With an extraordinary selection of jewels from the royal vaults at her disposal, Kate Middleton could easily rely solely on historic heirloom pieces for major occasions. Yet the Princess of Wales excels at blending jewellery rich in royal history with contemporary additions from her own collection — something she demonstrated beautifully on the first day of the German state visit to Britain.
After welcoming Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and First Lady Elke Büdenbender, Kate and Prince William accompanied the couple to Windsor Castle for a tour of a specially curated exhibition featuring Royal Collection items with ties to Germany.
Earlier that morning, as she greeted the German delegation at Heathrow, the Princess showcased an ensemble from her existing wardrobe: a bespoke royal-blue coat by Alexander McQueen, paired with a coordinating Juliette Botterill Bow and Arrow hat and navy boots.
As expected from the Princess of Wales, her jewellery choices were rich with meaningful references to her royal heritage. Her Cabochon Sapphire Drop Earrings, for instance, were once treasured by Princess Diana, who wore them during a state visit to Canada in 1991 and again at the Met Gala in New York in 1996. On her lapel, Kate pinned Queen Alexandra’s Three Feathers Brooch — a dazzling piece dating back to 1863 and traditionally worn by the wife of the Prince of Wales.
Beneath her Alexander McQueen coat, Kate wore a polished black dress by the heritage British label Burberry. She introduced a subtle shift in styling for lunch after the welcome ceremony and carriage procession to Windsor Castle.
After removing her hat and coat, she kept Diana’s sapphire earrings in place and added a five-strand pearl necklace — a cherished piece from her own jewellery collection.
The striking necklace comes from Susan Caplan, a jeweller known for curating vintage pieces. Described on the brand’s website as “pure drama,” the 1980s design features faux pearls in graduating sizes, secured with a Swarovski crystal clasp.
The Princess first wore it in January this year at a Holocaust Memorial Service at the Guildhall — a deeply meaningful choice given the label’s history.
As the brand shared on Instagram: “Today marks 80 years since the Holocaust, and as a Jewish-owned brand we are honoured that the Princess of Wales chose to wear our necklace for today’s memorial to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day.”
Kate Middleton has worn the necklace several times since, including at the VE Day 80th anniversary concert at Horse Guards Parade in May.
On that occasion, she paired it with matching pearl earrings — also from Susan Caplan — and a white bouclé and chiffon midi dress by the high-street brand Self-Portrait. The look clearly resonated with her, as she repeated the exact same outfit for the Order of the Garter celebrations a month later, this time adding a new wide-brimmed hat by milliner Sean Barrett.
Kate has long shown a talent for blending high-end designer pieces with more accessible, affordable styles. She demonstrates the same skill with her jewellery — effortlessly pairing historic family heirlooms with pieces she has chosen herself to create a thoroughly modern royal aesthetic.
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