Kate Middleton merged British label McQueen‘s modernity with jewelry symbolizing royal family history during a welcome ceremony on the Royal Dais at Datchet Road for the state visit of the Sultan of Oman to the United Kingdom on Tuesday in Windsor, England.
The Princess of Wales saw shades of green on Tuesday, sporting her McQueen coat with a Juliette Millinery hat, Chanel dark green quilted patent leather flap bag and green velvet Manolo Blahnik pointed-toe pumps for the occasion.
Along with her Cassandra Goad emerald and yellow gold drop earrings, Middleton wore the Prince of Wales brooch, pinned right next to her left lapel. The brooch, also known as the Ladies of North Wales brooch, has a long-standing history in the British royal family, per Justin Daughters, managing director at London’s vintage jewelry specialists at Berganza.
The brooch “was presented to Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863 as a wedding gift from a committee of women from North Wales, following her marriage to the future King Edward VII,” Daughters said in a statement provided to WWD.
“Its design features the three ostrich feathers associated with the Prince of Wales, alongside the motto ‘Ich Dien,’ meaning ‘I serve.'” Before Kate Middleton wore the brooch, her late mother-in-law Princess Diana wore the piece, which only added “another layer of significance,” Daughters said.
“When Kate wears it today, it creates a visible connection between generations of women who have held the title. It’s a wonderful example of how royal jewelry can preserve history while remaining relevant to a contemporary look.”
Later on during Tuesday’s festivities, Middleton, who joined senior members of the royal family to view a display of items from the Royal Collection in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, forwent her McQueen coat and showed off her Norma Kamali belted midi dress in dark forest green with a pleated skirt. The overall look, whether indoors or out, wholly accentuated the history jewelry the Princess of Wales wore.
“From a jewelry perspective, this is a particularly effective way to style historic pieces,” Daughters said. “It shows how an heirloom can sit comfortably alongside contemporary designer pieces, allowing both the history and the craftsmanship to shine.”
Tuesday’s events feted the arrival of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Sultan of Oman, to Windsor, England. The Sultan of Oman is on a three-day state visit to the United Kingdom.