The Duchess in Catherine Walker for National Day of Reflection

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Westminster Abbey today. 

They were at the Abbey to see the COVID-19 vaccination clinic and to mark the National Day of Reflection commemorating the one-year anniversary of the UK’s first lockdown.  

Today we’re inviting you to come together to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.

Join us for a minute of silence at 12 noon and find out more about the National #DayOfReflection: https://t.co/iy8BJbuQRZ pic.twitter.com/rvgWlaPWmT

— Marie Curie (@mariecurieuk) March 23, 2021

Roya Nikkhah posted a video of the couple arriving. 

It was William and Kate’s first time back in @wabbey since the Commonwealth Day service a year ago. Their private moment of reflection at the shrine of St Edward the Confessor is where they signed the register at their wedding almost 10 years ago #nationaldayofreflection pic.twitter.com/Q9ja44Ahi9

— Roya Nikkhah (@RoyaNikkhah) March 23, 2021

Here you see the Duke and Duchess as they are greeted by the Abbey’s Dean, the Very Reverend Dr. David Hoyle (far right), and the Receiver General, Paul Baumann. 

The Abbey has stayed open for daily public worship during the pandemic; the vaccine clinic was opened by the NHS (National Health Service) in early March. More from Town and Country:  

 The nearly 1,000-year-old church has been turned into a vaccination center temporarily, and Britain’s National Health Service reports it is administering approximately 2,000 shots a week in what is known as the Poets’ Corner.

The royals spoke with staff.

And they chatted with volunteers.

More from The Belfast Telegraph. 

William told one vaccination team that he and Kate had not had their jabs yet.

“I’m a while away yet until I get mine. But you’re getting there pretty fast so it won’t be long,” he said.

Westminster Abbey writes in a post on its site, “Vaccinations take place in the company of the many writers, actors and other luminaries memorialised in Poets’ Corner. The lobby area for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries, opened in 2018, is used for the critical support functions of deliveries, storage and a pharmacy, including the controlled storage of vaccines.” 

From The Daily Mail: 

Property manager George Clarke was surprised to see the royal couple as he was queuing for his vaccination. The 26-year-old, who suffers from asthma and was prioritised for vaccination, told MailOnline: ‘As I walked into Westminster Abbey I saw William and Kate chatting to some of the people who were there. They both looked very relaxed and were smiling. You could tell all those arriving for their vaccine were happy to see them.’   

The Day of Reflection was organized by Marie Curie, an end-of-life charity, “to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.” Simon Perry reports, the day included “a one-minute silence as people remembered the more than 125,000 British deaths due to COVID-19 and paid tribute to the frontline workers who have been battling the pandemic.”  Here you see nurses during the one-minute silence at a Marie Curie hospice in Penarth, Wales.

The scene at St. Thomas’s Hospital in London at noon today.

The service of remembrance at Lichfield Cathedral in Lichfield, Staffordshire. 

Angel Connolly ties a yellow ribbon to a gate after a small service at St Catherine’s Church in London. 

Saltburn-by-the-Sea in North Yorkshire.

Staff at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary mark the occasion. 

The Duke and Duchess took part in the moment of silence while at the Abbey. We return to The Belfast Telegraph’s coverage: 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have observed a private moment of reflection in Westminster Abbey to remember those who lost their lives in the pandemic.

On the anniversary of the first national lockdown, William and Kate held a minute’s silence at midday in the abbey’s Shrine of St Edward the Confessor.

The Cambridges were joined by the Dean of Westminster the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle and stood in silence before the Dean delivered a series of short prayers.

William then lit a candle in remembrance at the altar of the Shrine, and Kate placed fresh daffodils next to the candle. 

Daffodils (Narcissus) are considered a symbol of rebirth. 

HM sent a bouquet of flowers from Windsor Castle and a note to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, where Prince Philip was treated for several weeks for a heart condition. Below, a Marie Curie nurse with the bouquet as she observes the moment of silence at St. Bartholomew’s.

Emily Nash writes in her Hello story the bouquet included irises, tulips, mixed narcissi, and ranunculus.

The note accompanying the flowers.

Nurses at St. Bart’s with the flowers and a framed copy of the Queen’s message. 

Prince Charles, who is Marie Curie’s royal patron, posted a message about the day on social media, calling on people to “remember the lives tragically cut short” by the virus. 

One year on since the UK went into lockdown, The Prince of Wales, as Patron of @mariecurieuk, shares a message to mark this #DayOfReflection. ? pic.twitter.com/sRY7Ba6Czy

— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) March 23, 2021

The message on a Tube board. 

Tonight candles were lit and buildings illuminated as part of the day’s events. 

We now make a very sharp turn to what Kate wore for today’s observance. She was in a coat by Catherine Walker, the Valeria style. 

Made in cream-colored soft wool, it showcases an off-center scalloped front closure and textured lace panels, described as “an artisanal approach to embellishment.”   

A closer look at the lace. 

Many thanks to Caroline Parr of The Daily Mail for her speedy ID.  Beneath the coat, the Duchess wore a cream skirt or dress. 

Kate carried the Métier London handbag seen at an engagement last week at the Newham Ambulance Service. 

The ‘Mini Roma’ style ($1170) is made of suede and measures roughly 4″ x 8″. It has a curved front flap with a twist-lock clasp, multiple interior compartments, and a detachable metal chain handle as well as an adjustable leather strap. 

We were hoping for another look at the brown suede pumps also worn last week; today we got that second look. The debate continues as to whether this is the Jimmy Choo ‘Romy’ style in a color called ‘clover suede’ (shown below left at discounter Gilt [$499]; they’re also available in limited sizes at off-price retailer Bluefly [$498.99]; on the right, the Gianvito Rossi 85 in brown suede at Net-a-Porter ($318, now sold out).

At this point, I’m leaning toward the Rossi, but would feel better seeing the shoe’s sole.  I believe Gabi initially suggested the Jimmy Choo style, and Christine Ross pointed out the Gianvito Rossi. (I could easily have this wrong, so let me know if that’s the case.) 

It looked like Kate brought back her Annoushka Baroque Pearl Drops ($395) suspended from Kiki McDonough Diamond and Yellow Gold Hoops (£500, about $690 at today’s exchange rates). 

The Duchess wore her hair partially up and opted for a disposable mask as opposed to one of her Amaia Kids styles. 

One more photo from today’s engagement. 

LINKAGE:

• Learn more about the Marie Curie charity at its site here; the organization’s Facebook page is here; its Twitter feed is here, and Instagram page here 
• Westminster Abbey’s coverage of today’s event is here; St. Bartholomew’s coverage on its site of today’s events is here 
• The Mirror’s article by Russell Myer’s is here; Victoria Ward’s Daily Telegraph piece is here; The Daily Mail’s primary story is here;
• Emily Nash’s piece for Hello is here; Simon Perry’s People article is here; the Town and Country story is here; 
• Emily Cronin’s style column for The Telegraph is here; The Daily Mail’s fashion coverage is here