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On Monday, the British royals gathered for the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, and we’ve got all the details on the sparkling jewels worn for the occasion.
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The annual service is the largest annual inter-faith gathering in the United Kingdom. The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, led the royal contingent. She was supported by the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.
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For the service, the Queen wore one of the most classic pieces in her jewelry box: the Jardine Star Brooch. The Victorian brooch, which features distinctive collet diamonds on knife-edge settings, was bequeathed to the Queen by Lady Jardine in 1981.
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The Duchess of Cornwall reached for favorite pearl pieces — her pearl drop earrings and her pearl choker necklace with the large diamond-set clasp — for the service. She also wore a brooch featuring a diamond-studded knot. She wore the same jewels in December for the annual Christmas Day church service near Sandringham.
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The Duchess of Cambridge looked regal in a deep scarlet ensemble for the service.
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She also debuted new jewels: modern ruby and diamond earrings. Though we’d never seen the earrings before Monday’s appearance, they’re part of a coordinating set we’ve seen Kate wear before: her Mouawad Ruby and Diamond Demi-Parure.
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Kate wore the necklace and bracelet from the set in December 2011 for the Sun Military Awards at the Imperial War Museum in London. On that occasion, she didn’t wear the coordinating earrings. Instead, she wore the earrings from her Diamond Cluster and Baguette Suite.
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Here’s a great close-up of the ruby and diamond earrings. Note the open circle drop, the rigid pendant, and the floral diamond and ruby drop.
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The service was the final official royal engagement for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Meghan wore a vibrant green outfit with matching accessories. (She’s worn several interesting pieces of jewelry over the last week; I’ll have a post later this week with a closer look at several of them.)
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She also wore a favorite pair of earrings: the Snowflake Snowstorm earrings from Birks, a Canadian jewelry firm.
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The royal party was rounded out by the Earl and Countess of Wessex.
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Sophie wore navy and white with diamond and pearl jewelry. Her earrings are from Heavenly Necklaces. The small diamond rose brooch has become one of her favorite pieces. Last year, she wore it for her official twentieth wedding anniversary portraits.
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Though it wasn’t an official Commonwealth Day event, Kate also hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace on Monday evening. The gala celebrated the 25th anniversary of Place2Be, one of Kate’s patronages. The organization provides emotional support for children at an early age, with the goal that no child should face mental health difficulties alone.
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Kate wore a lovely embellished blue gown that we saw previously during the 2016 royal visit to India.
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For the reception, Kate accessorized with a new pair of statement earrings from Erdem.
The ’60s-esque floral earrings are made of brass, crystals, and faux pearls.
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Here’s one more view of Kate wearing the earrings at Monday’s reception.