In a surprising turn of events, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, received a pair of modest earrings from Queen Elizabeth II, while her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, inherited a stunning sapphire piece worth £200,000.

The discrepancy in the gifts has left many speculating about the underlying message being conveyed by the Queen.

During Queen Elizabeth’s procession, Kate Middleton wore a pair of pearl drop earrings that once belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales, adding a touch of sentimental value to her ensemble.

Meanwhile, Meghan Markle paid tribute to the Queen by donning a pair of pearl and diamond drop earrings.

A spokesperson for the Sussexes confirmed that these earrings were gifted to Meghan by the late monarch.

Royal watchers identified them as Akoya pearl and diamond earrings in white gold from Birks, valued at $1,095.

However, Kensington Palace officially clarified that the pearl and diamond studs worn by Meghan during her first solo outing with the Queen were actually a gift from Queen Elizabeth herself.

Surprisingly, the household staff, under the Queen’s orders, purchased these earrings for a mere £50.

These earrings are not the famous Queen Mary’s button earrings, as they are smaller in size.

Queen Elizabeth continued to wear them until her passing, and all of Queen Mary’s belongings now form part of the royal collection.

It is worth noting that Meghan does not possess any of the royal jewels.

Despite this, some eagle-eyed observers noticed the resemblance between the earrings worn by Meghan and a replica version available on a gift site, described as replicas of Queen Mary’s button earrings.

The royal family did not bestow upon Meghan any genuine items from previous generations, regardless of their size.

It seems that the palace aimed to prevent Meghan from engaging in any commercial activities alongside Queen Elizabeth II, hence the choice of inexpensive earrings as a gift.

Critics have labeled Meghan as a tacky influencer, suggesting that she may have attempted to promote her own brand of jewelry during her appearances with the Queen.

The fact that she had to wear something that could not be monetized possibly left her frustrated.

Managing Meghan’s behavior must have been an exhausting task for the royal family at Buckingham Palace.

They had to invest considerable time and energy into preventing her from engaging in inappropriate stunts or merchandising endeavors during public events.

Meanwhile, at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, Princess Kate opted for two significant pieces of jewelry.

She wore diamond and pearl drop earrings that once belonged to Princess Diana, as well as a stunning diamond and pearl brooch in the shape of three leaves, previously owned by Queen Elizabeth herself.

The brooch features three pearls nestled inside three silver leaves.

Kate had previously worn this brooch during a visit to Belgium in 2017.

Queen Elizabeth had worn it on her 73rd birthday in 1999 during a visit to Seoul, South Korea, pinning it to a yellow dress adorned with white polka dots.

Kate completed her ensemble with white gloves and a layered pearl necklace.

Kate’s choice to honor her husband’s mother, Princess Diana, is not unprecedented.