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The royals are sparkling in storied gems.
Kate Middleton, 41, and Camilla Parker Bowles, 75, looked elegant in blue for the annual Commonwealth Day celebration at Westminster Abbey today, with both women wearing meaningful brooches for the annual church service.
The Princess of Wales looked stunning in a vintage-inspired peplum jacket and coordinating midi skirt from Erdem’s pre-fall 2023 collection, with the pieces featuring tiny white flowers on a navy background and the lining of the skirt revealing a reverse print of the fabric.
She pinned a sparkly brooch on her blazer that’s steeped in royal history; according to Maxwell Stone of the UK’s Steven Stone Jewelers, the historic Prince of Wales feather pin — which Middleton wore for the first time last fall — has ties to a long line of princesses through the years.
“Laced with history, the Prince of Wales feathers pendant/brooch is an incredibly interesting piece that dates back to 1863, when the future King Edward VII married Princess Alexandra of Denmark,” Stone tells Page Six Style.
It was gifted to Alexandra by “the Ladies of North Wales,” and features the crest of the Prince of Wales (Prince William’s current title) with its distinctive feathers.
The piece— which Stone estimated to be “worth $400,000” — includes “blue sapphires and features small white diamonds, rubies and emeralds that are likely to represent the Welsh flag” along with additional diamonds and emeralds flanking the design.
The piece was then worn by subsequent Princesses of Wales, including Princess Diana and later, Camilla when husband King Charles III was still known as the Prince of Wales.
She accessorized her look with another gemstone tribute: the sapphire-and-diamond flower earrings that once belonged to Princess Diana.
The mom of three carried her favorite Emmy London suede clutch — which she owns in 12 colors — in a navy shade ($425) and wore coordinating Gianvito Rossi heels ($775) and a blue wide-brim hat.
Meanwhile, the Queen Consort also went with special jewelry (and a monochromatic look), wearing an enormous sapphire-and-diamond brooch that was owned by the late Queen Elizabeth II and a bright blue coat by Fiona Clare.
The sparkling pin, which is known as the Russian Sapphire Cluster Brooch, actually dates all the way back to Empress Marie Feodorovna of Russia in the late 1800s, per Stone, and was frequently worn by the Queen Mother.
Sharing that the piece “features 18 large diamonds around a smaller, detailed gold setting, with a large eight to 10 sapphire stones in the center,” the jewelry pro estimates the brooch “to be worth $680,000.”
“Wearing this brooch today is a poignant choice from Camilla as it’s the first time that the event has taken place since the Queen’s death in September,” he adds.
Along with her blingy pin, the Queen Consort wore pearl drop earrings and a feathered hat by Philip Treacy, adding black leather gloves and a coordinating clutch.
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Commonwealth Day is an annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations, with special performances and readings honoring the diverse countries its members represent.
After the memorable jewels at today’s service, we’re on the edge of our seats to see which pieces come out of the royal jewelry boxes for King Charles III’s coronation on May 6.
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