Kate Middleton looked resplendent at the coronation of her father-in-law, King Charles III. She wore regal robes at the request of the King and Queen, including a deep blue Royal Victorian Order mantle edged in scarlet, over an embroidered ivory silk crepe dress by her go-to designer, Alexander McQueen. The dress featured silver bullion and embroidery featuring a rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock, emblems signifying the four nations of the United Kingdom.
Contradicting previous suggestions that she would wear a flower crown instead of a tiara, the Princess of Wales wore a leaf headpiece – made from silver bullion, crystal and finished with silver thread embroidery – by milliner Jess Collett for Alexander McQueen. The Princess of Wales also paid tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, by wearing her pearl and diamond earrings, and also to the late Queen Elizabeth II by wearing her diamond George VI Festoon necklace.
Princess Charlotte, 8, attended the ceremony matching outfits with her mother. Charlotte’s mini-me outfit was also an ivory silk crepe Alexander McQueen dress with a headpiece resemblant of her mothers, also by Jess Collet x Alexander McQueen. The four UK emblems also appear embroidered into Charlotte’s dress.
The leaf design on Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte’s headpieces is, presumably, an acknowledgment of the Green Man theme, an ancient figure from British folklore who appeared on the design for the coronation invitation. The Green Man symbolises spring and rebirth – in this case, the beginning of a new reign – wearing a crown of oak, ivy, hawthorn and the emblematic flowers. It’s also well known that King Charles is passionate about nature and environmentalism, so the botanical headpieces are likely a touching tribute by his granddaughter and daughter-in-law.
In September, Princess Charlotte similarly paid tribute via her jewellery choices, when she wore a horseshoe brooch to her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, to signify the late monarch’s lifelong passion for all things equestrian.
