The Duchess of Rothesay—as the Princess of Wales is known in Scotland—was in Scotstoun on Thursday for a special moment, complete with a new brooch to mark the occasion.
On Thursday, the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay arrived at the BAE Systems shipyard in Scotstoun, along the River Clyde in Glasgow, for the naming of a new Royal Navy frigate, HMS Glasgow. Princess Catherine was appointed as the ship’s official sponsor in 2021, and on Thursday, she took part in the official naming ceremony for the vessel. Giving her blessing to the ship, she said, “I name this ship Glasgow. May God bless her and all who serve in her.” Then, she pressed a button to release a bottle of whisky, which smashed against the hull.
For the ceremony, Kate was elegant in nautical navy and white, wearing a wool crepe dress from Suzannah. She accessorized with a navy and white Philip Treacy hat, previously worn for Trooping the Colour in 2022.
Royal ladies who serve as sponsors for ships have traditionally been gifted pieces of jewelry, and delightfully, it seems that Kate received a new brooch as part of her role. Hello! reports that the silver brooch was commissioned from James Porter & Son. The jewelry firm, located in Glasgow’s Argyll Arcade, is a fifth-generation family firm. It was founded in 1858 by James Porter, a watchmaker. Since 2007, it has been run by one of his direct descendants, Simon Porter.
Porter told Hello! that the firm was asked to design a new brooch based on the HMS Glasgow badge, which features Glasgow’s patron saint, St. Mungo, surrounded by a border made of rope and topped by a crown made of ships and sails. For the brooch, the company reimagined the badge as the bloom of a thistle flower, setting it against a background of leaves. Per Hello!, the brooch was funded by “two London livery companies, the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers and the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors.”
UPDATE: James Porter & Son have shared more about the brooch on Instagram. The sterling silver brooch was indeed presented to Catherine on the day of the naming ceremony. The company calls the saint featured on the badge “St. Kentigern,” another name for St. Mungo.
Simon Porter was pleased to see the brooch shining on Catherine during Thursday’s ceremony. “It was an absolute honour to see her wearing it,” he told Hello!. “Against a plain navy background it really stood out.”
Kate also added more sparkling jewelry pieces to her outfit. Her earrings, which feature sapphire cluster studs and drops, come from the collection of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Like the hat, Kate also debuted the earrings at Trooping the Colour in 2022. And on her left hand, the iconic sapphire engagement ring beloved by both Princesses of Wales sparkled as she officially named the ship.
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