotte of Wales at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022, the day of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral.Samir Hussein / Contributor / Getty Images

Charlotte paired her ensemble, which looked like a miniature version of her mom's outfit, with a horseshoe-shaped, diamond brooch that paid tribute to the Queen's lifelong love of horses.

According to People, the Queen gave the brooch to her great-granddaughter before her death.

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The military uniform William wore to the funeral included a subtle tribute to his grandmother.

The military uniform William wore to the funeral included a subtle tribute to his grandmother.
Prince William, Prince of Wales attends the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022, in London, England.Hannah McKay- WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Prince of Wales wore his Royal Air Force uniform to the funeral, which included an "ER" pin on the right shoulder.

It stands for Elizabeth Regina, which means Queen Elizabeth in Latin, as Insider previously reported.

Camilla, Queen Consort, nodded to Queen Elizabeth with a brooch that once belonged to Queen Victoria.

Camilla, Queen Consort, nodded to Queen Elizabeth with a brooch that once belonged to Queen Victoria.
Camilla, Queen Consort wore Queen Victoria's brooch.WPA Pool / Pool / Getty Images

The heart-shaped brooch features three sapphires and the number 60 in recognition of Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee in 1897, as Vogue reported.

Queen Elizabeth II, who was Queen Victoria's great-great-granddaughter, ruled for 70 years and marked her platinum jubilee in February, surpassing Queen Victoria's 63 years on the throne, as Insider previously reported.

Camilla previously wore the brooch for Queen Elizabeth's diamond jubilee celebrations in 2012.

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Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, included an homage to the Queen's favorite flower on her dress.

Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, included an homage to the Queen's favorite flower on her dress.
The royal family at the Queen's funeral.Karwai Tang / Contributor / Getty Images

Prince Edward's wife wore a tea-length black dress lined with buttons from Suzannah London.

London shared on Instagram that she embroidered Lily of the Valley flowers into the gown, as they were the late monarch's favorite flower.

Sophie's hat also honored the Queen.

Sophie's hat also honored the Queen.
Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, wore a custom hat.Peter Byrne - PA Images / Contributor / Getty Images

Sophie wore a custom hat made by the milliner Jane Taylor, according to People.

Taylor told People the straw riding hat was designed to honor the Queen's love of horses, and the flowers accenting the brim were modeled after the ones included in the monarch's wedding bouquet.

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The Queen's granddaughter Lady Louise Windsor also paid tribute to the monarch's love of horses.

The Queen's granddaughter Lady Louise Windsor also paid tribute to the monarch's love of horses.
Lady Louise Windsor at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral.Mark Cuthbert / Contributor / Getty Images

As Insider previously reported, 18-year-old Lady Louise, who is Prince Edward and Sophie's daughter, shared a love of horses with her grandmother.

She paid tribute to their bond at the funeral with a horse pendant necklace.