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The Princess of Wales paid a subtle tribute to her late mother-in-law today by wearing the Prince of Wales’s feather pendant which was given to Princess Diana by the Queen Mother.
Kate, 40, cut an elegant figure in a burgundy Emilia Wickstead coat dress, paired with a matching hat, as she welcomed South Africa‘s President to the UK this afternoon.
The mother-of-three teamed her sophisticated ensemble with the glittering brooch, which contains 18 Round Cut diamonds with small emeralds that surround the Prince of Wales feathers symbol.
It was gifted to Diana by the Queen Mother upon her engagement to King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, in 1981.
The Princess of Wales paid a subtle tribute to her late mother-in-law today by wearing the Prince of Wales’s feather pendant which was given to Princess Diana by the Queen Mother
The mother-of-three teamed her sophisticated ensemble with the glittering brooch, which contains 18 Round Cut diamonds with small emeralds that surround the Prince of Wales feathers symbol
The brooch was gifted to Diana (pictured in 1986) by the Queen Mother upon her engagement to King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, in 1981
Princess Diana first debuted the brooch as a pendant at the Royal Opera House in 1982. She later wore the pendant with its attached emerald drop during a royal tour of Austria in 1986.
Bearing her husband’s heraldic badge, three ostrich feathers emerging from a diamond-encrusted coronet, it became one of Diana’s favourite accessories.
The brooch first entered the Royal Family’s collection in 1863 when King Edward VII married Princess Alexandra of Denmark. The union saw Princess Alexandra showered with gifts – including the feather brooch from the Ladies of North Wales.
It was passed down to Alexandra’s daughter-in-law, Queen Mary, and then to Mary’s daughter-in-law, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who gave it to the then Princess of Wales in 1981.
When Diana died, the piece became part of Queen Elizabeth II’s collection once again, free to be borrowed by other royal ladies with Her Majesty’s permission.
When Diana died, the piece became part of Queen Elizabeth II’s collection once again, free to be borrowed by other royal ladies with Her Majesty’s permission. Somewhat surprisingly, the first wearer of the pendant was Camilla. She wore it to a premiere with her husband in 2006 – but as a brooch, not a necklace (pictured)
Somewhat surprisingly, the first wearer of the pendant was Camilla. She wore it to a premiere with her husband in 2006 – but as a brooch, not a necklace.
For today’s outing, Kate completed her outfit with Diana’s Collingwood pearl earrings, which were given to the late princess before her wedding to Charles.
Looking effortlessly stylish, Kate paired her statement coat with a £495 Mulberry bag, as well as £560 Gianvito Rossi pumps.
Kate, alongside her husband Prince William, 40, is playing a key role in the South Africa‘s President’s visit, greeting Mr Ramaphosa, before travelling to the Horse Guards Parade to view a welcoming ceremony with the King and Queen Consort, Camilla.
During the event, the Princess swept her brunette locks behind her shoulders in her favourite bouncy blow-dry style. Meanwhile she opted for neutral makeup for the occasion, wearing a sweep of dark eyeliner and a nude lipstick.
President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, King Charles, Camilla, Prince William, and Catherine attended the Ceremonial Welcome
The royal mother-of-three was elegant as she welcomed Mr Ramaphosa today, donning the smart burgundy coat dress with a matching hat and a £495 Mulberry bag
The royal mother-of-three appeared in high spirits as she travelled to the event earlier this afternoon
Prince William, Prince of Wales, (C) and his wife Kate, Princess of Wales, greet South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa (L) at the Corinthia Hotel in London
Kate has long been a fan of Emilia Wickstead dresses and worn them on dozens of occasions.
The Collingwood earrings became firm favourites of Diana and were sported on royal tours of Australia, Canada and Italy.
The earrings feature a round diamond stud, from which is suspended an additional round diamond and a bell cap set with three more rows of small diamonds. The bell caps each contain a pearl drop.
Diana began wearing the earrings before she was Princess of Wales. They were a gift from Collingwood, a jewellery firm that was a favourite of the Spencer family. She wore them on several occasions throughout her marriage.
This morning, Charles III welcomed South African president Cyril Ramaphosa to the Royal Pavilion on Horse Guards Parade as he holds his first state visit as monarch.
Charles III has arrived at the Royal Pavilion on Horse Guards Parade as he prepares to welcome South African president Cyril Ramaphosa for his first state visit as monarch
Camilla, Queen Consort during the State Visit of the President of the Republic of South Africa
The King, joined by the Queen Consort, will make presentations to the President as the South African national anthem is played and the Guard of Honour gives a Royal Salute.
The President, accompanied by The King, will inspect the Guard of Honour, found by Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards.
Afterwards, the President will join Charles and Camilla, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales, for a carriage procession along The Mall to Buckingham Palace, where they will be met by a second Guard of Honour found by 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards.
Following a private lunch at Buckingham Palace, the King will invite Mr Ramaphosa to view an exhibition in the Picture Gallery of items from the Royal Collection relating to South Africa.
In the afternoon, the President will visit Westminster Abbey, where he will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, before taking a tour, which will include the memorial stone for Nelson Mandela, the South African President between 1994 and 1999.
Mr Ramaphosa will then visit the Palace of Westminster, where he will be welcomed by the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Lord Speaker, before delivering an address in the Royal Gallery to MPs and other guests.
In the evening, Charles, Camilla and other members of the Royal Family will give a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace for the President, who will join the King in making speeches at the start of the meal.
