Personally I wouldn't totally rule out that the cultured pearl necklaces worn by the late Queen Mother. One thing we have to remember is that at the time she was a young member of the Royal family but we are judging her tastes by her image as the Grand Doyenne of the Royal Family. Even when she became Queen in 1936 she was barely 36 years old!! Just to put it into perspective she was younger than our current two Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex who are 37 & 38 years old respectively and cultured pearls may have been viewed as something new and fashionable to try.

Maybe 30/40 years from now people will find it hard to believe that Queen Catherine once wore those Kiki McDonough pieces because they will be accustomed to seeing her in all the good things the Royal collection has to offer.