Photo: Getty Images
The Princess and Prince of Wales participated in their first joint royal engagement of the year on January 27. They took part in a commemoration ceremony in London to honor Holocaust Memorial Day, on the 8th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. It was also one of Kate Middleton’s first public appearances in a slow, considered return to royal life following her remission from cancer.
Photo: Getty Images
Catherine often chooses jewelry and accessories with a royal context and more emotive connections. Recently, she was photographed carrying bags by Asprey and Smythson, both heritage label brands beloved by Queen Elizabeth II. For the memorial day event, she wore a selection of jewelry with deeper, poignant meanings. The royal opted for Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings, which were a wedding gift to the late Queen from the Hakim of Bahrain. The Queen was often seen wearing them, and she would loan them to the younger royals including Princess Diana and the then-Countess of Wessex Sophie.
It appears that they were later gifted to Kate to keep; she wore the earrings for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s 70th wedding anniversary, and both the late Queen and Prince’s funerals in 2021 and 2022.
Catherine Princess of Wales at the State Funeral Of Queen Elizabeth IIPhoto: Getty Images
Kate also debuted a new piece: a vintage, five-strand pearl Susan Caplan necklace. The brand posted to celebrate the moment on Instagram: “Today marks 80 years since the Holocaust, and as a Jewish owned brand we are honored that the Princess of Wales chose to wear our necklace for today’s memorial to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day.”
Princess Diana in Hong Kong wearing her ‘Elvis’ dress by Catherine Walker, and the aforementioned pearl bracelet.Photo: Getty Images
She also wore another poignant set of pearls in the form of a three-strand bracelet once owned by Princess Diana, who wore the piece in some of the most iconic images taken of her. She was photographed wearing the bracelet and her ‘Elvis’ dress for the 1989 tour of Hong Kong with the yet-to-be-king Charles. The bracelet was passed onto Prince William after Diana’s death. Kate has worn it on multiple tours and engagements.
Pearls are significant for the royal family as mourning jewelry, and strongly associated with moments of grief, worn as a sign of deep respect.
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
Kate dressed solemnly in all black: a black shirt, black wide-leg Rolan Mouret pants, black pumps, and a Catherine Walker coat, as well as a quilted Chanel bag. She was joined by Prince William and they met Holocaust survivors. Two such survivors were Steven Frank and Yvonne Bernstein, who were photographed by the princess with their grandchildren back in 2020.
“A solemn moment of remembrance and hope for the future at today’s Holocaust Memorial Day service,” the couple wrote on their official royal social media. “Honored to take part in this important event to commemorate the lives lost in the Holocaust and other genocides.”