Kate Middleton attended the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening.
As usual, the Princess of Wales carefully selected her attire to reflect the gravity and solemnity of the occasion. She paired an elegant black coat dress with pearl jewellery—the pearls, long associated with mourning and remembrance, were an elegant finishing touch for her ensemble.
I also think it’s interesting that she mixed heirloom (the Collingwood earrings, inherited from Princess Diana) with high-street (the Monica Vinader necklace, available widely!)
This is the Princess’s 10th appearance at the Festival of Remembrance, she’s attended annually since 2015. (The festival didn’t take place in 2020 due to the pandemic.)
As in previous years, Kate attended alongside her husband, the Prince of Wales. They both joined other senior royals.
King Charles attended alone, as Queen Camilla stayed home due to a seasonal chest infection. Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen would be marking the occasion privately, choosing to keep away to “protect others from potential risk.”
Hosted by Adrian Lester, the 2024 Festival of Remembrance honoured the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of the Armed Forces. The event blended performance, tribute, and reflection to highlight the service and dedication of both veterans and active-duty members.
This year’s festival carried special significance, marking the 80th anniversary of key World War II events in 1944. Anniversary tributes recognised those who served on D-Day, in the Normandy campaign, and in battles such as Monte Cassino, Kohima, and Imphal, with veterans from these campaigns invited to the Royal Albert Hall. The festival also observed a more recent milestone—ten years since UK forces concluded combat operations in Afghanistan.
The Royal Air Force’s training of Ukrainian counterparts was also highlighted during the evening, underscoring ongoing international support efforts. Additionally, the Service Children’s Community Choir performed, celebrating the resilience of military families who support those on active duty.
The program included performances from Sir Tom Jones, Jack Savoretti, Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, Samantha Barks, Alexandra Burke (pictured), and Jake Isaac, alongside stirring musical displays from the Central Band of the Royal Air Force and the Bands of HM Royal Marines.
The ceremony opened with the traditional procession of the Royal British Legion standards and the Pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Veterans and families shared personal stories of service and sacrifice, filling the hall with memories and reflections on duty.
The evening concluded with the customary poppy drop, as thousands of petals descended from the Royal Albert Hall’s roof, blanketing the audience. Each petal represented a life lost in conflict, and the moment was marked by a two-minute silence to reflect on the sacrifices made in service.
The Festival marked another step in the Princess of Wales’s return to royal duties following her recent cancer treatment—generally seen as a positive move since she announced the completion of her preventative chemotherapy in September.
Reflecting on the challenges of 2024, Prince William shared heartfelt thoughts at a press reception for the Earthshot Prize Awards earlier this week. “It’s been the hardest year of my life,” he admitted. “I’m so proud of my wife, and I’m proud of my father, for the strength they’ve shown. But from a family perspective, it’s been brutal.”
Let’s take a look at Kate’s outfit in more detail now.
Kate’s outfit:
Kate looked sensational. She wore a black tailored coat dress with sharp lapels, finished with metallic double-breasted buttons.
The look perfectly captured the sombre tone of the evening while reflecting the Princess’s sophisticated style.
I believe she’s re-wearing the black Alexander McQueen coatdress from the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
It looks like Kate altered the dress and switched the black-covered buttons for metallic buttons. A look:
Susan from WhatKateWore.com thinks the neckline and skirt might have been altered too.
Of course, the garment might be new–but I suspect it’s the older coat altered and upcycled. Kate’s known for doing this with outfits.
I really like this look for Kate – it’s really feminine and regal. The simple lines and elegant shape are perfect on the Princess. Plus, her hair is fantastic, curled and swept to the side. (She wore it in the same style at the Royal Variety Performance in 2021 and I loved it then too).
GET THE LOOK – I found a couple of coats that tick some boxes for me. The Juliette Crepe Coat in Navy by Phase 8:
And the Sandra Swing Midi Coat in Black by Phase 8 at John Lewis:
Let’s look at Kate’s handbag next. It’s the Classic Mini Flap Bag by Chanel. The black quilted bag lent an element of Parisian chic to the otherwise minimalist look.
The Classic Mini Flap Bag is a compact version of the brand’s larger, iconic Classic Flap Bag. It’s crafted from luxurious lambskin leather and features the signature diamond quilting throughout. The bag features a flap front closure finished with the brand’s signature interlocking CC logo in gold-tone metal. The bag also has a mixed gold-tone metal and black leather chain, which Kate doesn’t use. The Princess often carries her bags in hand, rather than using the straps.
We first spotted the Princess with the bag about a year ago, in France, at the Rugby World Cup 2023 Quarter Final.
As I mentioned in the introduction, Kate accessorised her look with both heirloom and high-street pearls at the Festival of Remembrance. Which I love.
She paired Princess Diana’s famous “Collingwood” earrings with her Monica Vinader “Nura Pearl” pendant. The former are priceless pearl and diamond drops given to the late Princess by the British jewellery company Collingwood as a wedding present in 1981. The latter is a contemporary piece that’s affordable and widely available from a popular British jewellery store! Talk about a contrast!
The Collingwood earrings feature a timeless and elegant design: each earring has a round pearl drop suspended from a diamond-studded cluster.
Princess Diana often wore the earrings in public, pairing them with memorable outfits. After her passing, the earrings were passed down to William. Kate now wears them to royal events on a regular basis.
The pearl necklace is part of Monica Vinader’s Nura collection, inspired by organic, oceanic forms. It’s a lovely piece that features a single, beautiful freshwater pearl suspended from a delicate chain, making it a minimalist yet elegant accessory. The chain is available in gold vermeil or sterling silver, allowing wearers to choose a finish that best matches their style. Kate wears the gold.
Kate’s worn the necklace on three other occasions since its debut in 2022.
Monica Vinader is known for its dedication to sustainable practices, for using recycled metals and for using ethically sourced stones.
It looks like the Princess is wearing her Jimmy Choo Romy heels in black velvet – this is to be confirmed.
Let’s finish up by looking at Kate’s brooch now. The Princess re-wore the military brooch she debuted at last year’s National Service of Remembrance (pictured below). The piece signifies her role as Commodore-in-Chief of The Fleet Air Arm—a new role given to her by King Charles back in August 2023. The item features pilot wings, surmounted by a crown and laurel leaves that encircle an anchor.
I’ll be back tomorrow with coverage of the Remembrance Sunday event at the Cenotaph in London. The palace have confirmed Kate will join in with the commemorations.
Need something to read until then? Here are some more of my recent posts:
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