At the 80th anniversary VE Day concert at Horse Guards Parade, Kate Middleton – aka Catherine, Princess of Wales – was quintessentially Kate style: understated, elegant and timeless.
She wore a tailored cream Self-Portrait dress with flowing shoulders, which she completed with her favourite pearl jewellery. The other – and very on-trend – royal accessory? A large velvet bow strategically pinned to her head.
The princess accessorised with a Susan Kaplan necklace made up of no less than five strands of pearls, and multi-pearl earrings that really stood out against her half-tied hair.
Pearls have always had a special place in royal tradition, and Kate has always been devoted to their elegance. Earlier this year, at a Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony, she wore Queen Elizabeth II’s Bahraini pearl drop earrings – a wedding gift from the Hakim family of Bahrain to the late monarch – and a three-strand pearl bracelet once owned by Princess Diana.
Princess Diana wore the bracelet in some of her most iconic appearances, notably during a 1989 visit to Hong Kong with then-Prince Charles, where she donned an Elvis-inspired dress.
The bracelet was later passed down to Prince William and appears to have become a particularly treasured piece in Kate’s jewellery collection, worn on many of her visits and engagements.
Accessories are where the princess really shines in style. Her handbags are often filled with personal essentials and treasures from royal history – one of the bags she recently wore to public events was from Asprey, a British luxury brand favoured by the late Queen Elizabeth II. For sunglasses, she opted for London-based independent label Finlay & Co. eyewear, made in Italy.
So it’s only natural that the aforementioned black velvet bow has a fashion story to tell. For years, especially in her early years as a royal, Catherine has worn her signature Sloane ponytail for an elegant and stylish look.
But this latest look is a more sophisticated and timeless take on what is now a contemporary trend.
Pearls have also long been Kate Middleton’s accessory of choice for commemorative occasions. She wore them to the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II, to Remembrance Day services, and now for another moment of national celebration.