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The Princess in Lavender and Sentimental Jewelry for Events Commemorating the Late Queen

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The Princess in Lavender and Sentimental Jewelry for Events Commemorating the Late Queen

The Princess of Wales chose a lavender Emilia Wickstead design for a Buckingham Palace reception honoring the late Queen Elizabeth II on what would have been her 100th birthday.

Before the Palace reception, many Royal Family members, led by the King and Queen, visited the British Museum to view the final design recommendations for the national memorial to the late Queen.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. 

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. 

Others attending included Lady Sarah Chatto (Princess Margaret’s daughter).

The King and Queen with the Edinburghs. (You can just make out the Gloucesters in the background and Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the far left.)

Family members and guests viewed a scale model of the new national memorial commemorating the life of Queen Elizabeth II, a tribute that will overlook The Mall in central London. We learn more from Hello’s story. 

At the British Museum, Charles and Camilla were shown the final designs for a memorial to the King’s late mother. One of these features a likeness of his mother, in the form of a maquette which depicts her in her 20s and in her Order of the Garter robes from the early years of her reign. Another artwork features Charles’ late father, Prince Philip, in his naval uniform.

Here you see the Duchess of Edinburgh looking at a miniature of the Queen’s statue.

A quick video of the Edinburghs looking at the display. 

Here you see scale models of the late Queen and Prince Philip by sculptor Martin Jennings. 
Then it was time for a reception at Buckingham Palace’s Marble Hall, where the Prince and Princess of Wales joined the festivities.

More on the celebration via this Hello story. 

Guests enjoyed champagne and a ‘QEII tribute’ cocktail, a non-alcoholic twist on her favorite Dubonnet served with lemon, rosemary, and tonic. Hand-crafted bunting by palace staff using repurposed historic drapes and curtains was strung from the ceiling, while The Band of the Household Cavalry provided a lively backdrop of contemporary songs.

A wide view of the party. 
Embed from Getty Images

And from The Daily Mail’s article. 

The reception was designed to celebrate the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II on the anniversary of her birth, including guests from 45 of the patronages she supported including Cancer Research UK, the British Red Cross Society, Jockey Club, Royal Kennel Club and the Army Benevolent Fund.

Below, the Princess Royal at the reception. 
Embed from Getty Images

It was a delight to see the Duke of Kent at today’s celebration. 
Embed from Getty Images
And his sister, Princess Alexandra. 
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Here you see the birthday cake honoring the late Queen’s birthday, as well as those of three special guests turning 100 today. 

Among those celebrating birthdays today is John Jervois, shown here chatting with the Duchess of Gloucester. 
Embed from Getty Images

And here you see the Princess greeting the centenarian. 

We learn more about Mr. Jervois via the Mail’s piece. 

John Jervois, who served with the Royal Signals in Second World War in the Far East, stood up to greet the King. Charles was heard wishing him a happy birthday and they had a warm chat.

Speaking afterwards, John said he used to get lots of presents when he was a child because everyone remembered his birthday as it was the same as the Queen’s.

On being at Buckingham Palace and meeting the King and Royal Family, he said: ‘It’s extraordinary. I didn’t think it would happen to somebody like myself.’

He also recalled as young man climbing onto the roof of a building in Regent Street to watch the Queen’s Coronation procession.

Mary Wood also shares the same birthday; she is among the group of guests turning 100 today. 
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We return to The Daily Mail’s coverage, one more time, as it includes the King’s reaction to Ms. Wood’s birthday.

Is it your birthday today?’ he asked as he gave her a card. ‘Oh how wonderful. The same as my Mama. That’s marvellous!’ Queen Camilla told her: ‘You don’t look old enough to be one hundred!’

Mrs Wood said afterwards: ‘I came here to meet the late Queen when she celebrated her 80th birthday as mine was also on the same day. And now I have met her son. It’s been wonderful and so unexpected. I have followed the Royal Family my whole life.’

Here you see the three centenarians marking their birthdays today (in the front row), along with family members.
Here you see the third of the three guests celebrating their 100th birthday today, 100-year-old Joan Illingworth, as she gets ready to cut the big birthday cake. 

