Key Takeaway
In mother-of-pearl suits, the Pearly Kings used to canvass East London for charity. The most famous one, George Major, died in August.
Published October 1, 2026 · Category: News
Overview

In mother-of-pearl suits, the Pearly Kings used to canvass East London for charity. The most famous one, George Major, died in August. A look back on this larger-than-life figure and the Pearly King tradition.
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(Image credit: Tony Kershaw)
Source
Originally published at www.npr.org.
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What is "What a Pearly King taught me about Cockney rhyming slang and East London history" about?+
In mother-of-pearl suits, the Pearly Kings used to canvass East London for charity. The most famous one, George Major, died in August. A look back on this larger-than-life figure and the Pearly King tradition.
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This story was reported by NPR News.