London’s Other Royals, the ‘Pearlies,’ Keep Alive Cockney Customs
New York Times
The Pearly Kings and Queens, known for their button-festooned costumes, preserve a charitable tradition that began in the Victorian era and became a symbol of the city’s working-class culture.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/29/world/europe/london-pearly-kings-queens-cockney.html