On 9th November 2014, Kate joined other prominent figures of the British Royal Family at the National Service of Remembrance in Whitehall, London. The ceremony is held to honour and remember those who have died since the First World War serving our country. This year, attendants marked the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One.
As is tradition, the Queen led the ceremony by laying a wrath at the Cenotaph. Other key members of the Royal Family, politicians, military chiefs and servicemen and women laid tributes too.
You can view a gallery of pictures from the Service of Remembrance on the BBC’s website here.
At 11am, Big Ben chimed eleven and millions of people around the country took part in a two minute silence – an act of respect for the fallen servicemen and women.
Protocol dictates that husbands and wives of the Royal Family must watch proceedings from afar. This year, Kate stood on a balcony with The Countess of Wessex and The Duchess of Cornwall.
As this is a style blog, we will move on to discuss Kate’s outfit now.
The service attendees always wear black, as a mark of respect. Kate’s wool coat by Alexander McQueen and is described as the “Black Flared Wool Coat.” You may have also noticed The Countess of Wessex (right) wore the same coat but in shorter cut.
The coat is currently stocked in Harvey Nichols, where it retails for £1,745 (approx $2,778). The heavyweight wool coat is described as having notched lapels, two side slit pockets, button embellished cuffs and double-breasted button fastenings at the front. It’s cut in the fit-and-flare style. The coat is available in limited sizes at Selfridges in black, and at FarFetch.com in white.
Under the black wool coat, Kate wore a dress with a ruffled collar and neckline.
It’s thought that Kate is wearing the BCBGMAXAZRIA Tuxedo Trim Matte Jersey Dress. Close-ups available on other blogs certainly confirm it’s a similar piece – if not the exact same dress.
Both Dawn Medows & Poppy Golightly posted on My Small Obsessions and What Kate Wore‘s Facebook pages speculating about the same dress, We do not know for certain at the moment, but there are strong similarities in the unique box pleated collar and neckline of the dress.
Kate’s black hat is by Jane Corbett. She wore the same piece to the 2011 Service of Remembrance too.
Kate wore a poppy brooch on her coat. It’s the same piece she previously wore on Anzac Day in Australia earlier this year. An explanation about the Brooch from WhatKateWore.com –
The piece was a gift to Kate from a woman named Emma Roberts-Smith, the wife of a soldier named Ben Roberts-Smith; he is a recipient of the Victoria Cross, Australia’s highest honor. While very similar to a poppy, it is actually an anemone, a reproduction of a Carl Faberge piece that is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s permanent collection.
Sadly, the brooch is no longer available to purchase.
Kate wore her Mappin & Webb Empress Mini White Gold and Diamond necklace too.
Kate also wore a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings. It’s thought they were gifted from Princess Diana’s personal collection to Kate via William. (Read more about that here.)
Support the Royal British Legion by shopping the Poppy Collection in the charity’s official online shop.
100% of the profits go to the Royal British Legion, who provide help and welfare to the serving and ex-Service community and their families. Click here.