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The Telegraph reports, “When 100-year-old Joan Illingworth, tasked with cutting a large cake to share with 190 guests, found the knife difficult to manage, the King – who has had a lifetime of training in such matters – smiled and said: “Let me do that.”

The Duchess of Edinburgh speaking with guests. 
Embed from Getty Images

During the reception, the Princess spoke with Tony Gledhill, age 88, who received high honors for his heroism while serving with the Metropolitan Police Force.

More from The Telegraph’s piece by Hannah Furness.

The Princess of Wales, greeting visitors over their cake and Champagne, clasped an emotional George Cross recipient. Tony Gledhill, 88, told her that shortly before his wife of 67 years died, she had urged him to attend the event even on his own.

Hugging him and holding tightly to his hands, the Princess told him: “We’ll keep in touch? You must, if you want to? Writing? Please do.”

Afterwards, Mr Gledhill, a trustee of the VC and GC association, said the Princess had been “fantastic”.

A quick video of the Princess and Mr. Gledhill shared by The Mail’s Rebecca English. 

A group photo of Royal Family members memorialized the occasion.

From left to right: The Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, the Princess of Wales, the Prince of Wales, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, the Princess Royal, the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Alexandra, and the Duchess of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace. 

The Royal Family posted a video about the reception. 

And here is the Kensington Palace Instagram post from this morning marking the day. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)

Now, for our glance at what Kate wore. Today’s dress is believed to be a bespoke design by Emilia Wickstead, in a shade similar to another Wickstead style the Princess has worn multiple times, the wool-crepe dress seen below right. Unfortunately, the color looks a little off in the center photo from today’s reception; I believe the actual color is closer to the photo shown on the left and in the older Emilia Wickstead dress.

 The new dress is longer, has more structured, padded shoulders, and shorter sleeves that are what I would call bracelet-length. The bodice and waistline are quite different, with deft detailing creating a point of interest at the lower bodice, and a full, slightly flared skirt. It has slight similarities to the designer’s Collinson Dress.  

The Princess repeated her Ralph Lauren ‘Celia’ calfskin pumps ($750). 

She wore the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings. 

And one of the late Queen’s many three-strand pearl necklaces. I believe the first time we saw the Princess wearing this item was for a luncheon for Governors-General of the Realms attending the late Queen’s funeral in September 2022.

I’ll leave you with one more photo of the Princess from today’s reception.  

I hope to see you tomorrow or Thursday. Prince Louis has a birthday on Thursday, and I’m hoping a new photo of the young man will be released to mark the occasion. 

VIDEOS:

Buckingham Palace released this video on social media covering the event at the British Museum. 


Buckingham Palace also released a video of the King addressing the nation on what would have been the late Queen’s 100th birthday. Here is a portion of that speech. 

And here is the full address. 

 

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ElizaMo

Thursday 23rd of April 2026

It’s a real joy to see Catherine out and looking as effortlessly regal and polished as only a beautifully cut Wickstead dress can help her be. The choices she has made through her chosen colour and the jewellery she wears are a most delightful tribute to the amazing Queen Elizabeth II.

Catherine has long favoured subtle tailoring as a means of breaking up some of the plain fabrics she has favoured, and Wickstead has clearly done her proud, with the clever crafting of the 1940s style of bodice on the dress – another QEII tribute? The soft V-neck pleating from the neckline down to two smaller bust pleats is so skilfully executed simply to hint at, rather than emulate fully, the fuller styles from 80 years ago, that it quite makes my eyes water. The overall high-waisted lightly-gored A-line is most flattering and princess-like.

It is a very real and rare treat to see the genuine royal pearls out on display. Given how long these hang on Catherine it must limit the number of times she can use them, and may help explain why she adapts to faux versions on occasion. They look wonderfully well against the soft lavender. And I’ve said before how very much I admire those Bahrain earrings.

I’m not convinced by the odd toffee tone of the Ralph Lauren Celia pumps, but am willing to accept them as a necessary enlivening of a plain outfit. Catherine certainly seemed comfortable enough in her heels while interacting warmly with those wonderful centenarians.

