The day after Prince William posted a photo of his mother Princess Diana to celebrate Mother’s Day in England, his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales gave her elegant and emotional tribute.
Catherine showed a calm mastery of dress and tiara diplomacy at the national dinner of Nigerian president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his first wife Reni Tinubu at Windsor Castle. Catherine’s modest, high-necked green gown by Singaporean designer Andrew Ng was a nod to the Nigerian flag but her choice of tiara quietly cemented her growing connection to Diana’s lasting legacy.
With its 19 dangling pearls, the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara, made for Queen Mary in 1913, has become Catherine’s favorite piece of jewelery for formal occasions. This is the fourteenth time she has worn the tiara, since it was removed from the royal suite in 2015, following Diana’s death in 1997.
A well-known heavy head it was also Diana’s first choice for events where a full display of majesty was required.
Since marrying Prince William at Westminster Abbey in 2011Catherine has often referred to Diana’s fashion choices. Earlier this month Catherine visited the Royal National Lifeboat Institution tower on the River Thames in a baseball cap, preppy blazer and jeans, which were straight out of Diana’s playbook.
In 2018, Catherine wore a red dress with a white collar to introduce newborn Prince Louis to photographers, resembling Diana in the same color when she posed with newborn Prince Harry in 1984 at the same hospital.
Catherine’s diplomacy is increasingly updating Diana’s wardrobe choices. Rather than appearing to take sides, with Diana divorcing then-Prince Charles in 1996, Catherine is careful to honor the King with her choice of clothing.
While greeting the Nigerian contingent earlier in the day, Catherine wore a gray double-breasted jacket with white trim and buttons by Nigerian-British designer Tolu Coker.
On the first day of London Fashion Week, King Charles made headlines by sitting front row at Coker’s runway show, on a gold cushion, hours after his disgraced brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Coker was a recipient of the Prince’s Trust (now the King’s Trust) in 2018 when he decided to pursue launching his own brand, following roles at JW Anderson, Celine and Maison Margiela.
A unique hat made by milliner Jane Taylor and Collingwood pearl earrings, which once belonged to Diana, completed the look.
While Catherine paid tribute to Diana, Queen Camilla looked to her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth for inspiration. In a cherry-blossom pink dress by favorite designer Fiona Clare, Camilla wore Greville Ivy Leaf clips on her bag. They were presented to the Queen and the Queen Mother for her 21st birthday.
At the state dinner, in a cream gown designed by Fiona Clare, Camilla wore the Belgian Sapphire Tiara, converted into a headpiece from a necklace by Queen Elizabeth in the 1960s.
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