Meet the Pearly Kings and Queens of Britain

As the United Kingdom prepares to crown King Charles III, another royal family will be watching with eager eyes. Meet the Pearly Kings and Queens of London.
Like the British monarch, Diane Gould comes from a long line of kings and queens. She can trace her own family tree back to the Pearly Royals of the 1800s, with the crown passing down from generation to generation. But these aren’t your average royals.
Known for their mother-of-pearl embellished outfits and elaborate feathered hats, the Pearlies are an emblem of London’s working class, speaking in Cockney rhyming slang and honoring their royal duty: to raise money for charity.
Have you ever spotted a Pearly King or Queen?
#Royals #Coronation #Kings #Queens
0:00 Meet the Pearly Queen
00:50 A brief history
01:54 The Royal Family
02:26 Pearly suits
03:23 London
04:21 Cockney singalong
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[@Messiisthebest724]

I’m glad Great Big Story is back this channel is 100000000x better than buzz feed

[@Directo13]

So true!

[@Urbaniam]

Can't Disagree

[@Stellabeam23]

Agreed!

[@zabrinna6554]

FACTSSSSS! I missed this channel so much. Didn't expect them to be back

[@stekariuki4241]

I remember when they said bye it was sad

[@crexcrow5581]

It deeply disheartens me that your videos are not reaching close to an audience you guys once had. All of you new content has been absolutely endearing and spectacular. I’m glad to have shared your previous journey and the new one your making now. Keep up the great work guys, it’s inspiringly

[@justinblin]

The show was cancelled for 2 years, so it’d probably take a while to rebuild. The videos definitely seem to be getting more popular as they go on

[@sergeirachmaninoff4467]

Right, there's been a lot of growth even in these first couple months of being back, they've started getting in the 100k view range

[@zabrinna6554]

I unsubscribed wayback when they announced that they won't be posting new content. I believe others did the same. Still glad I stumbled upon this video and will have to re-sub :)

[@iamoverone]

they signed off for almost 2 years, so probably most subscribers were gone, they don't even realize GBT is back making videos. it'd probbaly take while

[@corner559]

I had to search even though I'm subscribed and they're just now finally appearing in my recommended feed again. LOVE this channel.

[@PhryneMnesarete]

What an absolutely charming tradition! History and community and charity and folk art all rolled into one. Like a secret society

[@papadajnia268]

Nobody cares about this coronation!!! Beacouse what king and what Queen let people like boris jhonson destroying there own country with lock down and fake vaccine 😡 this royals means nothing to me if they have no power in this country.....better spend this money on charity!!!!

[@iwasglad122]

Community, community, community. We have come so tragically close to losing this vital part of our shared existence, through technology, pandemics and a shift in priorities from others to self. Delighted that the Pearlies won't let this happen without a fight!!

[@manrock1924]

Neat to see a video on it! A month or two ago I went to Muscatine, a city in iowa which made pearl buttons in the 1800's and 1900's! At its peak if I recall they made over 2 billion buttons a year there! They had a segment in their museum mentioning these people!

[@Stellabeam23]

I loved how they translated it for us 😂 I'd love to spend some time woth these folks! They would be much more fun to be with than the actual royals

[@purrfekt]

These royals are absolutely charming and earthy. I love it.

[@oakenshadow6763]

He found buttons he could have sold, left and been rich. But no. He made a legacy of lave and caring. Real royalty earned through efforts of love and kindness.

[@curiouslyt2123]

I saw pics on Pinterest looking up fashion and came across a bunch of pictures of others then thought let me check KZbin and see if there is anything on these people. I’m glad I did! She is a lovely great woman. I loved how she had a lil swag in her step as she walked down the streets proudly speaking cheer and giving out hugs! Need more of that here in the states THATS for as they say “bloody” sure! 😊

[@imageez]

Apparently this was also the reference for Sam Ryder's costume for last year's Eurovision, so this is a neat thing to learn further

[@Mariuschanges]

Hey Great Big Story! Have you guys ever heard of "Wandergesellen" ? They are a very old kind of Traveling / wandering craftsmen in Germany, they wear a certain uniform, use secret rituals and have special rules they have to follow. could be a very cool video!

[@UNION_JACK_THE_RIPPER]

We have a few of those in york every year. Some stonemasons working ont he minster

[@MillhouseSpeaks]

Fascinating

[@kathleenmcleod2023]

This makes me think of the Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans. The style is totally different but making and remaking their suits, with beautiful artistry, caring for their community, coming from a unique society within a society that is of the people. Beautiful in both cases.

[@billy4lifeify]

Nice to see you guys again

[@kaazflaaz1209]

Its a lovely history behind it - and extremely British, it's like something out of a Terry Pratchett novel.

