Princess of Wales’s poignant style homage to late Queen
THE Princess of Wales paid a touching tribute to Queen Elizabeth II yesterday by wearing a pair of distinctive pearl and diamond leaf earrings which once belonged to the late monarch.
The earrings, which have never been seen in public before, are thought to be part of a set which also includes a large three-pearl brooch.
Kate wore the brooch at the lying- in- state service and coffin procession following the monarch’s death in September last year.
Queen Elizabeth was pictured wearing the brooch in April 1999 during a trip to South Korea. On that occasion she wore the jewellery for a special concert to mark her 7 rd birthday, at which soprano Lesley Garrett sang a special rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ in her honour.
Never a stranger to recycling outfits, the Princess of Wales wore the same black, militarystyle Catherine Walker coat for yesterday’s sombre event that she last wore four years ago.
She paired it with a widebrimmed black hat, complete with large bow, that was designed by acclaimed milliner Philip Treacy. She has now chosen the hat for Remembrance Sunday four times after wearing it in 2006, 2012 and 2017.
Beside the three poppies that the 41-year-old Princess traditionally wears for the service, she also pinned a silver brooch of the insignia of the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy.
The mother-of-three was awarded the brooch when she became Commodore-in-Chief of the FAA in August.
The reason why members of the Royal Family wear multiple poppies has never been confirmed. However, one theory is that it is to honour family members who have fought and died in wars.
The Princess’s great-grandmother had three brothers who were all killed in action during the First World War.