Kate Middleton took a significant step in her return to public life this weekend, as she attended two major events with the royal family.
The Princess of Wales joined Prince William, King Charles and others at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Saturday, November 9 and watched the Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph on Sunday, November 10.
These are the most high-profile events the princess has attended Kate announced she had finished a in September and is now focused on remaining cancer-free.
For the poignant event on Saturday, which honoued the service of, and the sacrifices made by, the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces community, the 42-year-old wore a sombre all-black ensemble, accessorised with several sentimental jewellery choices.
As well as pinning a poppy to her black coat dress, she wore her Fleet Air Arm Brooch, which is a nod to her role as the Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm. The King appointed her the military title back in August 2023, along with two others – Colonel-in-Chief of the 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards and Royal Honorary Air Commodore of the R.A.F. Coningsby.
The brooch features a crown, laurel wreath and feathered wings, and likely also holds a deeper significance for Kate, as her grandfather, Captain Peter Middleton, served as a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II.
Her look was finished off with a few other notable pieces, including her iconic sapphire engagement ring, which previously belonged to Princess Diana. The royal has been pictured without it several times since her cancer treatment, with experts claiming she might have been wearing it less frequently for ‘comfort and practicality reasons’.
However, it was back on dazzling display at the Remembrance event, along with Princess Diana’s timeless Collingwood Pearl Drop earrings. The stunning pearl and diamond earrings were gifted to Kate’s late mother-in-law following her engagement to Charles.
Diana wore them at many royal events over the years, including as part of her going-away outfit following her wedding. Kate has also donned the special earrings many times over the years.
Her final piece of jewellery was a gold and pearl necklace by British jewellery brand Monica Vinader.
The Remembrance events continued on Sunday, November 10 as the royals attended the Remembrance Day Service. King Charles led the nation in remembering those who lost their lives in two world wars and other conflicts at the Cenotaph in central London.
He laid a wreath before overseeing a two-minute silence while joined by veterans of World War II and an assortment of religious and political leaders.
The Princess of Wales appeared on the central balcony. In 2023 Kate stood next to the Queen, but in Camilla’s absence this year due to a chest infection the princess was accompanied by the Duchess of Edinburgh.
At this event, Kate pinned three poppies to her black military-style coat instead of just one. There are several theories as to why she does this. Some believe it’s to honour different branches of the military, while others think it’s a tribute to family members who have fought and died in wars. Kate’s great-grandmother had three brothers who were all killed in action during World War I.
She paired her look with another poignant jewellery choice, wearing the Bahrain Pearl Diamond Drop Earrings from the late Queen Elizabeth’s private collection.
The jewels in the earrings were gifted to the Queen and Philip by the ruler of Bahrain in 1947 as a wedding present. They were later made into beautiful jewellery pieces and the Queen famously wore them in her first Royal Command portrait by Dorothy Wilding in July 1952.
Kate has been spotted in the earrings a number of times over the years, including most notably at Prince Philip’s funeral in 2021, and for the Remembrance Day service at Westminster Abbey in 2016.
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