Kate Middleton accessorized her blue Eponine London coatdress with a rewear of her buzzy honeycomb bee earrings by African high jewelry brand Vanleles during a visit to Christie cancer care hospital on Thursday in Manchester, England.
Kate Middleton
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The Princess of Wales’ earrings were crafted in 18-karat yellow gold and featured the brand’s Nile hoop earrings with dangling bee charms. The bees themselves, also crafted in a yellow gold with black stripe accents, featured winged detailing and smaller gemstones.
The earrings have been part of Middleton’s jewelry collection for years, and were most notably worn in May 2022 when the British royal family member and her husband, Prince William, attended the dedication of a memorial honoring the victims of 2017’s Manchester Arena bombing at an Ariana Grande concert.
Kate Middleton
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The bee is a significant symbol for Manchester, representing the city’s resilience, community and its people’s work ethic. Founded by Vania Leles, Vanleles merges cultural significance and its African roots with modern charms and designs, qualities that also evoke Middleton’s approach to her royal wardrobe.
Along with the 18-karat yellow gold earrings, the Princess of Wales wore a blue coatdress by Eponine London, a piece she’s also had in her closet for years. Middleton completed the look with suede praline pumps by Gianvito Rossi and wore a pendant necklace by London-based Astley Clarke.
Kate Middleton
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Thursday’s visit to Christie cancer care hospital held extra meaning for the Princess of Wales. The British royal disclosed in March 2024 that she was undergoing treatment for her own cancer diagnosis; in September 2024, she revealed the completion of her chemotherapy.
“Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes,” Middleton said in her September 2024 video, shared via the Prince and Princess of Wales’ official social media channels. “I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.”
Kate Middleton
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Prior to Thursday’s outing in Manchester, Middleton attended a reception at St James’s Palace in London for Cancer Research U.K. to mark the charity’s 125th anniversary, at which she wore a Rodarte midi dress in red with a playful white heart motif.