Kate Middleton attended the National Service of Remembrance in London this morning, wearing her black Catherine Walker coat from 2022—this time updated with a high pie-crust collar and cascading lace jabot that gave the structured, military-style design a distinct Victorian twist.
The Princess of Wales joined senior members of the Royal Family at the Cenotaph in Whitehall to honour Britain’s fallen servicemen and women.
This is the 15th time the Princess has attended the annual ceremony.
The King led the nation in commemorating the sacrifices of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth.
This year, His Majesty laid a wreath inspired by those of his grandfather, King George VI, and Queen Elizabeth II.
The design featured poppies mounted on black leaves—the traditional Sovereign style—with a ribbon in the King’s racing colours of scarlet, purple and gold.
Queen Camilla’s wreath, produced by The Poppy Factory and laid on her behalf by her equerry, echoed that of the late Queen Mother and incorporated Her Majesty’s own racing colours.
William laid the wreath formerly used by his father during his years as Prince of Wales, now updated with a ribbon in Welsh red and adorned with the Prince of Wales feathers.
As in previous years, the Princess of Wales watched the ceremony from a balcony at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
This year, she stood beside Queen Camilla.
The pair were seen sharing a quiet joke before the parade began.
The Duke of Kent and the Duchess of Edinburgh stood on the neighbouring balcony.
At 11 a.m., a two-minute silence was observed, marked by the firing of a gun by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Horse Guards Parade.
The service featured hymns, prayers, and the traditional playing of The Last Post as thousands of veterans and service personnel paid their respects in central London.
More than 10,000 veterans took part in the annual march past the Cenotaph, with over 300 different military and civilian organisations represented.
A further 10,000 members of the public lined Whitehall to watch the march past and take part in the two-minute silence.
Let’s move on to the fashion portion of the post.
Kate’s outfit:
Once again this year, the Princess chose not to buy new. Instead, she brought back the military-style Catherine Walker coat first seen at the 2022 commemorations, updating the piece with a refreshed neckline.
A reminder of the Princess wearing the coat in 2022:
Those who follow my site will know Kate did the same last year, too (she removed the tassels on the shoulder epaulettes and added a bow to the coat’s neckline).
Today, Kate paired her black coat with a sculptural hat and pearl earrings—a combination that has become her signature look for Remembrance commemorations over the last decade or so.
Let’s look at each piece in turn now.
The tailored coat is a bespoke version of the Evie style by Catherine Walker & Co.
The structured piece features a high neckline, diagonal pintuck detailing across the shoulder and chest, and a softly flared skirt.
Catherine Walker & Co. show the design in purple and red on their website. They describe it as “military style”.
The Princess has long favoured uniform-inspired pieces for remembrance events, a subtle nod to those in service.
Catherine Walker & Co. does not list the price for the Evie coat online. If you want to commission a similar design, you’d have to make an appointment at the label’s Chelsea atelier or through their “eCouture” service.
Kate has worn Catherine Walker frequently throughout her royal life, often choosing the label for official tours and high-profile occasions.
This year, the Princess refreshed the coat by adding a black lace ‘jabot’ at the neckline:
‘Jabot’ is a new word that I’ve learned today! The ruffled accessories were first seen on men during the 17th- and 18th-centuries. In the 19th century, they saw a revival and became popular with women, to add variety to outfits and provide an added layer of modesty.
Kate’s intricate lace insert featured scalloped, fringed edges and a floral pattern. The accessory refreshed the previously seen military coat—and gave the whole look a Victorian-inspired twist.
Kate’s also wearing a pie-crust collar today—I’m not sure if it’s a ruffle that’s been added to the coat, or it’s part of a blouse/dress that’s underneath. Either way, it helps update the whole look.
Let’s look at Kate’s pearl earrings now. Most royal watchers will recognise them. They once belonged to Princess Diana—the Collingwood style. Arguably, one of her most recognisable jewellery pieces.
Collingwood Jewellers presented the earrings to Diana as a wedding gift in 1981. The London-based fine jeweller had a long-standing relationship with the Spencer family.
The design is classic and refined: a round diamond stud set in white gold or platinum, from which hangs a large teardrop-shaped pearl.
Following Diana’s passing, the earrings are believed to have been inherited by Prince William, who later gave them to Kate.
The Princess of Wales has worn them repeatedly for major events—including royal tours, state banquets, and remembrance services.
Pinned to her lapel, Kate wore a striking handcrafted silk poppy pin by Izzy Ager for Lock & Co. Hatters.
The poppy—debuted the previous evening at the Festival of Remembrance — was created from glass, silk and natural fibres.
Ager, a recent graduate from the Royal School of Needlework in Hampton Court Palace, uses traditional Raisedwork and Goldwork embroidery techniques to craft each poppy—which takes around 12 hours to complete and is modelled on a real flower.
The limited-edition design retails for £500, with profits donated to the Royal British Legion.
Pinned beside the poppy was the RAF wings brooch, a possible tribute to the Princess’s late grandfather, Peter Middleton, who served as a fighter pilot during the Second World War.
Completing the look, Kate wore a sculptural hat by Lock & Co. It’s the British company’s Belvedere percher in black.
Crafted from velour felt, the design is defined by an exaggerated 3D ribbon trim that sweeps from front to back, creating a striking silhouette.
Lock & Co. describe the piece as combining “sculptural elegance with timeless sophistication.”
The hat is shown ‘ready to wear’ in three colours on the company’s website: burgundy, bottle green and pale beige. RRP £1,295. Lock & Co. offer made-to-measure bespoke millinery services, if needed.
Kate has a long and loyal relationship with Lock & Co. Hatters. The company is one of London’s oldest and most prestigious milliners, founded in 1676. It’s widely regarded as the world’s oldest hat shop.
The brand is one of Kate’s go-tos for formal royal occasions. She’s worn numerous designs from Lock & Co. over the years.
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