Kate Middleton’s chasing away the Monday blues.
The Duchess of Cambridge joined the royal family at the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey today — and while her blue Catherine Walker coat dress reflected one of the colors of the Commonwealth’s flag, her outfit also revealed a touching hidden meaning.
The sapphire-and-diamond earrings and necklace she sported were the same ones she wore to meet Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky back in 2020, as eagle-eyed blogger The Court Jeweller pointed out on Twitter.
At the time, Middleton paired the earrings and previously unseen necklace with a cornflower blue belted dress when she and Prince William held an audience with Zelensky and his wife, Olena.
This isn’t the first time Middleton, 40, has shown her support through fashion for the people of Ukraine. On March 9, she sported a flag pin and an Alexander McQueen sweater in Ukrainian blue to visit a Ukrainian cultural center in London.
For today’s outing, the duchess wore her pillbox hat also by Catherine Walker, who was a favorite of the late Princess Diana and whose apparel Middleton wears often.
Commonwealth Day is an annual event that celebrates the 54 member countries and 2.5 billion people around the world who come together to make the Commonwealth of Nations.
Today marks the first time the service was held in person since 2020’s memorable event — the last outing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended with the royal family before leaving for a life in California.
Unfortunately, the Queen opted to stay home for today’s service, with the 95-year-old remaining at Windsor Castle as she continues taking on light duties following her recovery from COVID-19.
However, she took the occasion to issue a statement reaffirming her commitment to the crown. “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,” she said.
In the Queen’s absence, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall attended along with the Queen’s cousin Princess Alexandra and the Cambridges.
While Kate and William skipped the BAFTAs, royal fashion fans are in luck: She’ll appear again at a St. Patrick’s Day event this week.
