At the VE Day 80th anniversary concert at Horse Guards Parade, the Princess of Wales embraced a look that was quintessentially Kate – understated, polished, timeless. Dressed in a tailored cream Self-Portrait dress with structured shoulders, and with a velvet bow pinned neatly in her hair, Kate finished her look with her favourite style of jewellery: pearls.
The Princess wore a statement necklace by Susan Kaplan, made up of no fewer than five strands of pearls, as well as multi-pearl earrings, which were shown off to full effect by her half-up hairstyle.
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Pearls have long held a special place in royal tradition, and Kate has consistently leaned into their elegance. Earlier this year, at the Holocaust Memorial Day service, she wore Queen Elizabeth II’s Bahrain pearl drop earrings – a wedding gift to the late monarch from the Hakim of Bahrain – along with a three-strand pearl bracelet once owned by Princess Diana.
Diana wore the bracelet for some of her most iconic appearances, notably with her “Elvis” dress on the 1989 royal tour of Hong Kong with the then Prince Charles. Passed down to Prince William, the bracelet appears to have become a particularly treasured piece in Kate’s jewellery collection, worn on multiple tours and engagements.
Pearls have continued to be Catherine’s accessory of choice for occasions of remembrance. She wore them to attend the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II, at Remembrance Day services, and now for another moment of national significance.