The French state visit to Britain has officially begun, with carriages, a castle, and some gleaming heirloom jewels worn by Queen Camilla and Princess Catherine in Windsor.
On Tuesday, the Prince and Princess of Wales headed to RAF Northolt outside of London to meet President Emmanuel Macron of France and his wife, Brigitte, as they stepped off their plane. The princely couple then accompanied the presidential couple in a motorcade as they drove to Windsor Castle for the official start of the state visit, the first made by a French president to Britain since 2008.
At Windsor, King Charles III and Queen Camilla were waiting to welcome their guests. An official welcome ceremony was held at the castle, as well as an impressive carriage procession.
For the welcome ceremony, Queen Camilla wore a favorite dress in a bright shade of green, paired with a matching hat, white gloves, and a silver clutch bag.
Her accessories included her diamond floral and pearl drop earrings, her four-row pearl choker with the diamond clasp (which was placed over another necklace, hidden beneath the neckline of her dress), and a special brooch that comes from Queen Mary’s collection. It’s believed that the diamond and emerald knot was Mary’s wedding gift from her husband’s cousin, Emperor Nicholas II of Russia.
Queen Camilla has worn the green dress and the emerald knot brooch more than once for diplomatic events in recent months. She chose it for a reception at Villa Wolkonsky in Rome during the state visit to Italy in April.
And in May, she wore the dress and the brooch to welcome the King and Queen of Sweden to Windsor Castle, where King Carl Gustaf and King Charles planted an oak tree from Solliden Palace on the castle grounds.
Princess Catherine wore a blush-colored jacket and skirt from Dior for the first events of the state visit program, paired with a coordinating hat by Jess Collett and a Mulberry clutch.
With the ensemble, she wore creamy pearls, including the classic Collingwood Pearl Drop Earrings that belonged to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. The three-row pearl necklace that Kate paired with the Dior jacket, per royal reporters, comes from the collection of Queen Elizabeth II.
We’ve seen Catherine wear different pearl pieces belonging to the late Queen on a variety of occasions. I don’t recall seeing this particular three-row necklace, though pearls can be notoriously difficult to differentiate unless the clasp is in view.
Shortly after Elizabeth II’s passing in September 2022, Kate wore another three-row pearl necklace, shown above, from the late monarch’s collection for a luncheon at Buckingham Palace. That necklace, though, is visibly longer. Either it’s the same necklace, which has since been shortened, or it’s a different piece altogether. I’d say either option is equally likely.
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