Kate Middleton—that is, the Princess of Wales—has arrived at Westminster Abbey ahead of the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, a hugely historic event. So it’s no wonder the royal chose to touchingly honor both the late Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana with her choice of jewelry.
To pay tribute to the two royal women who came before her, the Princess of Wales wore the late Queen’s George VI Festoon necklace, three tiers of stunning diamonds that was originally created in 1950 as a gift from King George VI to his daughter, then Princess Elizabeth before being crowned Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
Kate also honored Princess Diana by wearing her pearl and diamond earrings, which she’s worn many times before.
The Princess of Wales wore formal regal robes and a deep blue Royal Victorian Order mantle edged in scarlet—at the request of the king and queen—over an embroidered silk dress by Alexander McQueen. She didn’t opt for a tiara or flower crown but a crystal and silver bullion leaf headpiece by Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen. The embroidery work of rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrock symbolized the four nations of the UK. Princess Charlotte dressed the same in an adorable mini-me moment, matching her mother in an ivory Alexander McQueen dress with the same floral embroidery and Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen headpiece.
Kate and Charlotte were of course accompanied by Prince William, Prince George, and Prince Louis.
On May 5, Kate Middleton also paid tribute to the queen while attending a Buckingham Palace lunch to welcome governors-general and prime ministers to the realm who have traveled to London ahead of the crowning ceremony. The Princess of Wales wore Queen Elizabeth’s Bahrain pearl drop earrings, the same pair she wore to her state funeral in September last year. She paired the family heirlooms with a white Jenny Packham dress, one of her favorite designers, and slingback pumps by Aquazzura.
This post was originally published in Glamour
