Meghan Markle paid her respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II at her funeral on Monday, September 19, eleven days following the queen’s death on September 8.
The Duchess of Sussex attended the service at Westminster Abbey wearing a black hat and a black cape, with her hair pulled into a low bun to show off her pearl earrings, which were gifted to her by the queen in 2018 ahead of the pair’s first outing together after Meghan Markle married into the royal family.
She had previously worn the earrings last week as a sartorial tribute to Queen Elizabeth as well as a symbol of her grief during the mourning process. Kate Middleton and Camilla, Queen Consort, also wore pearls, which have traditionally been associated with mourning since Queen Victoria’s reign.
The funeral followed a 10-day mourning period in the UK, during which time the queen’s body was flown from Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where she died, to London. Queen Elizabeth’s casket spent an evening at Buckingham Palace before moving to Westminster Palace, where the queen lay in state ahead of Monday’s funeral at Westminster Abbey.
Another period of mourning begins today and continues for the next seven days. Several members of the royal family, including Prince William and Prince Harry, have canceled prescheduled events or work obligations during the month of September out of respect for the passing of their beloved “gran.”
Queen Elizabeth II was Britain’s longest reigning monarch, with more than 70 years on the throne. She is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III, whose coronation ceremony will take place at a later date.
