Trooping the Colour: Duchess of Cambridge wears Princess Diana's sapphire earrings

Hannah Millington
·Health & Wellness Reporter
Updated ·3 min read
10
Duchess of Cambridge wears Princess Diana's sapphire earrings. (Getty Images)
Duchess of Cambridge wears Princess Diana's sapphire earrings on the first day of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. (Getty Images)
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The Duchess of Cambridge paid a tribute to Princess Diana at Trooping the Colour on Thursday, the first event to kick start the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Kate, 40, wore a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings, which used to belong to her late mother-in-law.

Diana was pictured wearing them multiple times over the years, including at the 1996 Met Gala.

Read more: Platinum Jubilee: Duchess of Cambridge chic in lemon yellow for Service of Thanksgiving

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge travels down The Mall in a horse drawn carriage during Trooping the Colour on June 2, 2022 in London, England. Trooping The Colour, also known as The Queen's Birthday Parade, is a military ceremony performed by regiments of the British Army that has taken place since the mid-17th century. It marks the official birthday of the British Sovereign. This year, from June 2 to June 5, 2022, there is the added celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne on 6 February 1952. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Duchess of Cambridge travels down The Mall in a horse drawn carriage during Trooping the Colour in London. (Indigo/Getty Images)

On the first day of the jubilee, a long weekend of celebrations to mark the Queen's 70 years as monarch, Kate also wore a white recycled Alexander McQueen blazer dress, complete with a navy and white Philip Treacy hat, with her later wearing a hat from the same designer for Friday's Service of Thanksgiving.

Her hair was swept back into a bun, as she waved in the traditional carriage ride, part of the official royal procession, on her way to the parade ground.

Read more: Meghan Markle fans go wild for royal's comeback outfit: 'Best dressed in church'

Princess Diana Wearing The Sapphire That The Q. Mother Gave To Her As A Wedding Present. (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Princess Diana, pictured in sapphire jewels during a visit to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Canada, in October 1991. (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

Sitting in the first carriage, she was joined by the Duchess of Cornwall, in blue, and her three children in coordinated outfits, Prince George in a navy suit and pale blue tie, Princess Charlotte in a pale blue dress, and Prince Louis in white sailor-style outfit.

Kate's earrings that stole the show are similar in design to her engagement ring to Prince William, which also previously belonged to Diana.

Read more: Pink reigns supreme at Platinum Jubilee thanksgiving service as guests honour Queen

Diana, Princess of Wales at Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art for a benefit ball. (Photo By: Richard Corkery/NY Daily News via Getty Images)
Princess Diana at Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art for a benefit ball in 1996. (NY Daily News via Getty Images)

After her death in 1997, Diana left her own jewellery collection to both her sons. William originally opted for a Cartier Tank watch, while it was Prince Harry who chose the ring.

But, for William's proposal to Kate in 2010, he asked his then single brother if he could use it, to which he agreed, and swapped it for the watch.

Read more: Trooping the Colour: Prince Louis wears dad William's sailor outfit 37 years later

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends the Place2Be Big Assembly with Heads Together for Children's Mental Health Week at Mitchell Brook Primary School on February 6, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Duchess of Cambridge at the Place2Be Big Assembly with Heads Together for Children's Mental Health Week at Mitchell Brook Primary School in London, 2017. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

William asked Kate for her hand in marriage while on holiday in Kenya. A decade later, delivering a speech during a Buckingham Palace reception marking the UK-Africa Investment Summit in 2020, he recalled the special moment, with his wife in the audience.

"It is the place my father took my brother and me shortly after our mother died. And when deciding where best to propose to Catherine, I could think of no more fitting place than Kenya to get down on one knee."

A Portrait Of Princess Diana Looking Pensive Whilst Visiting The British American Benevolent Society During Her Official Tour Of Argentina. (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Princess Diana visiting The British American Benevolent Society during her official tour of Argentina in 1995. (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)