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The Princess of Wales in Monochrome Ensemble for Order of the Garter

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The Princess of Wales in Monochrome Ensemble for Order of the Garter

The Princess of Wales chose an Alessandra Rich design for today’s Order of the Garter events in Windsor.

Below is the scene as the Household Cavalry band led the procession to St. George’s Chapel for the Most Noble Order of the Garter service.

More from The Telegraph’s story by India McTaggart.

A near 3,000 crowd of members of the public cheered as the King and Queen waved and walked down to the Chapel of St George for the Most Noble Order of the Garter service.

The Garter Day procession saw Their Majesties, several members of the Royal family and the Knights and Ladies parade in their traditional grand velvet robes, insignia and plumed hats. It marks one of the most historical ceremonies in the Royal calendar with several senior working members of the family partaking in the service and procession at Windsor.

The King and Queen as they approached the chapel. 

Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Prince William.

More from this ITV piece.

Founded in 1348 by Edward III, the Garter is awarded by the sovereign for outstanding public service and achievement and are said to have been inspired by events at a ball in northern France.

The Order’s emblem is a blue ribbon or garter worn by men below the left knee and by women on the left arm.

There are now 21 non-royal companions in the order out of a maximum of 24.

This is the first time the King has taken part as Sovereign of the Order.

A video of the procession via ITV’s Lizzie Robinson. 

The Princess of Wales and Duchess of Edinburgh share a laugh as they watch the procession.

This quick video from The Telegraph’s India McTaggart gives you a sense of how windy it was. On the far left you can see the Duchess of Gloucester, 

In this view, you can see Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Princess of Wales, and the Duchess of Edinburgh.
Now for a look at images after the service concluded. Below, King Charles and Queen Camilla.

The Prince and Princess of Wales. 

Victoria Arbiter pointed out on social media that “Today’s Garter Ceremony will have been especially poignant for the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh who were married at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor OTD in 1999.”

The King and Queen as they are about to head back to Windsor Castle. 

An aerial view.

A video shows the royals curtsey as the King and Queen leave in their carriage. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales. 

And a quick video via Rebecca English of The Daily Mail. 

Princess Anne and Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence shared a carriage with the Edinburghs. 

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Turning to what Kate wore for today’s events, we begin with her Alessandra Rich dress. 

The dress is 100% silk and features a high neck, padded shoulders, plating, a deep back vent, and a concealed back zipper. As Middleton Maven pointed out, it is a style worn by Lady Eliza Spencer (seen below) when attending this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. I show the dress as offered at Cettire ($553), as the version worn by the Princess is a custom piece. 

Here is a closer look at the details. 

We saw a new chapeau for the Princess, a bespoke design by Philip Treacy. 

It looks like a version of this style on the milliner’s site. 

The Princess debuted a new pair of shoes by Jennifer Chamandi, the Vittorio 105 in Nappa Leather with a Black Patent toe cap. The slingback style has two straps, a pointed toe, and a four-inch heel.

Thank you to Emily for identifying the style and to Middleton Maven for getting confirmation from the designer and verifying the heel height. The Princess has worn the brand before to the reopening of the V&A Museum in May 2021. 

The princess carried a new Strathberry bag, the Scottish brand’s Multrees Chain Wallet ($425) in what looks like the Vanilla/Diamond colorway. The bag measures roughly 8″ x 4″ and comes with a detachable chain so it can be carried as a crossbody style.

Thank you to Carly at Kate Middleton Style for this ID. 

The Princess wore jewelry that belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales: the Collingwood Earrings and the Nigel Milne triple-strand pearl bracelet. 

This is not the first time we have seen the Princess in black and white polka dots at Order of the Garter. Below, Kate Middleton is seen with Prince Harry on Garter Day in 2008.

In 2011 she wore a Katherine Hooker coat; at the 2012 event we saw the return of her much loved Alexander McQueen ‘Samurai Folds’ coat; in 2014 the Duchess was in a bespoke Christopher Kane coat; in 2016, the Duchess brought back a Catherine Walker ensemble; for 2019’s Garter Day events, we saw another Catherine Walker design; and in 2022, the Duchess wore a design believed to be by Alexander McQueen.  

We’ll see you tomorrow for the Princess’s engagement celebrating the National Portrait Gallery’s reopening.

 

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Shirley

Wednesday 21st of June 2023

So beautifully coordinated with perfect accessories - stunning!!

Lily

Wednesday 21st of June 2023

I love this look! Elegant and fresh. However, I really miss Kate's knee-length dresses; it seems she always wears demure, calf-length skirts these days. She's only 41; she's still plenty young enough to wear shorter dresses on the regular. The longer skirts extenuate how tall and thin she is, especially with long sleeves, and sometimes they make her look matronly. Anyway, this look is beautiful, overall.

Jan b

Tuesday 20th of June 2023

At first I thought this was a rewear since it is so similar to the other polka dot dress. I like everything about this look I don’t know how princess kate looks so emaculate all the time no matter what she is wearing.

Berenike

Tuesday 20th of June 2023

Watching the Ladies all holding on to their hats in the wind, remained me of the long thin metal needle type hatpins of olden days. Often with a pearl or small jewel at the end. Usually wearing 2 at an angle, to secure the hat properly. It used to be a part of proper dressing, that you did not need to hold on to your hat.

Could they not be used nowadays? You can't really see them at all, and they really keep bigger hats "nailed" to the up-do with hairspray, well in place. It does not look very elegant holding on to your hat.

I really love Catherine's 40's look more and more. It goes so well with her tall, slim frame. And, it looks elegant.

Zell

Friday 23rd of June 2023

@Berenike, I own such hat pins as you mentioned, all are vintage and I also have a hat pin holder from them of china, vintage. I just like them for display! The pins have pretty beads and pearls on the end.

Maggie

Friday 23rd of June 2023

@Berenike, I am pretty sure Catherine has at least one if not a few hat pins in that hat, but in that kind of wind, there is still a chance of losing it! Back the the 80’s I wore hats to weddings and large brims and wind are a difficult combination.

I really love this dress and the shoes are fabulous. It think the small changes made to the sleeves in Catherine’s dress are a huge improvement from the one shown in pink.

Kiki Vancouver

Wednesday 21st of June 2023

@Berenike, I think you need a pretty voluminous hairstyle beneath your hat for hat pins to work - like Princess Anne - otherwise you’re pinning your hat to your scalp😱

Gayle

Tuesday 20th of June 2023

@Berenike, I remember seeing hat pins worn by Queen Elizabeth, a useful touch that added an additional bit of style. I,too, have been loving Catherine's '40's looks lately. She truly is coming into her own!

Sg-chi

Tuesday 20th of June 2023

It doesn’t get any better than this look. Polka dots on the feathers to match her dress! And I’m sure it was intentional to wear white feathers to reflect the feathers in the Garter hat. We are now fully into Diana territory in the ability to dress perfectly for an occasion. So good!

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