[@3katfox]

It really does feel like that 😂

[@kaazflaaz1209]

@@3katfox at times I miss Terry and his books so much I get sad. I could take years from my life to have him alive.

[@googiegress7459]

It's surprising that some element of history or culture was NOT shoehorned into a Pratchett novel.

[@mumtrz]

Amazing to think that this all start with a bloke who decided that sewing a bunch of button to his "whistle" was a great idea

[@myoldman]

In the glossary of Cockney rhyming slang it should be: The Old Oak = London (The Big Smoke)

[@thebinarysquad5962]

No way! I missed you guys!!

[@Whaweeww]

great big story has comeback to KZbin love it!

[@TastySchu4]

So, so, SO....... glad you're back Great Big Story 😊🩷

[@andrewreynolds912]

I loved this! Amazing

[@user-cu1pf8wt8k]

Great content! Interesting and fun!

[@Unknown..Werido]

You guys are back!

[@JapaneseModernist]

This is the best channel on youtube!

[@CrazyHomelessWeirdo]

Guys, I'm so glad you're back in business. I loved your little stories way back when and now I'm glad to see you're making them again.

[@3katfox]

They show these folks briefly in Mary Poppins!

[@Akibatai00]

I knew you guys would be back!

[@shashaduke8700]

Thank You❤

[@OfficialCaptionGuy]

Britain

[@bigm6753]

Britain

[@unepicgamer4681]

Britain

[@alfredwaldo6079]

Britain

[@Kafkawaswrongbeetlesarecool]

These videos are great

[@thedayanavega1]

Love this

[@-gemberkoekje-5547]

Time traveler: Knocks one crate off or a ship. The timeline:

[@corner559]

This such a great minidoc. Had no idea these people existed.

[@MasterTopHat]

This is amazing it’s crazy

[@masterimbecile]

I just can’t even with the Cockney rhyming slangs! How precious!

[@MadComputerScientist]

What an excellent reason for a fun tradition! ❤

[@suesmith9665]

I use to collect buttons ♥. I loved pearly jacket. . Awesome.

[@ai_is_a_great_place]

People doing themselves is almost always so fascinating! Some secret they discovered lol

[@edwinbautista6493]

i thought this was going to be some dumb story. But at the end i really did apriciate it and her message she is awsome.

[@possomt6211]

Ive always seen pictures but never knew what they did!

[@sarahcampbell6102]

This is the Great Big Story I love 💕

[@JMPT]

GBS Nice

[@sakurapablo671]

Like the one inspired for the Mary Poppin movie.

[@compitalc]

*wakes up* Huh, you’re back? Oh, ok. Cool! :)

[@dianeo]

How interesting! As an American, I was not familiar with the history of the Pearlies. I'm curious as to how they raise the money for charity. Do they put on shows such as sing and dance, or play instruments to get donations?

[@root-beer]

luv u gbs

[@sergeirachmaninoff4467]

'Haute Couture, innit?'

[@pabloramosartiles3468]

Video is great, but please please work on your thumbnails to make them stand out, i'm always missing your vids on my subscribe feed, they blend into the shit youtube suggests me :(

[@EaselCat]

We like to support our king

[@astroboirap]

i know the *Pearly Neck of Brixton*

[@Bob-gn8ph]

❤John 3,16 ❤

[@GDSade]

Ernesto sosa is at scarface

[@JustJulyo]

Wasn't expecting to rely on subtitles in an English speaking video 😅

[@ricky2k1]

more legit than that QAnon queen of Canada

[@steveslater7885]

Before the break... your content was captivating, well narrated, thought out, written and planned.. This piece was none of those things.

[@channelofstar]

First

[@Sortecx]

Your first

[@alistair981]

Monarch those bloke needs.

[@veryrealperson3694]

bruh yall shouldve not made the quitting vid bc now everyone forgot abt yall, which is why ur getting no views

[@TheDisplacerBeast]

Its a shame that the uk is associated so strongly with the monarchy, as support for it is surprisingly not the majority.

[@botvis]

United 'Kingdom'. Kind of hard to loose that association with a name like that, right?

[@TheDisplacerBeast]

@@botvis names arent permanent. The USA was called “the colonies”. Then they got independence and changed their name accordingly.

[@AstorReinhardt]

I think I like this royal family a lot better then the actual royal family lol...especially with Charles coming to the throne :/

[@erica.5620]

I'd have prefered they'd stayed unknown.

[@mercadv]

OMG Great Big Story is back!

[@matthewflores4183]

I need them as a faction in a fallout London lol

[@haltsmaul.]

Bri'ish ☕, innit bruv?

[@AM-mv6ro]

Hahahaha so funny! I fell off my chair at that that joke…

[@noble7578]

First

[@Sortecx]

Nope your not