The touching hidden meaning behind Kate's pearl necklace as she joins William at VE Day concert
The Princess of Wales made a touching tribute with her jewellery of choice as she joined Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla at a concert commemorating VE Day on Thursday evening.
Attending the commemorations marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, Kate, 43, appeared to subtly honour Holocaust victims with her accessories.
The mother-of-three decided to team her all-white Self Portrait blazer dress with a five-strand pearl necklace from a celebrated Jewish vintage jewellery curator.
Kate first wore the faux accessory from luxury jeweller Susan Caplan when she attended the Holocaust Memorial Service in January.
Sharing a post on Instagram, the curator said: 'We are honoured that the Princess of Wales has chosen to wear our earrings and necklace for the VE Day concert in Horse Guards Parade, marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.'
Susan is globally revered in the world of jewellery, and the 80s vintage design donned by the Princess - which is currently out of stock - is listed for £275 on the jeweller's site.
The 'rhodium-plated' five row pearl strand necklace 'features luminous faux pearls in graduating sizes' and 'closes with an embellished Swarovski crystal clasp, weighted extension chain and hook', explained the website's description.
Susan's pieces have graced a number of high profile celebrities and her collections have been showcased across The Metropolitan Museum of Art Shop and The Victoria and Albert Museum Shop.
The brand, founded in 2008, took to their Instagram page to thank Kate for highlighting the artist the first time around.
'Today marks 80 years since the Holocaust, and as a Jewish owned brand we are honoured that the Princess of Wales chose to wear our necklace for today's memorial to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day,' they penned, in a post alongside a photo of the future Queen.
Pearls have been a firm royal favourite over the ages, from Queen Elizabeth I, whose portraits frequently show her in the gems, to more modern day royals such as Queen Mary, wife of King George V, who would drape herself from head to toe in them.
The late Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother and Princess Diana were also huge fans and their favourite pieces have now been handed down to a new generation.
For Thursday evening's concert, Kate stepped out in a glamorous Self Portrait blazer dress, turning heads as she joined her husband, the Prince of Wales, 42, in honouring those who took part in the war effort at Horse Guards Parade in London.
The elegant £400 frock - which channels old Hollywood glamour - is made from bouclé, chiffon and fine lace and looks like two separate garments upon first glance.
Kate, who has wore the statement gown in 2021 and 2022, also pulled her wavy chocolate brown tresses back and fastened them in place with a £20 black bow hairclip from one of her favourite high street stores, Jigsaw.
The royal first sported the oversized black velvet bow in December, for the Royal Foundation carol service at Westminster Abbey, and the accessory was hailed a 'triumph' by the Mail's fashion editor.
She paired her sophisticated ensemble with pointed nude heels, a set of pearl earrings and a Chanel black crossbody bag with gold metal detailing.
The royal donned glamorous makeup for the occasion, opting for grey smoky eyeshadow and a natural base with a hint of contour.
Kate was snapped beaming alongside her husband as they stepped out for the event which saw performances echoing the historic celebrations 80 years ago.
It included music from the era, as well as stories of veterans from the Second World War, with 12,000 people in the audience.
Elsewhere, Their Majesties, Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, smiled as they made an appearance for an evening of music.
The artists featured included the cast of World War II musical Operation Mincemeat, West End legend Samantha Barks - who offered her powerful rendition of We'll Meet Again - Fleur East, Calum Scott, John Newman, The Darkness, Toploader and Tom Walker.
Elsewhere, Brian Cox - celebrated for his role in Succession - delivered a moving re-enactment of Winston Churchill's iconic wartime speech.
Audiences were also treated to recreations of scenes reviving the beloved TV series, Dad's Army. Other famous faces who leant their voices were Joan Collins, Mary Berry and Sheila Hancock.
The Prince and Princess of Wales looked to be in high spirits as they joined King Charles and Queen Camilla - as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh - at a concert commemorating VE Day on Thursday
The Prince and Princess of Wales pictured during the concert celebrating the 80th Anniversary of VE Day
In another moving moment yesterday, the King used a keynote speech on the day Britain celebrated the end of war in Europe 80 years ago to call for greater efforts towards global peace.
With conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and across the African continent, His Majesty suggested it was timely to remind ourselves of the words of our great wartime leader, Sir Winston Churchill, who said 'Meeting jaw to jaw is better than war'.
'In so doing, we should also rededicate ourselves not only to the cause of freedom but to renewing global commitments to restoring a just peace where there is war, to diplomacy, and to the prevention of conflict,' he said.
'For as my grandfather [King George VI, who was monarch during the Second World War] put it: "We shall have failed, and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain, if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and established in good will."
'Just as those exceptional men and women fulfilled their duty to each other, to humankind, and to God, bound by an unshakeable commitment to nation and service, in turn it falls to us to protect and continue their precious legacy – so that one day hence generations yet unborn may say of us: "they too bequeathed a better world".'
It was timed to echo the wartime address of King George VI to the nation on VE Day eight decades ago.
The King added: 'It is now eighty years since my grandfather, King George VI, announced to the nation and the Commonwealth that "the dreadful shadow of war has passed from our hearths and our homes". The liberation of Europe was secured.
King Charles III pictured waving during the live celebratory concert to conclude the national V-E Day
'His words echo down through history as all this week, and especially today, we unite to celebrate and remember with an unwavering and heartfelt gratitude, the service and sacrifice of the wartime generation who made that hard-fought victory possible. While our greatest debt is owed to all those who paid the ultimate price, we should never forget how the war changed the lives of virtually everyone.
'Now, as then, we are united in giving utmost thanks to all those who served in the Armed Forces, the uniformed services, the Home Front - indeed all the people of this country, the Commonwealth and beyond whose firm resolve and fortitude helped destroy Nazism and carry our allied nations through to V.E. Day. 'That debt can never truly be repaid; but we can, and we will, remember them.'
The King highlighted similar anniversaries across Europe over the course of the last year, ranging from Monte Cassino to Arnhem.
He also spoke of how 'profoundly moved' he was to have joined the veterans of D-Day last June in Normandy 'as they returned to honour their comrades who never came home'.
Highlighting his visit to Poland in January to commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz, he spoke of meeting survivors 'whose stories of unspeakable horror were the most vivid reminder of why Victory in Europe truly was the triumph of good over evil.'
Charles continued: 'All these moments, and more, combine to lead us to this day, when we recall both those darkest days and the great jubilation when the threat of death and destruction was finally lifted from our shores.'
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