Duchess Sophie steps out at Ascot in statement necklace designed by Prince Edward ahead of their anniversary
We haven't seen the Duchess of Edinburgh wearing this unique design for ages and the timing can't be a coincidence
The women in the Royal Family have access to a staggering collection of priceless jewellery from across the ages but there's something extra special about a design made just for you. The Duchess of Edinburgh clearly feels the same way as she wore a very sentimental necklace for Day 3 of Royal Ascot.
Prince Edward joined her at the races and Sophie honoured him by styling the cross he designed for her to wear on their wedding day. I doubt this was a coincidence as it was the day before their 27th anniversary and this piece is so recognisable.
It's crafted with both white and black pearls and was made by jewellers Asprey and Garrard who also made the Duchess's engagement ring. It's understood that Prince Edward designed both this necklace and the matching pearl drop earrings as a gift.
Shop Pearl Jewellery
These elegant earrings have a French hook design and feature lustrous black freshwater pearls. They're made from 18k gold plated stainless steel and the warm-toned metal really brings out the gorgeous colour of the stones.
You can buy the white freshwater pearl charm and the fine chain necklace separately or as a set like this. The chain comes in three different sizes and is made from 18ct gold vermeil. The pearl is rounded and can also be worn on huggie earrings.
Affordable and stunning, these gold-plated sterling silver earrings have crystals on the hoop and a single, white pearl bead drop. Wear with your favourite jeans and T-shirts during the day or pair with a flowy summer dress.
Recreate Sophie's Outfit
The Duchess of Edinburgh owns plenty of stilettos, but for Ascot she chose kitten heels and these ones from Charles & Keith would also look stunning with formal outfits. They come in several colours and have pointed toes.
The Phase Eight Gwen dress has an elegance reminiscent of Duchess Sophie's Ascot frock. It's midi-length and has delicate pleating and floaty short sleeves. The textured material elevates the simple silhouette.
This affordable black summer bag features bamboo handles. The braided design adds texture and it's big enough to fit your essentials without being bulky. Duchess Sophie's bag at Ascot was also black, proving that it can work incredibly well with navy.
Sophie wore both items on their wedding day in June 1999 but since then we've only seen the necklace a handful of times. However, the Duchess of Edinburgh reaches for the wedding earrings a lot and this might be because they're smaller and more subtle.
The pearl cross makes an instant statement and the combination of the two pearl colours is very unique. Black pearls are quite rare and are often viewed as a symbol of wisdom and protection, as well as enduring love. White pearls are associated with purity and new beginnings, making both deeply meaningful for a wedding necklace.
Designing jewellery takes a lot of consideration so perhaps Edward looked into the symbolism when he was choosing the stones to send a message. Royal bouquets include certain flowers with specific meanings so it wouldn't be too different to this.
Pearls aren't a big jewellery trend for 2026 but I think this is why the royals wear this gemstone so much. They're timeless and aren't as in-your-face sparkly as precious stones like diamonds so they're easier to style with formalwear and with casual outfits.
Pearls can also be a lot more affordable depending on the style of jewellery you're looking at and white or black versions will go with anything. On Day 3 of Ascot the Duchess of Edinburgh wore her cross with a deep navy frock by her go-to British clothing brand, Suzannah London.
The design featured an organza layer over a strappy underdress and this is the closest we'll get to seeing the royals in sheer outfits. Tiny embroidered bows are a gorgeous touch and it has a round neckline and softly sculpted sleeves.
It seems the Duchess of Edinburgh is loving a moodier colour palette than she usually does at Ascot, as the day before Sophie stood out in a black dress. Neither colour screams summer but both ensembles were very chic and made a refreshing change from pastels.
A navy hat and white kitten heels finished off Sophie's style whilst Edward wore a morning suit with a pale pink tie. Coincidentally this is one of his wife's favourite shades of all time to wear so perhaps this was his subtle nod to her too.
