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The Queen is known for her love of bright colours, hats, and her trusty Launer black handbag – but her stunning jewellery collection holds a special place in her heart. She certainly has a to of pieces to choose from when she gets dressed every morning, from the Lovers Knot Brooch she wore to Prince William and Kate’s wedding in 2011 to the sweet yellow gold, ruby, and diamond Scarab Brooch – a favourite of the Queen’s, which was gifted to her by Prince Philip in 1966. But there’s one very simple item she often won’t leave the house without – her three-strand pearl necklace.

In fact, she is rarely seen without the simple necklace, which features three rows of delicate pearls.

And there’s a very sweet and sentimental reason why the item is such a favourite with the Queen – as it was gifted to her by her father, King George VI.

The Queen was incredible close to her father, who always made time for his little girl despite being busy ruling over a nation.

The King was so enamoured with his eldest daughter that he penned a sweet letter to young Elizabeth on her wedding day, which read: “I was so proud and thrilled at having you so close to me on our long walk in Westminster Abbey.

“But when I handed your hand to the Archbishop, I felt I had lost something very precious.”

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He went on: “You were so calm and composed during the service and said your words with such conviction that I knew everything was alright.

“I have watched you grow up all these years with pride under the skillful direction of Mummy, who, as you know, is the most marvelous person in the world in my eyes, and I can, I know, always count on you, and now Philip, to help us in our work.

“Your leaving us has left a great blank in our lives. But do remember that your old home is still yours and do come back to it as much and as often as possible.”

The pair were near inseparable until his untimely death in 1952, which left the young Elizabeth – then just 25-years-old – heartbroken.

The Queen-to-be was in Kenya with her husband Prince Philip at the time of her father’s death, and cut the rest of her trip short to return to London – where she took her place as reigning monarch.

She’s now the longest-serving queen in history – but Elizabeth has never forgotten her deep love for her father.

It is perhaps this reason that has seen her cling to those beloved pearls, which he gave her when she was much younger.

And now, she’s rarely seen without the beautiful set. The Queen supposedly loved the precious necklace so much she had another made for her – presumably to wear interchangeably so as not to wear out the original.

Then in 1953, she was gifted a third string of pearls, featuring a diamond clasp, by the Emir of Qatar.

Burt these aren’t the only pearls the Queen is fond of wearing.

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In fact, she has a vast collection of pearls – proving they’re one of her favourite items.

On her wedding day in 1947, she was even gifted a pearl shell from the ruler of Bahrain – from which cam seven pearls.

Two of these were used to make the Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings, alongside several diamonds.

There’s also the Qatar Pearl and Diamond Necklace – featuring six strands of pearls offset with diamonds – and matching earrings, which were given to her in 1979.

She inherited another pair of pearl drop earrings from Queen Victoria, who was gifted the set from her husband Prince Albert in 1847.

Then there’s the Queen Mary bracelet, which she inherited in 1953, and the New Zealand blue pearl, which she was given by then-prime minister of New Zealand John Key during his visit to Balmoral Castle in 2013.

The Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch was given to the Queen Mother in 1944 by Winifred Hope Thomson, the sister of designer Lord Courtauld Thomson who created the stunning design in 1919.

The shell shaped brooch, with a large pearl at the centre, then passed down to the Queen in 2002, and she still wears it to this day.

And it’s not just the Queen who has a love of pearls – Princess Diana was also a fan.

And following her footsteps is Kate, Duchess of Cambridge – who has borrowed several items of jewellery from the Queen in the past, including a four-strand pearl choker.

The choker is made up of cultured pearls that were a gift from the Japanese government, fastened with a diamond clasp, and was commissioned by the Queen herself.

She wore it regularly in the 1980s and 1990s – but also lent the same set to Princess Diana in 1982 – the year Kate was born.

Like Diana and the Queen, Kate seems to have her own love story with pearls.

She has been spotted wearing the Collingwood pearl and diamond earrings, which were given to Diana as a wedding present, on more than one occasion.

And she’s also been snapped wearing a three-strand pearl and diamond bracelet that also belonged to Princess Diana.

While her go-to earrings by Annoushka and Kiki McDonough also feature small, glossy pearls.

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