Why Princess Kate Keeps Wearing $3,347 Gold Statement Earrings

Catherine, Princess of Wales joins a Portage Session for her 'Shaping Us' campaign on early childhood on September 27, 2023 in Sittingbourne, England. Portage is a service which supports children with disabilities and special educational needs and their families — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Though fashion is considered a superfluous interest by some, those of us who study it for a living know it's an art form like any other. It's a daily mode of self-expression and creativity for millions of people, often with centuries of cultural significance.

This is seen heavily in the royal family's fashion, where each member must adhere to a dress code, especially for aristocratic events. Much of their wardrobe is cloaked in historic meaning—some of it even considered sacred. The Crown Jewels are the most obvious example, but beyond Coronation Regalia, deeper meaning touches nearly everything this family wears.

Princess Kate is particularly known for her communicative wardrobe choices, whether through an archival creation from a favorite British designer or a glitzy family heirloom passed down from her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana .

This week, Catherine, Princess of Wales, met with 16-year-old photographer Liz Hatton, who is battling a rare and aggressive cancer, in the royal's first public appearance since finishing her own cancer treatment. She chose a sentimental outfit befitting of the occasion, wearing a red wine pantsuit by Roland Mouret layered over a taupe tee. The only accessories to be seen were a pair of dangling gold earrings.

kate middleton and prince william pose with the family of a 16-year-old photographer with cancer — Princess Kate and Prince William pose with the family of a 16-year-old photographer with cancer on Sept. 2.

Dubbed the Temple of Heaven Earrings by fine jewelry designer Cassandra Goad, the geometric design is said to represent the Emperor of China's "celestial power." The brand's website reads: "The Emperor was regarded as the son of Heaven, responsible for the celestial power for success or failure for his government."

kate middleton hugs a cancer survivor wearing gold earrings from Cassandra Goad — The two embrace, showing Middleton's Cassandra Goad earrings.

Temple of Heaven Earrings Yellow Gold

A longtime favorite within Middleton's expansive jewelry collection, the royal has worn these $3,347 sparklers on many occasions throughout the last decade. She chose them for a pre-wedding reception for Zara Tindall in 2011, as well as the BBC Radio 1 Teen Hero Award ceremony in 2018, Glamour reports.

Catherine, Princess Of Whales And Prince William At A Pre Wedding Reception On Board Britannia In Edinburgh wearing gold earrings from Cassandra Goad. — The princess is seen wearing the statement earrings with a green dress at a pre-wedding event in 2011 for Zara Tindall.

Though these earrings weren't a royal family heirloom before, they certainly are now. Their stated representation of "celestial power" and strength feel like an especially poignant choice for Kate Middleton's return to public engagements.

Kelsey (she/her) is a freelance fashion editor and writer. At Marie Claire, she provides witty celeb style commentary, unpacking the style choices of stars like Zoë Kravitz, Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, and her fashion superhero, Rihanna. When she’s not tracking the personal style of Hollywood’s elite, Kelsey also covers designer collabs and industry news.

Before taking her talents to Marie Claire, Kelsey was the Senior Fashion Editor at Bustle, where she oversaw the site’s fashion coverage. Prior to Bustle, she came from a six-year stint at Seventeen. In her freelance era, Kelsey contributes to publications like InStyle, Cosmopolitan,and more. Follow @klstieg on Instagram for 'fit pics and travel recommendations.