Who are the Pearly Kings & Queens, and what do they do?

If you’re a Londoner or a regular visitor to the capital, chances are you’ve come across some flashy Pearly Kings and Queens (and no, I’m not talking about the ones you’ll find on the stages of Soho’s gay clubs!). You know, the ones covered head to toe in pearl buttons? For me, it’s usually in the neighboring ‘village’, Covent Garden, that I’d spot a pearly royalty with cockney charm, adorned with pearly-encrusted garments.

This summer, I was lucky enough to witness a whole group of them at the Soho Village Fete. After my request to take some pictures, I asked for their social media (obvs!) and was handed a flyer with more info. No Instagram deets found, but it got me realising that there’s so much to these Kings and Queens than what meets the eye. So I decided to delve a little deeper and share my findings with anyone else that might be as curious as I was… Who are the Pearly Kings & Queens, and what do they do?

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The Pearly motto: Honour, Trust and Loyalty

The Pearly Kings and Queens Society holds a special place in London’s cultural fabric. It consists of a group of exceptional individuals who carry on the tradition of adorning themselves in intricate and stunning pearl-encrusted garments. This fascinating practice not only captures attention but also serves a greater purpose.

Beyond their distinctive attire, the Pearly Kings and Queens actively engage in a wide range of charitable endeavours, on a completely voluntary basis. Through their tireless efforts, they help raise funds to support numerous causes and make a positive impact on the lives of others. This selfless dedication to philanthropy serves as an inspiration.

From Humble Beginnings

The ‘Pearly’ tradition has humble roots, started by a Victorian street-sweeper. According to the literature provided by The London Pearly Kings & Queens Society, the very first Pearly King is said to have been Henry Croft (24th May 1862 – 1st January 1930), an orphan and street sweeper from Somers Town.

Henry started working as a road-sweeper in his teens, until the late 1920s. He got to know several costermongers (person who sells goods, especially fruit and vegetables, from a handcart in the street) and became fascinated by their ‘flash boy’ outfits. They had a row of pearl buttons, each the size of a penny, sewn to their outside trouser seams from the ankle to the knee, with more pearl buttons on the flaps of their waistcoat and coat pockets and the front of their caps.

Henry decided to go one better and made a suit totally covered in pearl buttons, and he’d wear this to collect pennies and halfpennies to help out the children in the orphanage where he had been raised. He and his suit became a great attraction, and he was approached by hospitals, churches and other organizations to collect for the poor, deaf, dumb or blind. Eventually he had more requests for help than he could cope with single-handed.

The costermongers had a tradition of organising a whip-round for any of their number who had fallen on hard times, and Henry now asked them to help him with his charity work. They adopted the same style of costume, and so the pearly monarchy and its tradition of raising money for charity began.

When Henry died, in 1930, 400 pearly kings and queens attended his funeral in their costumes. Today, though fewer in numbers, there are many pearly kings and queens organisations with one aim of keeping the traditions alive; and that is charity.

The London Pearly Kings and Queens society can sometimes be seen around the streets of London still maintaining Henry’s legacy of support for those charities. Their invaluable work deserves recognition and support, reminding us of the importance of giving back and staying connected to our roots.

Find our more about the Pearly tradition, to donate, hire them for an event, or think you have what it takes to become a Pearly – visit: www.pearlysociety.co.uk

Written by Kai Lutterodt @the.soho.girl | Photos & Social Media: Kai Lutterodt for My Soho Times