Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday marked with palace exhibition
Britain honors Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday with a major Buckingham Palace exhibition showcasing her iconic wardrobe.
Kate, Princess of Wales, paid her respects to her late grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, through fashion.
The princess, 44, wore a three-strand pearl necklace and Bahrain pearl drop earrings that previously belonged to the queen during her centennial birthday celebration at Buckingham Palace. The wife of the heir to the throne, Prince William, donned the jewelry to complement her lilac midi, long-sleeve dress.
She previously wore the Bahrain pearl drop earrings to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022, along with a four-strand pearl choker necklace that also belonged to the queen, People reported at the time. She later wore the earrings again for Holocaust Remembrance Day services in January 2025, per the magazine.
Queen Elizabeth II was gifted the Bahrain pearl drop earrings for her wedding to Prince Philip in 1947, according to the magazine.
Britain’s longest-living monarch, who died in 2022 at 96, would’ve turned 100 on April 21. She spent more than 70 years on the throne, starting in 1952, longer than any prior British monarch.
Princess Kate describes ‘profound connection’ battling cancer
It’s been more than a year since Princess Kate announced her cancer was in remission in January 2025. She revealed her diagnosis in March 2024, sharing that she would undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy after having abdominal surgery.
On Feb. 4, which was World Cancer Day, she discussed her experience battling cancer in a video shared on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ social media accounts and calling her journey “not linear.”
“Cancer touches so many lives — not only patients, but the families and friends and caregivers who walk beside them,” Kate said. “As anyone who has experienced this journey will know, it’s not linear. There are moments of fear and exhaustion. But also moments of strength, kindness and profound connection.”
Contributing: Sara Moniuszko and KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY