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Kate Mixes Old & New for Queen’s Birthday Parade, George & Charlotte Join Palace Fly-by Crowd UPDATED

The Duchess mixed old and new pieces for today’s historic Trooping the Colour events.©Tony Clark / Splash News

Not only did the ceremony mark the Queen’s 90th birthday, but it was also the first time we saw Princess Charlotte join the crowd on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the military fly-past.©Andrew Parsons/i-Images/Polaris

The event begins with a 10am carriage procession. HM and the Duke of Edinburgh.

©2016 Crown Copyright

©2016 Crown Copyright

Prince Harry rode with the Duchess of Cambridge and Duchess of Cornwall.© MOD Crown copyright 2016 / Sgt. Rupert Frere

Also known as the Queen’s Birthday Parade, Trooping the Colour is the official celebration of the Monarch’s birthday.

©2016 Crown Copyright

©2016 Crown Copyright

It is always an amazing display. Below, you can just barely see HM in the center of the photo, she is a tiny speck of green.

PRECISION, SPLENDOUR, DISCIPLINE and EXCELLENCE BRITAIN’S TROOPS CELEBRATE THE 90th BIRTHDAY OF THEIR QUEEN

The Queen reviewing her troops.©2016 MOD Crown Copyright/Tom Evans

From left to right: Prince Charles, Colonel of the Welsh Guards; Prince William, Colonel of the Irish Guards; and Princess Anne, Colonel of the Blues and Royals.

©2016 Crown Copyright / Kellie Shattock

©2016 Crown Copyright / Kellie Shattock

From The Daily Mail’s coverage:

Cheers from the public in the Mall greeted the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s arrival on Horse Guards Parade – Henry VIII’s former jousting yard – where an audience of thousands were seated in stands.

On the parade ground in their famous scarlet tunics and bearskins were the Coldstream, Grenadier and Scots Guards – while the Irish Guards lined the Queen’s processional route from Buckingham Palace.

©2016 MOD Crown Copyright/Kellie Shattock

There were large crowds on the Mall watching the ceremony. From The Express:

Thousands of tourists and royals fans filled The Mall, stretching back from the iron palace gates, cheering the Queen and her family.

©2016 Crown Copyright/Ministry of Defence

From The Telegraph’s coverage:

…well-wishers were treated to the sight of the monarch and 95-year-old Philip travelling to Horse Guards in the Ascot Landau, and the imposing presence of The Sovereign’s Escort, mounted troops from the Life Guards and Blues and Royals.

©2016 MOD Crown Copyright / SAC Tim Laurence

The Royal Air Force Red Arrows flying over the Mall.

©2016 MOD Crown Copyright / SAC Tim Laurence

©2016 MOD Crown Copyright / SAC Tim Laurence

Another aerial view.©MOD Crown Copyright 2016

The Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge in today’s carriage procession.

Readers will recognize Kate’s coatdress, it is the Alexander McQueen piece worn for Princess Charlotte’s christening. ©James Whatling/Splash News

A refresher on how Kate styled the piece in July of last year.©Polaris/Polaris/Splash News

These images focus on the seaming and darts in the neckline and bodice.Both Photo by Splash News

This offers a closer look at the horizontal panel below the waist.Nunn Syndication/POLARIS

Kate’s understanding of the unspoken messages sent by ceremonial wardrobe selections was evident today; bringing back a garment from an important occasion for another significant event strikes me as something she would be sensitive to when planning today’s wardrobe. The Duchess freshened the look with a new hat by Philip Treacy.©Stephen Lock, i-Images / Philip Treacy

She accessorized with her Mappin and Webb ‘Empress’ pendant.

Mappin & Webb/i-Images

Mappin & Webb/i-Images

Today’s surprise was the choice of earrings; I don’t recall seeing Kate wear mabé pearls before. The large size was also unusual, Kate’s earrings choices generally feature drop/chandelier designs, often with colored stones.

