Princess Kate wore a symbolic pair of pearl drop earrings that once belonged to Princess Diana during Thursday's 80th anniversary VE Day service at Westminster Abbey, a public gesture that comes amid renewed tension within the royal family following Prince Harry's televised appeal for reconciliation and personal security.
The Collingwood pearl drop earrings, famously worn by Diana with her so-called "revenge dress" in 1994, were part of the Princess of Wales's ensemble as she joined other royals in commemorating the Allied victory in Europe. Kate paired the sentimental heirloom with a black-and-white polka dot midi dress by Alessandra Rich, a black fascinator by Juliette Botterill, Ralph Lauren pumps, and a Demellier purse.
Princess Diana notably wore the same earrings the night King Charles was interviewed about his extramarital affair, pairing them with a Christina Stambolian dress that dominated headlines the next day. Thursday's reappearance of the jewels by Kate has drawn attention not only for their fashion legacy but also for their timing.
The royal couple's joint appearance at Westminster comes just days after Prince Harry's BBC interview aired, in which he said he was "desperate" to mend ties with his family. "Human life and safety is the sticking point," the Duke of Sussex said, referencing the UK government's decision to revoke his publicly funded security after he stepped down from royal duties in 2020.
Harry also referred to the death of his mother, Princess Diana, during the conversation, intensifying the emotional context of his request. The memory of Diana loomed large in both Harry's statements and Kate's sartorial choice - a visual reminder of shared grief amid ongoing estrangement.
Prince William and Kate appeared united at the public service, even as their relationship with Harry remains strained. Tensions have mounted since Harry's move to the United States and the publication of his memoir, which included pointed criticism of the royal family.
Kate has worn Diana's Collingwood pearl earrings on numerous previous occasions, including with the Queen Mary Lovers Knot tiara, another of Diana's favored pieces. The earrings' reappearance at such a significant event has been widely interpreted as a pointed, if silent, nod to the late princess and the divided family she left behind.
