WhilePrincess Kate’stiarawas the talk of the town at thestate banquet at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening, those weren’t the onlyroyal baubles that Kate borrowed from her grandmother-in-law.
Kate also wore three major pieces fromQueen ElizabethII’s private jewelry collection, significant not only due to their historical importance but also because they are some of the most treasured items belonging to Her Majesty.
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“I think it certainly shows the high esteem that the duchess is held in,” Elizabeth Galton, Mappin and Webb’s Creative Director, tells PEOPLE, of Princess Kate’s latest and most dazzling loan, adding: “The Queen’s private collection is obviously very personal.”
Indeed, the Queen has worn the statement piece often since her nuptials, including most recently for the official photographs taken to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee.
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Another thing she is doing incredibly well? Settling into life as a senior royal. Kate was given prime position on the head table, next to President Xi Jinping, one space along from the Queen. “The fact that she was seated in the second most prominent position at the banquet speaks volumes,” says Galton, whose jewelry Kate has worn since 2013 and whose brand Mappin and Webb has been serving royal households since they were founded in 1775.
Choosing a glamorous high-neck lace dress from Dolce & Gabbana to wear for an event showcasing the cultural and business tie-ups between Britain and China the morning after the state dinner, she accessorized with her Mappin and Webb Empress diamond earrings. “It was so glamorous and with the new haircut and that flash of sparkle, it was really very nice.”
The British brand who has had a royal warrant since Queen Victoria’s reign and served five generations of British royalty are thrilled to have Kate as a customer. “She carries herself beautifully and is flying the flag for British craftsmanship and brands. It’s really nice to see.”
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source: people.com