© TGB / Neil Warner / Splash News

© TGB / Neil Warner / Splash News

The earrings have not yet been identified.  UPDATE: June 20 2016

The consensus is that Kate’s earrings *are* by Balenciaga, but not the pair many initially thought.  It turns out they look most like Balenciaga’s ‘Eugenia’ silvertone clips with faux pearls and crystal.    

©i-Images/Net-a-Porter

©i-Images/Net-a-Porter

The clips measure about 7/8″ in diameter. The “Eugenia” name covers a broad selection of jewelry at Balenciaga. Kate’s pair originally retailed at $745 at Net-a-Porter; unfortunately the style is no longer available.  

For some the earrings brought to mind Kate’s brooch from Trooping the Colour in 2014, worn atop an Alexander McQueen suit. (I’m pretty sure Harry was telling someone about the brooch as he spoke into his wrist. Cough-cough.)

James Whatling/Splash News

James Whatling/Splash News

With apologies for the poor quality of the photo, here is a look at that piece.

©i-Images

©i-Images

Allie left a comment reminding about the oversize buttons on Kate’s Alexander McQueen coat. I had forgotten all about those! Below you see Kate in the garment at the Commonwealth Day service in March of 2015. 

PA Wire/i-Images

PA Wire/i-Images

Carly of Kate Middleton Style Blog noticed that in a very wide shot Kate is holding a handbag. It looks like it is the ‘buttercream’ suede version of the Mulberry Bayswater Clutch Wallet that we saw Kate carry on the April tour.  

Gordon Rayner, The Daily Telegraph

Gordon Rayner, The Daily Telegraph

An FYI from our April post: the bag shown below is not the exact same clutch we think Kate carried, her bag appears to be suede. This is merely used to show the design.

Mulberry

Mulberry

We will continue updating throughout the day, there are quite a few more photos. For the time being we’ll leave you with this mother-daughter picture of Kate and Charlotte.

©Stephen Lock/i-Images

©Stephen Lock/i-Images

And a brief video of the Royal Family gathering to watch the aerial military display.  

For many more photos with Charlotte and George, along with details on their outfits, joins us at our sister site, What Kate’s Kids Wore.
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Suzy

Tuesday 14th of June 2016

I adore everything about this look, even the polarizing earrings. ;-) While I agree the pendant seems a bit of an afterthought and not really necessary, I don't think it detracts from the overall look. The hat is the perfect update to a classic piece like the McQueen coatdress, and the repeat of something with neutral tones and clean lines lets the focus be squarely where it belongs... on Her Majesty. Who looks utterly fabulous. I can only hope at 90 I'm similarly blessed to be surrounded by family and wearing what I want to stand out in a crowd.

Olga

Monday 13th of June 2016

Earrings are Balenciaga!

Sarah

Monday 13th of June 2016

I absolutely adore this look and love how it compliments charlotte's dress. The colors just make her glow. As a southern girl, I do love the way she dresses her children. The earrings make me think of Diana and I wonder if they are maybe hers or inspired by(Kate always seems to try to add a Diana memory in her own little way which I believe is so thoughtful). Just a radiant and beautiful family.

Karenina

Monday 13th of June 2016

Wow, that is one glorious hat! It is possibly my favorite of all those she has worn over the years. I am especially a fan of the pink rose matching little Charlotte's dress, this makes for very sweet pictures. Kate has also treated us to a very neat updo, and it combines very well with the hat, makeup and earrings, a nice departure from the dainty drop earrings she usually favours.

Reading some of the comments about how the hat was convenient because Charlotte wouldn't be able to catch it, I was reminded that when we were smaller, my mother used to avoid necklaces & pendants should we be tempted to grab. As it happens, the pendant is all but upstaged by the rest of the look and so, so close to the baby's hands...

Also a nice surprise to see the McQueen again, I hadn't noticed the seaming and the darts the first time around, they are invisible on most pictures, the tailoring is impressive as always...

Kelly

Monday 13th of June 2016

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/331155378832259786/ Possible ID for the earrings? They look similar to the ones she wore to this event!

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