Classic Diamond Cluster Earrings for the Princess of Wales’s WI Visit

Today marks the third anniversary of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, and the Prince and Princess of Wales remembered her with two of her favorite things: the Women’s Institute and diamonds.

On Monday, the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at the Women’s Institute in Sunningdale, Berkshire, for a visit timed to remember one of the WI’s most famous members. The National Federation of Women’s Institutes has a goal of creating “a world where women come together to learn, share skills and work together to become active citizens, influencing change to improve lives in their local, national and global communities.” During the visit, many of the local WI members shared ways that the late Queen’s involvement had shaped the organization.

Queen Elizabeth II joined the Women’s Institute in 1943 and was a member for the next eight decades. She served as president of the WI’s Sandringham branch and was a fixture at New Year’s meetings in Norfolk each year. Here, she attends a meeting at the WI with her mother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, in January 1999. For the occasion, the Queen wore the Kent Amethyst Brooch, while the Queen Mother donned her Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch.

In 2015, the Queen helped to mark the WI’s 100th anniversary. During the celebration at the federation’s annual meeting, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Elizabeth helped to cut a birthday cake while the Princess Royal and the Countess of Wessex looked on. Her initial difficulty cutting into the cake led to laughter and a particularly joyful photograph. The Duchess of Cambridge’s Pearl Pendant Brooch adds even more interest to the iconic picture.

William was originally scheduled to visit the WI alone, but Catherine was a welcome surprise addition to the engagement. For the occasion, she wore a tartan dress with a vintage silhouette from a favorite designer, Alessandra Rich.

The dress features crystal cluster buttons, which Kate echoed by wearing cluster earrings. But I have a sneaking suspicion that the Princess’s earrings feature real diamonds.

Initially, I guessed that Kate had brought out an old favorite pair of earrings from her jewelry box, the Grace Earrings from Kiki McDonough. Above, she wears that pair during an event at Olympic Park more than a decade ago. But on closer inspection, the two pairs are definitely different. The Kiki earrings feature a larger white topaz center stone and a slimmer halo, while the pair Kate wore at the WI has a smaller center piece and a more substantial halo.

Here’s another look at Catherine’s earrings from the Women’s Institute visit where you can clearly see that they’re a different pair. I think these might be new, and if so, I’d hazard a guess that they’re from Asprey. If I’m wrong and they’re an existing pair from her jewelry box, please comment below and let me know!

For the visit, the Princess also brought along another famous cluster jewel: her sapphire and diamond engagement ring, which originally belonged to her late mother-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales. She stacked it with several other rings, including her Welsh gold wedding band and her sapphire and diamond eternity ring.