Jackie O wasn’t the only fashion legend that the Duchess of Cambridge chose to emulate for yesterday’s service at Westminster Abbey—Kate’s sapphire set, consisting of a necklace and earrings, belonged to her late mother-in-law Princess Diana. It’s thought that the duchess’s choice of blue was to demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine (Kate wore a blue jumper for her and Prince William’s visit to the Ukrainian Cultural Centre last week.) Diana’s sapphires were a further nod to Ukraine—Kate also wore them when she and William met Ukraine’s President Zelensky and his wife First Lady Olena Zelenska in December 2020. We loved how Kate perched the pillbox hat over her tumbling curls—so princessy! Her blue wool coat is by Catherine Walker. The pillbox style marks a big departure for Kate when it comes to Commonwealth Day service—between 2015 and 2020 she only wore fascinators and broad-brimmed hats. Her sister-in-law Duchess Meghan was the first royal to popularise the pillbox style for modern times—remember the iconic white outfit she wore when pregnant with Archie to Commonwealth Day service in 2019? Commonwealth Day is an important event in the royal family’s calendar, with Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla joining Kate and William at Westminster Abbey. However, Queen Elizabeth IIwas notable for her absence. This was the first Commonwealth Day service the 95-year-old monarch missed since 2013. The queen made the decision not to travel from Windsor Castle—which she recently made her permanent home, after 70 years of Buckingham Palace being her official residence—and in a statement said, “In this year of my Platinum Jubilee, it has given me pleasure to renew the promise I made in 1947, that my life will always be devoted in service.” Next up, What Will Duchess Kate’s Title Be When Prince William Is King?
