The British royals gathered in London on Saturday for an important annual event: the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance, held at the Royal Albert Hall. The royal ladies wore several pieces of significant, sentimental jewelry as they paid tribute to those who have served and sacrificed for Britain.
The Queen, still resting on advice from her doctors, did not attend this year’s event, though she will be present on the balcony overlooking the Cenotaph on Sunday. The most senior royals in attendance were the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Camilla wore elegant pearl drop earrings with one of her favorite pearl choker necklaces, featuring four strands gathered by a round diamond-set clasp. She also layered two more necklaces—her Kiki McDonough Apollo Necklace and Golden Kiwi Necklace—beneath the choker. On her right wrist, you’ll spot several layered bracelets as well, including a Van Cleef & Arpels Magic Alhambra bracelet.
She wore a slender bangle with a diamond-set elephant decoration on her left wrist. And, to secure her paper poppy, she wore a jewel with a century of royal history: the Queen Mother’s Rock Crystal Brooch.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also attended this year’s event.
Kate wore a new crystal poppy brooch from the Royal British Legion, plus jewelry pieces inherited from her late mother-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales. She donned the Collingwood Pearl Earrings and the Three-Row Pearl Bracelet from Diana’s collection (as well as, of course, the famous sapphire engagement ring).
The Princess Royal was elegant in pearls and gold. She wore the stud portion of her pearl, gold, and diamond Andrew Grima earrings, plus a three-stranded pearl necklace. She secured a trio of paper poppies with her golden stalactite brooch.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex were among the royals in attendance for the occasion as well.
Sophie wore diamond earrings with a pair of pins: a crystal poppy brooch and (partially obscured here) the badge of Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps.
The Duchess of Gloucester, pictured here behind Prince William, wore pearl drop earrings and a pearl choker necklace with a diamond clasp. She also affixed diamond clips to her collar, and I see a hint of another brooch or badge beneath her paper poppies. Birgitte is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Army Dental Corps, and I think it might be their cap badge peeking out from under the poppies.
Two ladies from the Kent family also attended. I haven’t been able to license a photograph of Princess Alexandra to publish here, but here’s a link to an image. You’ll note that she’s wearing the same jewels she wore for this week’s Windsor Castle reception: her pearl and diamond cluster earrings, her pearl choker necklace with the geometric diamond clasp, and her diamond clematis brooch. She also again wore a poppy pin, as well as a large paper poppy.
And above, you’ll see Princess Michael of Kent standing behind Prince Charles. She wore pearl cluster earrings and a classic pearl cluster brooch with a pear-shaped pearl drop for the occasion. The brooch bears an interesting resemblance to one worn by her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Kent, who usually uses it as the clasp of a pearl necklace.
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