Nearly 30 years after Princess Diana’s death, Kate Middleton paid a touching tribute to the mother-in-law she never met during a solemn Remembrance Sunday ceremony in London.
On Nov. 8, the Princess of Wales, 44, joined the royal family at London’s Cenotaph war memorial for the annual National Service of Remembrance, honoring British and Commonwealth service members who lost their lives in war.
Dressed in black for the solemn occasion, Kate stood alongside Queen Camilla on a balcony overlooking the memorial, where King Charles and Prince William joined other members of the royal family in laying wreaths.
But among the details of Kate’s outfit was a personal tribute that connected the occasion to Diana, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997.
Kate honors Princess Di
The princess wore the Collingwood pearl earrings, a wedding gift Diana received before her 1981 marriage to Charles, according to People.
Featuring diamond-studded settings with large, lustrous pearls suspended beneath them, the earrings later became part of Kate’s jewelry collection, allowing her to carry a piece of her late mother-in-law’s history into several royal engagements.
And Diana wasn’t the only family member remembered through Kate’s choice of accessories.
The princess also wore three red poppies, believed to honor her great-grandmother Olive Middleton’s three brothers, all of whom died while serving in World War I.
Why royals wear poppies
Poppies have been associated with remembrance since the aftermath of the First World War, with Canadian physician and soldier John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields” helping establish the flower as a symbol of sacrifice.
In Britain, the Royal British Legion distributes poppies through its annual fundraising appeal, supporting veterans and the wider Armed Forces community.
As the ceremony continued, the country observed two minutes of silence at 11 a.m., remembering those who died in military service.
‘Lest we forget’
Later, William and Kate shared photographs from the event on their joint Instagram account, accompanied by a message honoring those who served.
“Honouring all those who have served, and continue to serve, in defence of our freedom,” the post started. “On Remembrance Sunday, we remember those who gave their lives in service and reflect on the lasting impact of their sacrifice. We remember them today and always. Lest we forget.”
Prince Harry attends separate service
While senior royals gathered in London, Prince Harry and Meghan were noticeably absent from the official ceremony.
The couple, who stepped away from royal duties in 2020, returned to the U.K. with their children in late August, but the non-working royal attended a separate Remembrance Sunday service without his wife.
The Duke of Sussex, 42, joined locals in Brackley, Northamptonshire, wearing his military medals and a red poppy as he paid tribute to fallen service members.
What do you think about Prince Harry’s absence from the royal family’s ceremony and Meghan Markle not attending a service at all? Please let us know your thoughts!
Read more:
