The British royal family stepped out today to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Queen Elizabeth II, and looking stylish as ever was Kate Middleton.
For the occasion, the Princess of Wales channeled her late grandmother-in-law, wearing a lilac dress and a three-strand pearl necklace that appears to be one that once belonged to the Queen. (She previously wore the necklace shortly after Queen Elizabeth’s death, during a reception for governors-general of the Commonwealth nations at Buckingham Palace.) She also wore Queen Elizabeth’s Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings for the occasion.
Kate inside the reception.
Queen Elizabeth in lilac and a different pearl necklace, on one of her final appearances before her death.
Today marks Kate’s first public appearance since Easter Sunday, when she also wore Queen Elizabeth’s Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings. The Waleses did not join other senior members of the royal family this morning at the British Museum.
Kate and her daughter Princess Charlotte on Easter Sunday earlier this month.
While the royals rarely give interviews, Kate did discuss Queen Elizabeth in the Our Queen at Ninety documentary made in honor of Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday a decadea go. “I can remember being at Sandringham, for the first time, at Christmas. And I was worried what to give the Queen as her Christmas present. I was thinking, ‘Gosh, what should I give her?’” Kate revealed. “I thought back to what I would give my own grandparents. And I thought, ‘I’ll make her something,’ which could have gone horribly wrong. But I decided to make my granny’s recipe of chutney. I was slightly worried about it, but I noticed the next day that it was on the table. I think such a simple gesture went such a long way for me.”
Upon Queen Elizabeth’s death in 2022, Prince William wrote in a tribute, “while I will grieve her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful. I have had the benefit of The Queen’s wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade. My wife has had twenty years of her guidance and support. My three children have got to spend holidays with her and create memories that will last their whole lives.”
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.
