The Duchess in Repeat DVF Coat & Queen’s Pearl Drop Earrings for Remembrance Sunday

Kate was in a familiar coat by Diane von Furstenberg for the morning’s Remembrance Sunday observance in Whitehall, London.

The scene from above.

From The Express:

THE QUEEN laid a wreath of poppies at the Cenotaph today as she led the nation in honouring fallen war heroes on Remembrance Sunday.

It was a bright, sunny morning in London as other senior royals laid wreaths. Below, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Prince Charles.

Prince William and Prince Harry.

From the left: Prince Edward, Princess Anne, and the Duke of Kent.

Prime Minister Theresa May laid a wreath on behalf of the government, followed by additional political representatives and military officials.

From The Telegraph’s story:

As Big Ben struck 11am, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired their First World War-era guns to mark the beginning and end of the reflection in the heart of Whitehall. The Last Post was then sounded.

This year’s service is especially poignant as 2016 marks the centenary of the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Jutland, the 25th anniversary of the Gulf War and the 80th anniversary of the first flight of the Supermarine Spitfire.

Another look at the Duchess of Cambridge; Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

From The Daily Mirror’s coverage:

The Last Post was sounded as war veterans and current service members stood together in silence with royalty, dignitaries and civilians in a stirring tribute to past and present members of the Armed Forces.

After the wreath-laying ceremony veterans and currently serving military march past the Guards Memorial.

The Chelsea Pensioners.

Victoria Cross winners, Sgt Johnson Beharry and Bill Speakman. 

The Scouts were on hand to help veterans make their way down Whitehall.

Back to The Telegraph article:

This year’s service is especially poignant as 2016 marks the centenary of the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Jutland, the 25th anniversary of the Gulf War and the 80th anniversary of the first flight of the Supermarine Spitfire.

As always, the crowds were sizable.

People start arriving very early in the morning to ensure they have a good position to watch the events.

We move to what Kate wore for the day’s events. As noted above, she was in a coat we have seen previously, the Lio style by Diane von Furstenberg.

The coat is 100% wool and features double-breasted styling with large faceted buttons. It also features ornate soutache trim on the detachable collar and cuffs; today is the first time we have seen the cuffs worn with the garment.

It also has storm flaps like those seen on most trench coats, a yoked back, and decorative stitching at the upper side that wraps around to the back.

We’ve not been able to see the dropped waist and pleating that makes for a full skirt, so I lightened one of the product pictures in an effort to show those details.

The Lio was first seen at the 2011 Remembrance Sunday ceremony; Kate wore the piece again for 2012’s Remembrance Sunday commemoration.

In 2012 the Duchess wore a Philip Treacy hat , in 2011 her hat was by Jane Corbett.  This year it looks like Kate may have been wearing a John Boyd, one very similar to that worn for this year’s Commonwealth Day service in March. The crown on today’s chapeau is more rounded than that of the grey hat worn in March, but you can see how similar the designs are, especially that broad, sweeping brim.  

UPDATE: As suggested by Anna of My Small Obsessions, Kate’s hat was by John Boyd.

This comparison shows you the John Boyd design that Kate’s Commonwealth Day hat was modeled upon.

I have been unable to see a photo that shows Kate’s gloves well enough to allow us to identify them.

The Duchess wore a new pair of earrings that are believed to have been loaned to her by the Queen, the ‘Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings.’

They are so called because the pearls used for the earrings were a wedding gift to Princess Elizabeth for her wedding. More information comes via Her Majesty’s Jewel Vault:

One of the wedding gifts received by Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten in 1947 was a pearl shell containing seven large pearls from the ruler of Bahrain at the time. According to the Royal Collection, two of these pearls were used not long after to create this pair of earrings.

The earrings each contain one large round diamond and four smaller ones, three baguette diamonds, and a Bahrain pearl dangling below.

They have also been worn by Sophie, Countess of Wessex. Our thanks to Anna of My Small Obsessions for her quick ID on them. To see the Queen wearing the earrings click here for Her Majesty’s Jewel Vault. To see Sophie wearing the earrings, click here to visit the My Small Obsessions page featuring the earrings.   

Kate’s poppy brooch appears to be one of the paper styles offered by the Royal British Legion.

One quick FYI following up on yesterday’s post I want to share here in case you don’t visit that post again: if interested in watching the Festival of Remembrance broadcast, it is available on You Tube for viewing. Our thanks to Vicki for sharing that info in a comment.

LINKAGE:

• The Daily Mail’s coverage is here; The Sun’s photo-heavy story is here; The Mirror’s coverage is here; The Express article may be seen here