Princess of Wales in sombre black and pearls as she hugs Holocaust survivors at memorial service

On Monday, William and Kate attended a service marking Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

The event took place at the London Guildhall.  On arrival, the Royal couple met with 50 survivors of the Holocaust at a reception and spent time listening to their personal stories.

Despite the sombre tone of the gathering, there were moments of warmth. The Princess shared a laugh and a hug with Yvonne Bernstein.

The Princess photographed Ms Bernstein for an Imperial War Museum exhibition in 2020.

She told the octogenarian it was a “treat [to] come and see an old friend”.

She had greeted the 87-year-old by saying: “It’s so nice to see you,” and hearing that Yvonne had suffered some health problems, she added: “You’ve had such a hard time, haven’t you?” Hello! Magazine

Kate also reunited with Stephen Frank, another subject from the photography project. Mr Frank thanked the Princess for sending him a Christmas card, and the two chatted about his family.

Kate also spent time with Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines who escaped from Czechoslovakia when she was nine years old, with her younger sister. “Do you write a diary?” the Princess asked. “It’s so important that these stories are written down. They are still relevant stories.”

William and Kate joined the Holocaust survivors for a photograph, along with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

Afterwards, the pair attended the ceremony. 

The Prince gave a reading before both royals lit candles alongside young representatives from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and their partner organisations.

The candles are a symbol of remembrance for those who lost their lives in the Holocaust and other genocides.

The ceremony aired on BBC1 at 7pm. For those in the United Kingdom, watch it on the iPlayer.

Now, a change in focus—let’s talk about Kate’s fashion.

Kate’s outfit:

The Princess opted for an all-black ensemble, a respectful choice befitting the solemnity of the occasion. She remixed several items we’ve seen before. Let’s take a look at each piece in turn.

Her long black coat is by Catherine Walker.

The tailored coat features structured shoulders, a peak lapel, three buttons on each cuff and a vent at the back. The length hits just above Kate’s ankles. 

As far as I can see, the coat is not listed on the Catherine Walker & Co website.  I suspect the Princess commissioned the design.

If you have the budget for bespoke, you can do the same by scheduling an appointment with the company.  If you can’t make an in-person appointment, Catherine Walker also offer e-consultations.

Kate debuted the long black coat in 2022, during a walkabout at Sandringham in the days following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.  She also wore the garment twice in 2023, during a visit to the Hayes Muslim Centre in London and to Aberfan, Wales.

Of course, Catherine Walker is synonymous with the Princess and her style. Kate wears coats and dresses from the designer frequently.

Catherine Walker founded her eponymous label in 1977. Today, it’s run by her husband Said Cryus, following the designer’s passing in 2010. In Walker’s obituary, The Guardian noted that Walker provided over 1000 outfits for the late Diana, Princess of Wales, won her trust and helped to “create her style”.

The Princess layered the long black coat over a pair of wide-leg trousers by Roland Mouret. Kate wears the ‘Axon’ style with the distinctive gold side-zip.

The wide flared-leg trousers sit high on the hips, have mock front pockets, and feature pressed creases at the front and back. They’re made from a stretch-blend viscose fabric.

She’s worn the trousers on eight other occasions to date. She debuted them in 2021.

The Princess often turns to Roland Mouret for public appearances.  She’s worn five dresses, two suits and another pair of trousers from the designer since she began undertaking engagements in 2011.

Roland Mouret is a French designer perhaps best known for his curve-enhancing ‘Galaxy dress’.  Launched in 2005, the dress catapulted Mouret to fame. Today, the designer is renowned for his expert draping and figure-flattering designs.

Under the trousers, I spied a pair of pointed block-heeled court shoes. They’re by Russell & Bromley.

The black leather shoes feature a 100mm blade block heel and a sharply pointed toe.

Russell & Bromley—who no longer stock the style—described the shoe as “elevated“, and “an enhanced take on the classic court”. They retailed for £245.  

The Princess debuted the shoes during a visit to ATC Pirbright in 2022.  I believe this is the fifth time she has worn them, in public, to date. 

The Princess has a long-standing relationship with Russell & Bromley, often turning to the British brand for timeless, versatile footwear.  

Russell & Bromley is a renowned British footwear and accessories retailer,  established in 1873 and celebrated for its high-quality craftsmanship and timeless style. 

Let’s look at Kate’s Chanel bag next. It’s the French luxury fashion house’s Mini Flap Bag.  It’s crafted in Chanel’s signature quilted design and made from soft black lambskin.  The piece features the iconic interlocking CC logo in gold that sits over a turn-lock closure. Kate wore the bag on her shoulder, utilising the bag’s gold chain and leather strap.

The bag is available in select Chanel boutiques and retails for £4,080 in the UK and approximately $4,700 in the USA, according to the latest information from Chanel.com.

The Princess of Wales is no stranger to Chanel.  In addition to the mini flap bag, Kate owns two other Chanel handbags, a vintage blazer and a stylish coat dress.  

Founded in 1910 by Coco Chanel, the French luxury fashion house has long been synonymous with elegance and sophistication. Today, Chanel remains a global symbol of luxury, extending its influence across fashion, fragrances, handbags, and jewellery.

Let’s finish up the post by looking at Kate’s pearl jewellery.

Pearls have long been a symbol of mourning and remembrance within the British Royal Family.

If you’re a longtime reader of this blog, you’ll recognise Kate’s pearl and diamond drop earrings. They’re known as the ‘Bahrain’ earrings.  

Kate’s worn them numerous times since joining the Royal Family in 2011.  They were crafted from pearls given to the late Queen Elizabeth on her wedding day in 1947, a gift from the Hakim of Bahrain.  Two of the pearls were made into these earrings – hence the name.

You can read a good article about the earrings, and see pictures, on The Court Jeweller’s website, here.

The Princess wore a five-string pearl necklace to the memorial event.   It’s the first time we’ve seen her wear this particular piece.

Victoria Ward, the Deputy Royal Editor at the Daily Telegraph, confirms it also belonged to the late Queen. She has since issued a correction. Only Kate’s earrings belonged to the late Queen.

UPDATE: The necklace is from Susan Caplan, the company posted a message on their Instagram account:

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.

Thanks to Laura for sharing the following image with me on X.com:

(If you think I’m mistaken and remember the Princess wearing a pearl necklace before, you’re correct.  But it wasn’t this one.  You’re thinking of the three-strand pearl necklace Kate wore to the Governors-General luncheon in 2022.  That also belonged to the late monarch.)