The Princess of Wales expressed her admiration for her mother-in-law during a service at Westminster Abbey commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Kate joined other members of the Royal Family in honoring the occasion.
Attending the Service of Thanksgiving in London, Kate paid tribute to the end of the Second World War in Europe and honored the individuals who worked towards establishing peace around the world.
She accompanied her husband Prince William, as they put on a united front just days after Prince Harry’s bombshell plea for ‘reconciliation’.
For the event, the 43-year-old chose an eye-catching outfit, donning a black and white polka dot Alessandra Rich dress paired with a black fascinator by Juliette Botterill.
Kate added a sentimental touch to her outfit by adding a pair of earrings that previously belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales.
The earrings, gifted to Diana before her wedding to the then-Prince Charles in 1981, became Diana’s firm favourites and she sported them on royal tours of Australia, Canada and Italy.
Collingwood, a jewellery firm that was a favourite of the Spencer family, presented them to Diana before she became Princess of Wales.
Diana wore them on several occasions throughout her marriage, including during her tour of the US in 1985, where she paired them with a lacy white gown and the Lover’s Knot tiara for a gala dinner at the British Embassy.
Princess Catherine of Wales made a sentimental tribute to her mother-in-law and donned a pair of earrings that once belonged Diana, Princess of Wales at today’s VE Day service
Diana also sported them with the form-fitting black dress she wore at the Vanity Fair party at the Serpentine Gallery in November 1994 in London, which then later became known as the Revenge Dress.
Kate has donned the earrings as a sweet nod to her late mother-in-law several times, including in her official portrait marking her 40th birthday.
Elsewhere today, William looked smart in a navy suit with a household decision tie and Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath Neck Order. He also donned gold jubilee, diamond jubilee, platinum jubilee, and coronation medals.
It was announced in February that mother-of-three Kate, who has made a gradual return to public duties following cancer treatment, would be attending today.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla led a host of senior royals in London as they commemorated the sacrifices of Second World War veterans and their generation.
They were joined by Prince William, Kate, Prince Edward, Sophie, Princess Anne, Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was also present as well as former PMs such as Rishi Sunak, Lord David Cameron and Boris Johnson – but there was unsurprisingly no Prince Harry or Meghan Markle, five years after they stepped down as senior royals.
A handwritten note on a wreath from the Prince and Princess of Wales said: ‘For those who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War, we will remember them.’ Another from the King on his wreath stated: ‘We will never forget.’
It was revealed that Kate would attend today’s Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in February
Kate put on an elegant display in a black and white polka dot dress from Alessandra Rich dress and a black fascinator by Juliette Botterill
Kate styled her sleek brunette tresses in an intricate up-do for the occasion, perfectly showcasing her black fascinator
The earrings, which Kate has worn on several occasions, were gifted to Diana by Collingwood, a favourite jewellery firm of the Spencer family
Kate and Queen Camilla are seen at the Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London
On May 8, 1945 the nation celebrated Victory in Europe (VE) Day with church bells ringing out across the country and people gathering to revel in the end of hostilities, with crowds gathering outside Buckingham Palace calling for King George VI.
After almost six years of fighting against Hitler’s Nazi regime peace was declared, although the war against Japan would continue until August 15 that year.
During today’s service ten-year-old Alexander Churchill, the great-great-grandson of wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill, lit a candle of peace as young members of the congregation handed out white roses to Second World War veterans.
The live televised service on BBC One began with a national two-minute silence at 12pm in honour of those who made sacrifices during the conflict, both on the front line and at home, to protect people’s freedom and shared values.
Members of the Royal Family began arriving at Westminster Abbey at about 11.50am. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh made their way into the historic church, followed by the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. Also present were the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.
Today’s event comes after the Royal Family paid tribute to veterans at a VE Day memorial in London on Monday.
Kate joined her husband Prince William and children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis as they put on a united front following Prince Harry’s call for ‘reconciliation’.
King Charles and Queen Camilla also watched the commemorations marking the end of the Second World War in Europe.
The 43-year-old opted for a glowing makeup look for the occasion, complete with a touch of pink lipstick
The Prince of Wales looked smart in a Lounge Suit with a household decision tie and Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath Neck Order
Pictured: The Princess of Wales arrives at Westminster Abbey to attend the Service of Thanksgiving
The mother-of-three added an elegant fascinator by Juliette Botterill to her ensemble on Thursday
The royal mother-of-three carried an elegant brown leather bag to complete her stunning ensemble
Mother-of-three Kate was glowing in a berry ensemble, rewearing her beloved Emilia Wickstead pleated coat dress, alongside a matching Sean Barrett pillbox hat with a bow, beige Gianvito Rossi 105 pointed pumps, and earrings.
She added a gold winged RAF brooch to pay tribute to a deep family connection on her side of the family – her paternal grandfather Peter Middleton, who served as a fighter pilot during the Second World War.
While observing the military procession along the Mall, Kate sat with her daughter Princess Charlotte – who recently celebrated her 10th birthday.