ElizaMo

Friday 24th of April 2026

@Bonnie A, Glad to be of help :)

Bonnie A

Thursday 23rd of April 2026

@ElizaMo, no harm done, it made me look up what gored means. I find it might have been what I didn't enjoy about the recent Easter skirt.

ElizaMo

Thursday 23rd of April 2026

@ElizaMo, My bad, skirt is panelled, not gored. Brain fog here.

Heidi

Thursday 23rd of April 2026

I’ll admit it—lilac and three-strand pearl necklaces aren’t really my thing. They’re lovely, just not what I naturally gravitate toward. Kate's smile, though, is always her best look.

The Duchess of Edinburgh is looking fresh in that dress - and with her hair softly pulled back = a perfect spring look.

Christine Muehling

Thursday 23rd of April 2026

What a lovely occasion and how nicely the royal family interact with guests. It was great to see Catherine in a flattering color. I agree that cream or gray shoes would have been better. I liked the bodice of the dress but I felt the pearls were too long and distracted from the styling of the dress. Perhaps Catherine could have them shortened a bit so they would look more like the Queen wore them.

Bonnie A

Thursday 23rd of April 2026

Delighted to see the Pincess of Wales in this sweet, bright and playful cut and colour of dress. I always feel Catherine is herself in Emelia Wickstead. Wool crepe is such a lovely fabric on her too.

I recognise and smile that this as the type of dress many of us might, or at least I, would choose for an in-law matriarch centered family gathering. Being pretty and fun, but also smart and modest.

I love the bracelet length sleeves and full skirt. I paused on the detailing of the bodice, as in some photos is looks bunchy. I have decided however, that it is nice and also critical to the smart look of the dress. I also acknowledge that since her illness Catherine favours detailing of this sort at the neckline or bodice. And I can understand how she might find comfort in this type of design.

Complete with jewellery it is a lovely celebration outfit for the late Queen who I like to think would have approved. I'm not as sure she would have signed off on the group of outfits among the family portrait. They were all over the place again. My recollection of Queen Elizabeth era family portraits is of complimentary and coordinated colour and style.

Zell

Wednesday 22nd of April 2026

Oh, So Lovely!! Catherine looks like a Beautiful Rose in this color!

The color of her dress looks to be a divine pink/purple, and ir really brightens Catherine up! This is a color that looks very youthful on her, without, in the least, seeming immature.

Of course, it helps that the dress has a very pretty bodice with delicate, feminine touches of stylish detail.

Overall, I love the length of the sleeves, the skirt seems swingy, and I think, especially with that sweet color,, this is a Perfect Dress in all ways!

The shoe color is also fine for me: it reads as a neutral. My own color preference for the pumps might have been a deeper shade, of the same color as the dress, but there's undenably something very stylish about light tan pumps with this dress, too.

I love the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings, with the Queen's 3 strand pearl necklace on Catherine. (Pearls really suit her and also compliment the gentle, vintage vibe of her dress).

Some have wondered why the length of the pearls appears to look longer on Catherine than they did on the Queen. I think that this optical illusion is because Queen Elizabeth, in her later years, had a pleasingly fuller figure, than when she was a young woman - and so, the pearl necklace lay somewhat higher on her than it now does on Catherine.

I really Adore how Catherine looks for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's birth!

Such a moving tribute to the memory of the Queen!

King Charles sounds so very Heartfelt, in the video where he praises his mother!

What a Lovely treat to get another Excellent WKW post from our Admin, so soon after Easter!

And how Uplifting to see the Gorgeous Princess of Wales simply Glow in her lovely frock!

More Happy Colors, Please! Catherine wears them so well!!!!

As for the Centenarians also being honored - they all look shockingly youthful for such an advanced age as 100!

Zell

Thursday 23rd of April 2026

@Bonnie A,

Bonnie A, I guess I can see gray shoes with Catherine's dress, but, I also think gray shoes would give a more "winter" vibe than the neutral tan pumps do.

ElizaMo

Thursday 23rd of April 2026

@Bonnie A, Agree!

Bonnie A

Thursday 23rd of April 2026

@Zell, the tan pumps read as neutral and stylish to me too. I actually, humbly, struggle to imagine grey shoes with this dress, as a few suggested below.

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