Happy 15th Anniversary to the Prince & Princess of Wales! (UPDATED)

The Prince and Princess of Wales marked their fifteenth wedding anniversary with an unannounced engagement at Into University, an educational charity that benefited from the couple’s Royal Wedding Gift Fund. 

The duo also released a new photo showing all five family members looking very relaxed, as they settled into the grass with bare feet and big smiles. Also in the picture is the family’s cocker spaniel, Orla, and one of her puppies.

The image was shared on social media with the following message. Matt Porteous took the photo during a family trip to Cornwall. It looks like this was the same photo shoot that produced the photo and video marking Prince Louis’s eighth birthday.  

Returning to today’s engagement, the couple spent time with primary school students taking part in free Into University workshops. Into University notes on its social media that at the time of the 2011 royal wedding, “we operated six centres in London. Today, we support over 60,000 young people each year across 46 centres in England and Scotland.” 

More about the organization from this People story. 

IntoUniversity helps disadvantaged young people achieve their full potential by building confidence and opening up pathways to future study and careers. On Wednesday, the students attended a lesson about astronomy and partook in team-based challenges and a creative design task focused on living in space.

The activities were part of a FOCUS Day offered by the program—more from this Daily Mirror piece. 

These ‘FOCUS Days’ are designed to introduce students to university life and inspire interest in future study… Rachel Carr, Chief Executive and Co-Founder at IntoUniversity said of William and Kate’s visit: “Fifteen years ago, Their Royal Highnesses’ Royal Wedding Gift Fund provided generous support at a crucial moment for IntoUniversity. It not only helped us to continue our work, but also gave us the confidence to grow.”

Into University posted about the engagement on its social media sites, noting, “The visit provided an opportunity to reflect on the long-term impact of early investment in young people. We are deeply grateful for the continued recognition of our work and for the chance to share it directly with Their Royal Highnesses.” Below is a group photo from the engagement.

Multiple royal reporters say the couple enjoyed an anniversary lunch at the Goring Hotel, where the Princess and her family stayed the night before the wedding. 

Remember these images from the 28th of April in 2011?

Here is one more. 

Now, for our look at what Kate wore, with the caveat that there aren’t loads of photos from today’s engagement, so I’m not able to provide the usual montage.  We begin with the jacket, which very much looks like another Roland Mouret Tailored Crepe Blazer (originally $1100, most recently $330, no longer available), crafted in a blend of polyester, viscose, and elastane similar to this past-season style. It showcases a tailored single-breasted silhouette, angled flap pockets, double back vent, and a self-covered button.

UPDATE #1 APRIL 29: A WKW friend points out some differences in the seams and darts between the Princess’s jacket and the Mouret style. It’s possible this is not one of his designs. I will take a closer look as soon as I have access to my files on the desktop. 

UPDATE #2 APRIL 29: After looking more closely at things and conferring with others, it now appears the Princess may have been in an Erdem blazer, the Wool Crepe Crystal-Embellished Blazer ($3450) in ‘porcelain blue,’ minus the crystal brooches or embellishments. Pictures on the Into University Instagram pages show more detail, and this looks like a better match.

This design is made from 100% wool and features the same details, including vertical seams, a self-covered button, the four buttons at the cuff, lapels, and a chest pocket. Thank you to Kate Middleton Style and Middleton Maven for their work on this, as well as to the WKW Facebook friend who pointed out the discrepancy earlier this evening! 

Beneath the jacket, it looks like the Princess brought back her  ME + EM Straight Sweater Vest ($345) in ‘chestnut brown’ brushed cashmere. 

Middleton Maven suggests the trousers worn today could be the Edeline Lee pair worn in northern England this January, and I think she may be spot-on with that call. It’s difficult to say with certainty, lacking additional photos. 

The Princess wore her Daniella Draper Gold Fixed Alphabet Necklace, a style made in the UK of 100% recycled solid 9ct yellow gold. It features the initials for the couple’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. 

Today’s big mystery? The earrings worn by the Princess. They feature faceted round blue stones, possibly blue topaz or aquamarine, suspended from gold hoops. Many of us who follow the Princess’s style spent hours looking for them and discussing possibilities online, but at this point, we don’t have a firm ID.

In the new family photo, it appears the Princess is wearing a top by Veronica Beard, the US-based label’s ‘Shana’ Cashmere Sweater (now sold out) in off-white with black stripes. The style is 100% cashmere, described as having “a slightly cropped body and elongated short-sleeves—enhanced by fine ribbing at the collar, cuffs and hem.”

It is available in grey at Veronica Beard ( $199, final sale), in grey at Nordstrom ($238), in navy with white striping at My Theresa ($297, limited sizes), in a dark rust color at Neiman Marcus ($159, final sale), and in aqua and navy/white stripes at The Outnet ($174). Thank you to Princess of Wales Style for this ID. I don’t have an ID for the trousers the Princess is wearing in the new picture. There are suggestions they may be by Holland Cooper, but I don’t feel we see enough of them to make a firm identification. 

A quick related note about jewelry: the Daily Mail reports that go-to brand Kiki McDonough has received a Royal Warrant, granted “as a mark of recognition to people or companies who have regularly supplied goods or services to the Royal Household.” 

British jeweller Kiki McDonough – a favourite of senior royals – has been handed a coveted royal warrant from the Queen. The London-based designer has been quietly added to the Royal Warrants Association website after receiving the award from Camilla.

Below is a montage showing just some of the Kiki McDonough styles worn by the Princess.

We return to the Mail’s piece for the jeweler’s reaction. 

She told the Mail: ‘Receiving a Royal Warrant is the greatest honour of my career – something I could scarcely have dreamed of when I sat down with a pencil and paper contemplating my first design over 40 years ago.

‘To be recognised in this way for craftsmanship and consistency over decades feels incredibly special. A Royal Warrant is the ultimate mark of trust and excellence, built over time, and that makes it all the more meaningful.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are authorized to award Royal Warrants, but have not done so yet. More from this piece in Print Weekly, a site specializing in news for the print industry.

Separately, applications will open soon for the much-anticipated inaugural Royal Warrants to be granted by the Prince and Princess of Wales. Applications for these warrants will be open during May and June, with an announcement expected before the end of the year.

An industry source commented: “It makes sense to let the Prince and Princess of Wales announce separately so they are out of the shadow of the King and Queen.

Here are a few of my favorite images from the 29th of April in 2011. Below, the Princess and her father as they left the Goring Hotel. 

A look back at the crowd as the Princess entered Westminster Abbey.

Another image from the day.

Another. 

And another. 

Another.

And one more.