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By James Crawford-Smith
Royal Reporter
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The Princess of Wales made an "imposing" appearance during the Remembrance Sunday memorial in London on November 12, wearing a striking all-black outfit which featured a poignant tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, a royal fashion expert has told Newsweek.
Kate attended the annual service at the national war memorial in London paying tribute to the men and women who lost their lives for their country, fighting in global wars and conflicts.
The ceremony is attended by the senior members of the royal family each year and features the laying of poppy wreaths by the king, Prince William, Princess Anne and Prince Edward.
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Queen Camilla and Kate watched the ceremony, which was broadcast live on U.K. television, from the balcony of a nearby building.
Each year, Kate's fashion choices for the solemn occasion are highly anticipated as she conforms to the tradition of wearing mourning black out of respect for the fallen.
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This year, the princess wore a military inspired coat dress and large black velvet hat with a statement pair of earrings linking her with the late Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September 2022.
Reflecting on the outfit choice, celebrity stylist and royal fashion expert Miranda Holder told Newsweek that Kate "cut an imposing figure" at the service that "felt even more poignant this year," and which the princess seemed to reflect by "being visibly moved."
"Her look was a combination of old favorites, the princess re-wore an exquisite Catherine Walker & Co. [coat dress] which she had previously worn to the same service in 2019," Holder said.
"It's my personal favorite out of all of the outfits Kate has worn for this occasion; the military inspired detailing on the bodice with the piping and tassels, the sharp, structured shoulder, minimalist zip and crisp collared high neckline all adding to the drama of the outfit and lended even more gravitas to the occasion."
Holder also praised Kate's "signature subtle smokey eye" makeup look and re-wearing of a hat which was first seen on the royal before her marriage, at Prince William's graduation from the Sandhurst military academy in 2006.
Above all the elements which helped contribute to Kate's regal appearance on Sunday, Holder suggested it was the touching tribute to the late queen that stood her apart from the other royals at the event.
"The entire outfit was classic, timeless and could not have been more fitting," she said. "But perhaps the most striking feature of all were Kate's large pearl and diamond encrusted leaf earrings.
"Pearls are worn traditionally by the royals during times of mourning, a tradition dating back to Victorian times—as they were thought to represent tears.
"The stunning earrings are even more poignant as they once belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth, so were a touching way for Kate to honor the late monarch."
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This is not the first time Kate has worn jewels that were personal items belonging to the late queen. At the monarch's state funeral in September 2022, the princess wore a pearl choker necklace and pearl and diamond earrings that had been passed to her by her grandmother-in-law.
Sunday marked the first time Kate had worn the diamond and pearl leaf earrings which Elizabeth had worn at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2003 in Nigeria.
The earrings accompany a brooch which Kate has worn previously, most notably to the monarch's lying-in-state ceremony held at Westminster Hall in the days after her death at the age of 96.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek*'s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on* Newsweek*'s The Royals Facebook page.*
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
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