The Princess of Wales has paid tribute to the late Queen with her choice of outfit today as she attended a Buckingham Palace reception to mark what would have been Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday.
Likely mirroring Her late Majesty’s colourful wardrobe, Kate, 44, looked resplendent in a bespoke lilac dress from her favoured London-based brand Emilia Wickstead.
She teamed the elegant number with a further homage to her grandmother-in-law, wearing the Queen’s three-strand pearl necklace and Bahrain pearl drop earrings.
The latter treasured royal heirloom was made from pearls gifted to Elizabeth by the Hakim of Bahrain for her wedding to Prince Philip. The earrings became a favourite in the early years of her marriage.
The late Queen later loaned them to Princess Diana and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh. However, since Remembrance Sunday in 2016, Kate has worn them exclusively.
Meanwhile, the pearl necklace was regularly worn by Elizabeth, with the Queen’s former assistant private secretary, Sam Cohen, previously telling People: ‘She wasn’t interested in material things at all. She wore the same pearl necklace every day.’
Kate joined Prince William, the King and Queen Camilla at today’s reception, which was designed to celebrate the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II on the anniversary of her birth.
Guests included some of the UK’s oldest citizens celebrating their 100th birthday on April 21, with Charles presenting their centenary cards in-person.
The Princess of Wales (pictured right) has paid tribute to the late Queen (pictured left in 2003) with her choice of outfit today as she attended a Buckingham Palace reception to mark what would have been Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday
Charities and organisations associated with the late Queen were also invited, including Cancer Research UK, the Jockey Club and the Army Benevolent Fund.
Unusually the King was accompanied by a full turnout of working royals, from youngest to oldest: the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and even the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra – the last two aged 90 and 89 respectively.
The historic Marble Hall at his London residence – one of the only public areas still open during the final stages of the palace’s refurbishment – had been decorated to look like a street party, with bunting hanging from the ceiling and paintings.
It was previously used for last year’s VJ Day commemorations and was made by household staff from old pieces of historic curtains and drapes.
Guests were treated to champagne and a special QEII ‘tribute’ cocktail made from her favourite Dubonnet. The traditional gin had been left out because it was a ‘daytime’ event and replaced with lemon juice, rosemary and tonic.
Stands showing portraits of the late monarch visiting each of the charities lined the halls and the Band of the Household Cavalry played a series of jolly modern tunes.
A Paddington Bear could be seen peeking out from behind three Queen Elizabeth II roses created by Harkness Roses in 2021, gifts for the birthday guests of honour from the Royal Horticultural Society.
The King and Queen led the royal party in from the gardens as the band played, encouraging guests to sing a verse of Happy Birthday.
The Princess of Wales during the reception at Buckingham Palace to remember the Queen
The Princess of Wales meets guests during the reception at Buckingham Palace today
The Prince and Princess of Wales during a reception at Buckingham Palace in London today
Likely mirroring Her late Majesty’s colourful wardrobe, Kate (pictured), 44, looked resplendent in a bespoke lilac dress from her favoured London-based brand Emilia Wickstead
He bent down to speak to birthday girl Mary Wood from Yatton in North Somerset, who insisted trying to get up from her wheelchair to greet him.
Born in Wolverhampton, Mrs Wood trained as a nurse at Corbett Hospital in Stourbridge, and enjoyed a lifelong career in nursing. She had two sons, David and Nicholas, with her late husband, Victor.
‘Is it your birthday today?’ he asked as he gave her a card. ‘Oh how wonderful. The same as my Mama. That’s marvellous!’
Queen Camilla told her: ‘You don’t look old enough to be one hundred!’
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Mrs Wood told her the secret was eating well in her youth. ‘Good food as I grew up,’ she said.
The Queen told her she also ate ‘good plain food’ when she was a child as well.
Mrs Wood said afterwards: ‘I came here to meet the late Queen when she celebrated her 80th birthday as mine was also on the same day. And now I have met her son. It’s been wonderful and so unexpected. I have followed the Royal Family my whole life.’
The King and Queen were followed by the Prince and Princess of Wales down the line, bending down to chat to the three centenarians.
The King and Camilla then helped birthday lady Joan Hollingworth to cut a cake made by the palace pastry chefs.
Holding the knife, she said: ‘It’s hard to cut this cake.’ Camilla tried her hand first before Charles gave her a hand with the knife, saying: ‘Let me do that with you.’
John Jervois, who served with the Royal Signals in Second World War in the Far East, stood up to greet the King.
Charles was heard wishing him a happy birthday and they had a warm chat.
Kate teamed the elegant number with a further homage to her grandmother-in-law, wearing the Queen’s three-strand pearl necklace and Bahrain pearl drop earrings
Kate joined Prince William, the King and Queen Camilla at today’s reception, which was designed to celebrate the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II on the anniversary of her birth
The Princess of Wales during the reception at Buckingham Palace to remember the Queen
Speaking afterwards, John said he used to get lots of presents when he was a child because everyone remembered his birthday as it was the same as the Queen’s.
He said: ‘It was very valuable.’
On being at Buckingham Palace and meeting the King and Royal Family, he said: ‘It’s extraordinary. I didn’t think it would happen to somebody like myself.’
He also recalled as young man climbing onto the roof of a building in Regent Street to watch the Queen’s Coronation procession.
Joan Hollingworth was wished happy birthday by all the senior royals.
William said jokingly to her: ‘I can’t believe you are 100! Do we need to call security, have you snuck in?’
Afterwards, Joan said: ‘I said to Camilla “I’m deaf” and she joked “join the club”. The Prince of Wales said I looked well for my age and asked what was my secret.’
The royals spent an hour in the Marble Hall where 200 guests from many of the late Queen’s patronages were hosted.
The Princess of Wales hugged an emotional George Cross hero.
Tony Gledhill, 88, who won the highest award for chasing down and capturing gun-toting crooks, looked emotional as he shared a delicate moment with Kate.
Speaking afterwards, he explained that his wife had recently died and she had told him before she passed that he must attend the palace event. And he said of Kate: ‘She was fantastic.’
