The Royal Family welcomed Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman for a state visit at Windsor Castle on October 20, and Princess Kate brought out some symbolic jewelry for the historic occasion.
Wearing a green Alexander McQueen coat that nodded to one of the colors of Oman’s flag, the Princess of Wales joined King Charles, Queen Camilla and Prince William to kick off the first Omani state visit in 44 years. She kept the green theme going with her jewelry, going for a meaningful piece from the royal vaults combined with a brand-new design.
Kate chose the Prince of Wales Feathers Brooch, a piece that “brings a real sense of royal history to Kate’s look,” says Justin Daughters, managing director at antique and vintage jeweler Berganza.
"Also known as the Ladies of North Wales Brooch, it 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 says of the diamond brooch with a cabochon emerald drop.
Interestingly, although the piece was originally a brooch, it was converted into a pendant and worn as a necklace by Princess Diana on several occasions, since like Princess Alexandra, she was also the Princess of Wales. When Queen Camilla married King Charles in 2005, she was never officially given the Princess of Wales title, but she made the at-the-time controversial move of converting Diana's necklace back into its original brooch form.
"When Kate wears it today, it creates a visible connection between generations of women who have held the title," Daughters shares. "It’s a wonderful example of how royal jewelry can preserve history while remaining relevant to a contemporary look.”
Instead of choosing another piece of historic royal jewelry like she typically does, Kate opted for a modern design, debuting a pair of gold Cassandra Goad earrings with sparkling green chrome diopside drops.
Chrome diopside isn't as widely known as the emerald, but is considered a more affordable alternative that keeps the same rich green color. Kate's earrings—which are sold without the hoops she wore them on—were designed to mimic the acai berries designer Cassandra Goad saw on a trip to Brazil.
“What makes this particular look so effective is the way Kate has brought together different elements," Daughters says. "Rather than choosing pieces that match exactly, Kate has brought together different eras through considered styling.”
While her brooch nods to a long history of the princesses of Wales before her, the new earrings show that Kate is also her own woman. “From a jewelry perspective, pairing historic pieces with contemporary designs is an effective way to create individuality," Daughters says.
"Different designs can sit comfortably together when their proportions, colors and overall aesthetic complement one another, allowing each piece to retain its own character," he adds.