The Princess of Wales paid tribute to Princess Diana during Anzac Day commemorations in London, choosing an outfit that echoed one of her late mother-in-law’s memorable royal looks. At the wreath-laying and parade at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, Kate appeared in a bespoke navy Alexander McQueen coat dress that closely resembled a Catherine Walker suit worn by Diana in 1995. According to Daily Mail, the connection was strengthened by Kate’s accessories, which included Diana’s sapphire double cluster earrings as she joined commemorations honoring fallen soldiers.
Also interesting:
Spilling wedding wisdom
Princess Diana Link in Kate’s Navy Ensemble
The visual parallel drew attention because Diana had worn her navy skirt suit with white detailing while presenting new colours to the Light Dragoon Guards Regiment in Bergen, Germany, in 1995. Kate’s version kept the same polished tone, though she styled it with her long hair down rather than Diana’s shorter signature cut. For the London service, she completed the look with a bespoke Jane Taylor hat, Gianvito Rossi pumps and a DeMellier navy bag. The result was formal, restrained and deeply in keeping with the significance of the day.
Diana’s Sapphire Earrings Return for Memorial
The most personal detail may have been the earrings. Diana wore the sapphire double cluster pair on several occasions before her death in 1997, including a 1991 visit to Canada and the 1996 Met Gala in New York. Kate has turned to the earrings repeatedly for major public engagements, making them one of the most recognizable pieces she has inherited from Diana’s collection. She also added a rarely seen tanzanite and diamond necklace from G Collins and Sons, believed to have been a gift from Prince William in 2015.
Kate Joins Veterans at Westminster Abbey
After the Cenotaph ceremony, Kate visited Westminster Abbey for a service attended by veterans, royals and politicians. She later greeted two young boys and their serving mother, stopping to shake hands and speak with them after the service. Princess Anne also took part in the day’s commemorations, laying a wreath at Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, at 5 a.m. The occasion included a reading of John McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields” and performances by members of the Ngati Ranana Maori Club London, adding tradition and reflection to the ceremony.
Prince William Gifts Add Meaning to Kate’s Wardrobe
This is not the first time Kate’s jewelry choices have carried a family connection. As reported by Daily Mail, she recently wore Cartier Trinity hoops during an outing in London with Prince William, with the earrings believed to mark her 43rd birthday. The design, made of intertwined white, yellow and rose gold bands, is thought to reference the couple’s three children. Diana was also a fan of Cartier’s Trinity collection and often wore a Trinity ring, giving Kate’s modern pieces another link to the past through subtle royal symbolism.
