Jewel Predictions: Kate in India and Bhutan (Part 2)

Kate’s jewels on a visit to Uluru, April 2014 (Photos: Scott Barbour/Getty Images, Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

We discussed the jewels that Kate might wear in Mumbai and New Delhi in the first part of this post. Now let’s have a look at the rest of the tour engagements and look at what kinds of pieces we might see during the remainder of the tour of India and Bhutan.

After wrapping up the slate of engagements in New Delhi on April 12, William and Kate will travel to Kaziranga National Park. There they’ll end the evening by watching a series of musical and dance performances around a campfire. The following morning, they’ll take an open-air drive through the park. Both of these engagements sound similar to their 2014 visit to Uluru in Australia, when Kate wore her Catherine Zoraida Double Leaf Earrings. She also donned a necklace and bracelet, both gifts from local people. I expect that we’ll see Kate wear any pieces she may be given while on this tour, too.

Before leaving Kaziranga, William and Kate will also visit a wildlife conservation center and clinic and discovery center built by Elephant Family, a charity founded by Mark Shand, the late brother of the Duchess of Cornwall. I have a feeling Kate will wear the same jewelry throughout the day on April 13.

Left: Kate in New Zealand, April 2014 (Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images); Right: Kate in Australia, April 2014 (Photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

On the morning of April 14, the Cambridges will fly to Bhutan, where they will be greeted at Paro Airport by local representatives. Kate’s jewelry at airport ceremonies tends to be in line with her “uniform” — earrings that coordinate with her coat or dress. Occasionally, as she did in New Zealand and Canada, she’ll add a brooch to her outfit.

Dzi beads, prized in Bhutanese culture (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

In Bhutan’s capital city, Thimphu, William and Kate will take part in a traditional welcome ceremony. At some point during this leg of the tour, I imagine that we’ll see Kate wearing some Bhutanese jewelry. Delicate, intricate pieces in silver and gold, as well as jewelry made of coral and turquoise, are traditional forms of jewelry in Bhutan. The country also prizes the dzi bead, usually worn on necklaces or bracelets. These beads are thought to have protective powers.

The King and Queen of Bhutan (Photo: Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP/Getty Images)

William and Kate will then have a private audience with the King and Queen of Bhutan; later in the evening, they will also meet them for a private dinner. I’d imagine we’ll have a photo op from at least one of these events. In between, the Cambridges will visit Thimphu’s unique archery venue.

Kate in Australia, April 2014 (Photo: Arthur Edwards – Pool/Getty Images)

On April 15, William and Kate will embark on a 5-6 hour hike to a seventeenth-century Bhutanese monastery. (I don’t think we’ll see much jewelry — if any — for this particular event.) When they return later that evening, they will attend a reception for British nationals and others with ties to Britain.

For a similar reception during the Australian tour, Kate wore a pair of earrings featuring both clusters and baguettes. It’s been speculated that the earrings (and a coordinating bracelet) were a wedding gift from Prince Charles. This reception seems like a good opportunity for something slightly sparklier — but not overly grand — to emerge from Kate’s jewelry box.

Left: Kate wears the ring, September 2012 (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images); Right: Kate wears the ring, September 2012 (Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The following morning, William and Kate depart from Bhutan and fly to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. William’s mother was, of course, famously photographed alone before this iconic symbol of love; the tour itinerary acknowledges this and suggests that William especially wants to see the place for himself.

With Diana so much in everyone’s mind during this final tour event, I’d guess that we’ll see lots of very deliberate shots of Kate’s (and Diana’s) famous engagement ring. It’ll be interesting to see if there are any other purposeful Diana references in Kate’s jewelry or clothes. (Not that it matters — the press will find them regardless!)