The Deeper Meaning Behind Kate Middleton’s Remembrance Day Earrings
Kate Middleton’s jewelry choices often carry a significance beyond their sparkle. Across this year’s Remembrance commemorations, the Princess of Wales paid subtle tributes to two of the most significant women in the royal family’s history: Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana. And the personal stories behind her chosen earrings offered a poignant reminder of how royal jewels are passed between generations.
On Sunday morning, Kate joined senior members of the royal family for the National Service of Remembrance at London’s Cenotaph, where King Charles III and Prince William laid wreaths in honor of those who have lost their lives in military service. Watching from a balcony alongside Queen Camilla, the Princess wore a sharply tailored black Catherine Walker coat (a new addition to her wardrobe, from a long-favored designer that Diana also loved), with a double-breasted silhouetteSilhouetteThe overall outline or shape of a garment or look, such as A-line, column, or hourglass. Silhouette defines the first visual impression of an outfit and is often the mostGo to Silhouette Glossary, velvet buttons, and a high velvet collar, topped with an asymmetric wide-brimmed hat by Jane Taylor. But it was the familiar pearl-and-diamond earrings that carried a particularly personal significance.
The Collingwood Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings once belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. Given to Diana by London jewelers Collingwood ahead of her wedding to the then-Prince Charles in 1981, the earrings feature diamond-studded settings from which large, lustrous pearls are suspended. They became a mainstay of Diana’s jewelryJewelryDecorative adornments worn on the body, from fine pieces in gold, diamonds, and pearls to fashion jewelry made of accessible materials. Jewelry completes an outfit and often holds sentimental orGo to Jewelry Glossary collection, accompanying her to glittering state banquets and royal engagements. In the years since, Kate has made the heirlooms part of her own wardrobe, continuing their story as the current Princess of Wales and wearing them on multiple royal engagements.
There was further symbolism in Sunday’s accessoriesAccessoriesThe finishing pieces of an outfit, including bags, belts, scarves, hats, eyewear, and jewelry. Accessories can elevate a simple look or define it entirely, and fashion editors often treat themGo to Accessories Glossary. Kate fastened three red poppies to her coat alongside the HMS Glasgow Brooch, a sterling silver piece specially commissioned by Glasgow jeweler James Porter & Son in 2025 to mark her role as sponsor of the Royal Navy warship. Its design incorporates the ship’s crest, the Scottish thistle, and a depiction of St. Kentigern, Glasgow’s patron saint. The three poppies, have been linked to Kate’s own family history: three brothers of her great-grandmother Olive were killed during the First World War, although the Princess has never publicly confirmed the connection.
The previous evening, Kate had reached for a different pair of royal heirlooms. Attending the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall with Prince William, she wore Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Orbital Pendant Earrings, also known as the Queen’s Diamond Frame Earrings. The intricate jewels feature a floral diamond cluster at the ear and a cascade of graduating diamonds enclosed within a glittering frame. While their precise origins remain unknown, Elizabeth wore them on several occasions, including the State Opening of Parliament in 2012.
Kate Middleton first wore the earrings publicly in 2016 and has since chosen them for significant moments, including Princess Eugenie’s wedding in 2018 and her own official 40th birthday portraits in 2022. For Saturday’s ceremony, she paired them with a black-and-white pleated polka-dot dress by Alessandra Rich—another sentimental wardrobe repeat, having previously worn it to Prince Philip’s memorial service at Westminster Abbey in March 2022. A black suede Ba&Sh belt, pointed Alessandra Rich slingbacks, a velvet Jimmy Choo clutch, and her Irish Guards Regimental Brooch finished the ensemble.
Across two consecutive days, the Princess’s choices traced a line through three generations of royal women. From Elizabeth’s glittering diamonds to Diana’s unmistakable pearls, these were jewels carrying memories as well as history. And at a time of national reflection, Kate’s wardrobe offered its own quiet tribute to those who came before her.
This article was originally published on Vogue.com.