The Princess of Wales was a stately and solemn figure as she dressed in a black Catherine Walker coatdress for Remembrance Sunday today (November 12, 2013). The mom of three was emotional at the Cenotaph in Whitehall for the annual tribute to British and Commonwealth military soldiers and civilians who lost their lives in wartime.
The princess watched the proceedings including the laying of wreaths by King Charles and Prince William from the Foreign Office central balcony alongside Queen Camilla.
For the somber occasion, the princess wore a tailored military-inspired coat by Catherine Walker. The structured coat bears a resemblance to an Officer’s Jacket or Commander Coat — it features a high collar, zip-up front and military frogging complete with tassels. The ‘uniform coat’ also has corded braiding across the front and a pointed collar.
The princess first appeared in the jacket in November 2019 when she stood alongside Queen Elizabeth and then Duchess Camilla on the balcony in a Philip Treacy hat with a short balck veil.
Today, the princess opted for another Philip Treacy hat — a piece that has been in her closet for years. It appears she wore the large brim swirl hat by the milliner for the fourth time. She’s been spotted in the design on a few occasions prior — she donned the ‘loopy’ hat in December 2006 to watch the Sovereign’s Parade at Sandhurst Military Academy in Surrey, England as well as for Remembrance Sunday in November 2012 and November 2017.
Kate also added a new silver brooch to the Remembrance ensemble –the Badge of The Fleet Air Arm of which she is Commodore in Chief.
The princess also wore new pearl and diamond leaf earrings believed to part of the Queen’s brooch set. Kate has worn the brooch on a few occasions but never the earrings.
She donned the pearl leaf brooch in Belgium in 2017 and also for the Queen’s funeral procession service in September 2022. The Queen was previously spotted wearing the large pearl earrings on November 5, 2003 in Nigeria for a Commonwealth dinner.
The princess also wore her Cornelia James Imogen black gloves featuring a bow.
In addition, Princess Kate carried a new Jennifer Chamandi clutch — a bespoke black buckle bag featuring a decorative accent called “the eye of the needle.”
The Le 8 bag is minimal but glamorous — the bag is inspired by the sharp structure of an envelope and has a magnetic fastening and internal zip pocket. While the bag is designed in a range of colors in satin, Kate’s bag appears to be crafted in suede.
Princess Kate completed the look with a pin featuring three poppies long believed to be honoring the three sons of Kate’s great-great-grandfather Francis Martineau Lupton; his three children were killed in the line of duty within two years of each other. Captain Maurice Lupton died at age 28 in 1915, while his brother Lieutenant Lionel Lupton died the following year age 24 and Major Francis Lupton died in 1917 aged 31.
