The royal family has welcomed Donald Trump to Windsor Castle for his historic second state visit, with both the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, and Queen Camilla opting Wednesday to wear highly poignant brooches for the occasion.
Kate Middleton adorned her monochrome burgundy look with an heirloom brooch featuring Prince of Wales Feathers, in recognition of her title and position within the royal family. The brooch features a diamond-encrusted Prince of Wales Three Feathers emblem encircled with more diamonds, with emeralds and rubies dotted throughout, royal authority The Court Jeweller noted. The brooch has historically been worn by the woman married to the Prince of Wales. On this outing, the Princess chose not to wear the additional single emerald drop that can be added to the piece.
The Prince of Wales Feathers brooch has been worn a number of times by Queen Camilla, including to Cheltenham Ladies’ Day in 2012, despite Camilla never using the title of Princess of Wales on a formal basis. It was also sported by the late Princess Diana, although she preferred to wear it as a pendant on a necklace. It brought sparkle to her ensemble for an outing to the Royal Festival Hall in 1996, and on an outing to the Royal Opera House in 1982 that was recreated in The Crown. The late princess also wore the necklace on a state visit to Austria in 1986.
The brooch also has a fascinating royal history, notes The Royal Watcher. It was given to Queen Alexandra as a gift for her wedding to King Edward VII in March 1863.
