Meghan Markle’s hidden tribute to Princess Diana we all missed

Meghan Markle sparked a royal frenzy over the weekend after photographs emerged of her and Prince Harry arriving at the David Foster Foundation’s 40th Anniversary Celebration. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex travelled to British Columbia for the star-studded evening, with Meghan, 45, commanding attention in a dramatic black ball gown.

While much of the initial reaction centred on the unusual cut of her dress, with some royal watchers comparing it to a “toga” and others drawing parallels with Princess Catherine’s recent Wimbledon look, the real story was hidden in her accessories. Meghan had quietly paid a secret tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, by wearing a pair of her butterfly earrings with a poignant connection to Canada.

The sentimental jewels date back decades and were worn by Diana during her 1986 royal tour of Canada with then-Prince Charles, five years after the couple married. Nearly four decades later, Meghan chose the same earrings for another high-profile appearance on Canadian soil.

Unlike some of Diana’s best-known jewels, including the Collingwood pearl drop earrings now regularly worn by the Princess of Wales, the diamond and sapphire butterfly earrings are a rarer piece from the late royal’s collection and carry significant sentimental value.

Jewellery expert Oliver Hobart, from retailer 925E, said: “These are a beautiful example of how coloured gemstones can bring interest to an otherwise very minimal look.”

The vintage yellow-gold stud earrings are designed in the shape of butterflies and pavé-set with sparkling diamonds and dark blue sapphires. They form part of Diana’s 1980s ‘Butterfly Suite’, which also included a coordinating gold necklace featuring a larger butterfly pendant.

The nature-inspired design made a subtle statement against Meghan’s otherwise pared-back black ensemble.

For the evening, Meghan wore Greta Constantine’s ‘Fabrizio’ one-shoulder cape gown, a dramatic floor-length design featuring an asymmetric neckline and sweeping panel of fabric. She wore her brunette hair swept into an elegant updo, leaving her ears and Diana’s jewels completely exposed.

Hobart explained: “What works particularly well here is the balance. Meghan’s black gown creates a clean backdrop that allows the blue of the sapphires and the brightness of the diamonds to stand out, while the asymmetric neckline means there is no need for a necklace.

“Keeping the rest of the jewellery restrained gives the earrings enough space to be the focal point without the overall look feeling overly styled.”

It is not the first time Meghan has reached for the sentimental earrings. She previously wore them during her first public appearance after announcing she was pregnant with Prince Archie in 2018 and again during her visit to Colombia in 2024.

Hobart added: “From a design perspective, butterfly jewellery has an enduring appeal because it sits somewhere between classic and whimsical.

“Nature-inspired motifs have been used in fine jewellery for generations, and butterflies in particular allow jewellers to work with symmetry, movement and contrasting stones in a way that feels decorative without necessarily being formal.”

The expert continued that the pairing of sapphires and diamonds made the earrings particularly striking against Meghan’s monochrome ensemble, with the deep blue stones providing colour and the diamonds bringing additional light and definition.

The butterfly earrings are just one of several pieces from Diana’s jewellery collection that Meghan has worn over the years.

The Duchess has also been seen wearing Diana’s striking aquamarine cocktail ring and diamond tennis bracelet, while two diamonds from Diana’s personal collection were incorporated into Meghan’s engagement ring.

For Saturday’s appearance, Meghan also reached for another familiar piece from her own jewellery collection - her Cartier Love bracelet.

But among the designer gowns and glittering accessories, it was Diana’s delicate butterflies that held the greatest sentimental significance, creating a subtle link between the two royal women and their appearances in Canada almost 40 years apart.