On 29th April 2011, Catherine Middleton walked down the aisle to marry Prince William, her wedding outfit captivated millions worldwide. While her Alexander McQueen gown and the Cartier Halo tiara garnered much attention, her wedding earrings held deep personal significance.
Commissioned by her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, the earrings were crafted by London-based jeweller Robinson Pelham. The design features stylised oak leaves as the stud, with an acorn suspended in the centre of a pear-drop frame, all studded with diamonds.
The oak theme draws directly from the Middleton family’s coat of arms, which includes acorns and oak leaves representing strength and England’s national tree and the family’s heritage in Berkshire. The county is home to Windsor Castle, another very English symbol, and oak trees are abundant across the county. The three acorns on the crest specifically represent the couple’s three children: Catherine, Pippa and James.
The earrings were designed to complement the Cartier Halo tiara, lent to The Duchess of Cambridge by Elizabeth II for her wedding day. The diamond scrolls of the tiara are echoed in the oak leaf design of the earrings.
Beyond the big day in April 2011, the wedding earrings have remained a part of Catherine’s jewellery collection – though it took a few years for them to resurface.
Kate has chosen to wear them on significant occasions, including in June 2016 to the Order of the Garter Service and in April 2019 for the Easter service at St. George’s Chapel.
