It was an occasion to remember in London yesterday as King Charles, Queen Camilla and other members of the royal family all took to the Buckingham Palace balcony to help commemorate and kick off a week of celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, which honors the end of World War II in Europe on May 8, 1945.
Kate Middleton Dazzles on Palace Balcony—But I Can’t Get Over What’s Around Her Wrist (and Its Connection to Diana)
Her sentimental brooch also gave us all the feels
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Published May 6, 2025
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Kate Middleton in particular stood out in the crowd, opting to repeat a beloved Emilia Wickstead coatdress in magenta. Still, it was her choice of jewelry that caught our eye—namely a three-strand pearl bracelet that once belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
That’s not all: Kate also wore the gold winged Royal Air Force brooch pinned to her lapel, thought to be a nod not only to her paternal grandfather, Peter Middleton, who served as a fighter pilot during the war, but also to her position as commodore-in-chief of the RAF. (She was appointed to the role in 2023.) The Princess of Wales rounded out her look with a bit of sparkle, donning a pair of diamond and ruby cluster earrings and a necklace to match. (Rubies are typically thought of as a symbol of love and strength, which is a nice message to send on an occasion such as this.)
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But back to Diana’s bracelet: Designed by Nigel Milne in 1988, it was part of a special collection supporting Birthright, a British charity that supported mothers and babies and one for which Diana was named patron in 1984, according to the Court Jeweller. In fact, the late Princess of Wales reached for it on a variety of occasions including to pair with her iconic Catherine Walker “Elvis” dress. We see a lot of synergy with Kate, who now has access to the royal jewelry vault, reaching for this piece, especially given her work with young children and focus on helping parents nurture their kids in the first five years of life.
A special occasion calls for special jewelry, that’s for sure. Kate absolutely got it right with thoughtful nods to the past, present and future, all in one look.
