The Princess of Wales Rewears Plum Ensemble to Mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day
5 May 2025—The Prince and Princess of Wales, joined by their three children, attended engagements to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
The family watched a grand military procession and flypast from the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace.
Afterwards, Prince George accompanied the adults to a celebratory tea party at Buckingham Palace.
Kate’s outfit:
Coat Dress: By Emilia Wickstead—a deep plum-purple mid-length coat dress with a fitted bodice, peaked lapels, an inset waistband, and a full pleated skirt.
The piece is a repeat from the Princess’s wardrobe, first worn during the South Africa state visit in November 2022.
Hat: By Sean Barrett—a pillbox style featuring a small structured bow at the back. This classic hat was also originally worn with the coat dress in 2022. Kate also owns it in blue.
Shoes: Ralph Lauren “Celia” Pumps—Pointed-toe pumps in toffee brown calfskin leather with a 4-inch stiletto heel. First worn in public by the Princess in September 2020.
Earrings: The Princess debuted a pair of ruby and diamond drops, maker unknown—each earring features a pear-shaped ruby surrounded by diamonds, suspended from three diamond studs.
Necklace: Kate added sparkle to her look with a small ruby pendant encircled by diamonds, worn on a fine chain. We thought it was the piece she wore during the 2017 Poland tour, but some eagle-eyed fans think it’s different.
Brooch/PIN: Kate wore the Royal Air Force Wings Brooch, a gold-toned RAF pilot’s wings badge pinned to her coat, worn in honour of the Royal Air Force’s role in WWII. The Princess has worn this petite brooch at past military commemorations in her capacity as Honorary Air Commandant of the Air Cadets.
Bracelet: Kate finished her look with the Triple-Strand Pearl Bracelet by Nigel Milne. The vintage triple-row pearl bracelet features diamond and pearl spacers. It dates back to 1988 and belonged to Princess Diana. This heirloom piece, inherited from her late mother-in-law, has been worn by the Princess at several formal events.