She was also seen chatting animatedly with 101-year-old Bernard Morgan, Ambassador for the Royal British Legion, who was the youngest RAF sergeant to land on D-Day.
They were joined by Prince George, 11, and Prince Louis, seven, who kept William looking sharp by brushing off his uniform on the specially built dais on the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace.
Discussing the events, a palace aide said: ‘The King, Queen and other members of The Royal Family are much looking forward to all the week’s VE Day events, when they will unite with the rest of the nation and those across the Commonwealth and wider world in celebrating, commemorating and giving thanks to the wartime generation whose selfless devotion duty and service should stand as an enduring example to us all – and must never be forgotten.’
Meanwhile, Charles was wearing Naval Uniform No.1 dress, with no medals or decorations, as his grandfather King George VI wore on the palace balcony on VE Day in 1945 – while William wore RAF No.1 Uniform.
Camilla was dressed in a sapphire blue wool crepe dress and coat, by Fiona Clare, with the 12th Royal Lancers Brooch, the regiment of her late father Major Bruce Shand.
The Princess of Wales was met by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle
Kate is seen as she arrived at the Thanksgiving Service to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day
Kate and William put on a united display today following Prince Harry’s bombshell plea for reconcilliation
Pictured: Catherine, Princess of Wales at the thanksgiving service to mark The 80th anniversary of VE Day
King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Kate at Westminster Abbey this afternoon
Kate briefly cast her eyes downwards as the Service of Thanksgiving took place at Westminster Abbey on Thursday
The Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla attend a service of thanksgiving in London on Thursday
The sun was shining as the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Westminster Abbey for the service
Pictured: The Prince and Princess of Wales attend a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London on the 80th anniversary of VE Day
Today’s event follows Monday’s fly past, which the Prince and Princess of Wales watched with their children (from L to R) Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte
The Duke of Edinburgh wore Army No.2 Service Dress of the Scots Guards, while Duke of Kent wore Field Marshal No.2 Service Dress.
Princess Anne, who was also present, wore the uniform of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal’s Volunteer Corps) with no decorations.
The late Queen Elizabeth II, as Princess Elizabeth, wore the military uniform for her palace balcony appearance on VE Day 1945 as a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Services.
Nato allies joined 1,300 members of the armed forces for the procession in the city, and the words of Sir Winston Churchill’s 1945 victory speech were spoken by actor Timothy Spall to kick off events for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.
In Whitehall, the Cenotaph was draped in a large Union flag, with the south and north face of the landmark covered. It was the first time the war memorial has been draped in Union flags since it was unveiled by King George V more than a century ago, in 1920.
Crowds started to gather on The Mall on Monday morning, with some arriving the day before to secure a good viewing spot. Caroline Tomlinson, 59, travelled from Doncaster to witness the parade and camped overnight.
Dressed in Union flags, she said: ‘I’ve been watching lots of footage from 1945 when everybody was gathering outside the palace, so just great to be a part of it here we are again 80 years later to do the very same. I got here at 2pm yesterday afternoon, sat in the red chair all night, had a little bit of sleep.
‘I’m used to this, I’ve been to the other events. I’ve been to the Platinum Jubilee, the Coronation, the Queen’s funeral, Royal weddings. Sleeping over is now my thing. It was very cold but I dressed accordingly and got through it. Slept about three times in one-hour bursts.
Kate and William joined other members of the Royal Family to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of VE Day today
The Prince and Princess of Wales are seen as they arrived at Westminster Abbey for the service today
Kate and William joined other members of the Royal Family to attend the a service on the 80th anniversary of VE Day
Kate gave William a sweet smile as he spoke with attendees at the memorial service in London today
King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Princess Kate took their seats inside Westminster Abbey
Pictured: A general view of Thursday’s Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London
The royal father-of-three wore gold jubilee, diamond jubilee, platinum jubilee, and coronation medals today
Kate and William took to Thursday’s service to remember the end of the Second World War in Europe
‘I came here alone, the community is always so lovely. I’m absolutely hoping to catch a glimpse of the Royals.’
Michael Burn, 67, arrived at The Mall outside Buckingham Palace on Monday morning. Dressed head to toe in a Union flag suit he said: ‘Obviously I’m very patriotic so I make the most of any of these events, the coronation or anything like that I’ll be here.
‘I think we’ve been very lucky that we’ve had 80 years of peace and these are very troubled times at the moment and we’ve got to think about all those that have the ultimate sacrifice and there’s very few of them left now because they’re all over 100. This is the last time we will celebrate the day in this sort of scale.’
Speaking of his suit and holding a seven foot Union flag he said: ‘I bought this for the London 2012 Olympics and have worn it at every Royal event since. ‘I can still get into it,’ he joked.
Lizzie McCrae MacIntyre, a retired Women’s Royal Air Force veteran, arrived at the Admiralty Arch at 4am to see the parade.
Ms MacIntyre, who travelled from Surrey, said: ‘It’s so important to remember those that didn’t make it home. My dad was military, my brother was Air Force.’
