Kate Middleton channelled Princess Diana in a black dress with a white frill collar as she brought Prince George to the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall for the first time.
Making her first public appearance in three weeks, the Princess of Wales looked elegant in the black Alessandra Rich dress, which she wore with her favourite Scottish Silver Thistle Brooch and poppy pin. Rather than arriving on the arm of her husband, Prince William, Kate Middleton arrived with her son Prince George, 12, who looked smart in a suit and tie and dutifully shook hands as he arrived at the central London concert venue.
In a dramatic shift from her traditional all-black Remembrance ensembles, the Princess of Wales opted for the somber black dress with contrasting prairie collar. The outfit was reminiscent of one worn by Princess Diana at the 25th London Film Festival, although many of the late royal’s looked featured the distinctive oversized collar.
Middleton added sparkle with her Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings, which once belonged to Queen Elizabeth II. The Princess of Wales has worn the jewels on a number of previous occasions—and they have a fascinating history. The then Princess Elizabeth created from a cache of seven pearls, which she received as a wedding present in 1947 from the Hakim of Bahrain. The earrings are comprised of round diamond studs, from which are suspended round and baguette-cut diamonds in an Art Deco style, plus two of of the Bahrain pearls.
In the earl years of her marriage, the Queen wore these earrings often for gala occasions and official portraits, including one taken in the 1950s—when she teamed them with two other wedding presents, including the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara and the City of London Fringe Necklace. In 1982, the Queen loaned the earrings to Princess Diana, who appeared to like them just as much, often teaming them with Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara, which was another favourite.
It marked Prince George’s first appearance at a Remembrance event and a major moment in his preparation as a King-in-waiting.
