The Story Behind Kate Middleton’s Remembrance Day Jewellery
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4 weeks ago
The Princess of Wales paid tribute to late members of the royal family at this year's service
This weekend marked the annual observance of Remembrance Day, where the nation gathers to honour and remember those who have fallen while serving in the armed forces. A major event for the royal family, we saw many members pay their respects and put in appearances over the weekend – including the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, whose sentimental jewellery choices on Remembrance Day once again caught the public eye.
Kate Middleton Marks 15th Remembrance Day Appearance
True to tradition, the royals took part in a programme of events of the weekend to mark Remembrance Day. Key members of the royal family were in attendance, including King Charles and Queen Camilla, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales – and their son, Prince George.
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Spread over the course of the weekend, the events attended by the royals included the Festival of Remembrance on Saturday evening and the National Service of Remembrance on Sunday morning. The annual observance, which honours those who have died in war and conflict, this year also marked the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Kate Middleton made an appearance at both events, first stepping into the Royal Albert Hall for the festival with Prince George (who made his debut at the event) at her side. (Absent from the evening, Prince William was travelling back to the UK from the 2025 Earthshot Prize celebrations in Brazil.) On Sunday, she joined other senior members of the royal family – including her husband – at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.
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Sharing moments from the weekend on Instagram, the Prince and Princess of Wales commented: ‘On Remembrance Sunday, we pause to reflect on the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice of all who have served – and continue to serve – in defence of our freedoms. We remember them, today and always.’
What Did The Princess of Wales Wear?
As always, Kate Middleton remains an excellent example of how to bring elegance to ceremonial events. While sticking to black throughout the weekend, the Princess of Wales still appeared modestly stylish.
On Saturday evening, the royal walked into the Royal Albert Hall wearing a black tailored dress by Alessandra Rich – recognisable by its vintage-style Peter Pan collar and black bow on the front – and holding Mulberry’s Bayswater Wallet in black suede.
The Sunday service, meanwhile, saw the Princess of Wales opt for one of her trusty Catherine Walker coats (this one was apparently first seen at the 2022 Remembrance Day service). As she’s done with previous coats, the royal updated this one with a new neckline – specifically with a black lace jabot and pie crust collar – to give it a fresh look. She paired the coat with a sculpted black hat by Lock & Co., alongside various brooches and pins.
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But as always, the more symbolic pieces in the royal’s Remembrance Day wardrobe tend to be jewellery. Below, we dive into the more prominent pieces she wears year after year.
Deep Dive: Kate Middleton’s Remembrance Day Jewellery
The Collingwood Earrings
Kate Middleton regularly draws on this pair of earrings during Remembrance Weekend, as they pay tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. The Collingwood earrings were handed down to Middleton upon her engagement to Prince William, and were favoured items amongst the late Princess of Wales’s jewellery collection.
The earrings were a gift to Princess Diana after the news of her engagement to Prince Charles in 1981, from the Spencer family’s jeweller, Collingwood (hence the name). The royal first wore them a month before her wedding, as well as on the big day itself with her going away outfit.
Years later, the Collingwood earrings made an appearance in the wardrobe of the future Princess of Wales: Kate Middleton. The late Queen Elizabeth II loaned earrings (alongside Diana’s famous Lover’s Knot tiara) to the young royal for ‘a lifetime’. The pearls reentered the public eye – almost 23 years after their last sighting – at the 2017 Spanish Banquet.
Middleton has worn them on multiple occasions since, and their latest outing during Remembrance Day offered a lovely nod to the former Princess of Wales.
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The Bahrain Earrings
The Collingwood set aren’t the only pair of keepsake earrings the royal reaches for during this annual observance. Another pair of pearl drop earrings from the royal vault, the Bahrain earrings once belonged to Queen Elizabeth II. They were gifted to the late monarch by the ruler of Bahrain in 1947, and made multiple public appearances over her lifetime.
Middleton has also worn the Bahrain earrings on many occasions, including previous Remembrance Sunday services in 2016, 2019 and 2024, as well as to the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh in 2021.
And, in wearing the earrings once more this year, the Princess of Wales was able to honour the late Queen while keeping with Remembrance Day traditions.
The RAF Wings Brooch
Another item we see regularly in Kate Middleton’s Remembrance Day wardrobe, the royal often wears the RAF Wings Brooch on the Sunday service. Traditionally given by servicemen to their partners as mementos before leaving for service, these brooches were worn by loved ones to show support and pride.
It’s thought that Middleton’s brooch could be a tribute to her late grandfather, Peter Middleton, who served as a fighter pilot during the Second World War.
The Poppy Pin
It’s not uncommon for public figures in the UK to wear poppy pins throughout November as a show of remembrance – but this year, the Princess of Wales wore a special pin for the weekend’s events. In past years, the royal has worn a a three poppy pin (speculated to honour her great-grandmother’s three brothers, who died in action during World War I), but for 2025 she opted for a single poppy.
The pin in question was made for Lock & Co. by Izzy Ager, a recent graduate of the Royal School of Needlework. It features a large poppy handcrafted in traditional Raisedwork and Goldwork techniques, and apparently took around 12 hours to make.
Kate Middleton on Remembrance Sunday 2024 (c) UK Government, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Why Do The Royals Wear Pearls On Remembrance Day?
As you might have already spotted, pearls are a significant choice for British royals when it comes to mourning jewellery.
The tradition dates back to Queen Victoria. Following the passing of her husband in 1861, the then-Queen resorted to an all-black wardrobe – accessorised only by colourless jewellery and pearls. In the following decades, pearls came to represent the royal’s deep grief, and became synonymous with mourning.
Later in the 19th century, pearls came to symbolise tears. They were adopted soon after by the royals as a demure and respectful choice during funerals, periods of mourning and (many years later) Remembrance Day.
Many other members of the British royal family have followed Queen Victoria’s lead in the years since, including Princess Diana, who notably wore pearls to the funeral of Princess Grace of Monaco in 1982, and Queen Elizabeth II, who wore pearls to the funerals of Princess Diana, Princess Margaret and King George VI.
WATCH
You can watch this year’s Remembrance Day events on BBC iPlayer. bbc.co.uk
