The pearlies pay their respects to Henry Croft at Islington & St Pancras Cemetery

PEARLY kings and queens are sometimes mistaken for morris dancers, magicians, or members of a masonic order, but their history cuts much deeper than their iconic outfits as this week they celebrate 150 years of walking the streets of London.

Members gathered on Sunday to pay their respects to Henry Croft, the man who started their organisation and the inspiration behind their charitable endeavours.

Mr Croft was born in a St Pancras workhouse in 1861, and later became a street sweeper in Islington. He began to decorate his clothes with mother-of-pearl buttons and started to wear his pearly suit to raise money for charity in the 1870s.

John Walters, the Pearly King of Finsbury, said: “It’s an iconic thing in London. It’s a tradition that’s been going on for 150 years. We do lots for other people’s charities, we collect on a regular basis and set up events. This year we’ve raised £28,000 for charity.”

The pearlies have raised more than £2million for their charities since the organisation started. At the commemoration, attendees, including two former mayors of Islington and the great granddaughter of Mr Croft, visited Islington and St Pancras Cemetery where Mr Croft is buried. The event finished with the pearly prayer.

Mr Walters added: “Pearly is part of London culture, of Cockney culture. It’s a little bit sad that children aren’t taught about London culture, and don’t know about the traditions of the pearly kings and pearly queens”.

Like the monarchy, pearly king and queen titles get passed down generationally, meaning members are occasionally dubbed “street royalty”. Those not lucky enough to be pearly by blood can get “adopted” into the organisation, said Mr Walters, but they must have “charity at their heart”.

He added: “There are some people who want to become a pearly because they want their photograph taken, or to attend prestigious events, but they’re not willing to do the hard graft behind it, to stand out in the weather when it’s raining and cold.”

Gary Heather, former Mayor of Islington, attended the event and told the Tribune: “I was pleased to be invited to the commemoration because I believe the pearly kings and queens do a fantastic job in raising money to help the least well off in our society. Long may they continue!”

Cllr Heather added that he particularly enjoyed the “delicious” bread pudding served during the refreshments at Islington Chapel. The pearly kings and queens will be holding their annual harvest festival in the Guildhall yard on the last Sunday of September.