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Kate Middleton made a symbolic fashion statement at the May 10 opening of the Glade of Light memorial, which commemorates victims of the 2017 terrorist attack at Manchester Arena. The British royal wore earrings accented with bee and honeycomb charms as a nod to the long-standing emblem of Manchester. The worker bee symbolizes the English city’s hard-working past and came to represent unity following the bombing at an Ariana Grande concert held there five years ago. Grande herself got a bee tattoo behind her ear in solidarity with the 22 people who died.
Middleton’s earrings were custom-made by London-based luxury jeweler Vanleles Diamonds for the occasion, as confirmed by Page Six. An upgraded version of the brand’s Nile hoop earrings, they are made from yellow gold, enamel, diamonds, and sapphires, and each is embellished with bee and honeycomb charms. Seeing as they were bespoke for the memorial’s dedication, it’s clear that the duchess intended to show support for the victims and their families.
As for the rest of Middleton’s ensemble, she revisited her personal archives, as she often does, rewearing the blue-gray Michael Kors coat-dress she first donned on her royal tour of Australia in 2014. She completed her look with a navy top-handle Polène bag, matching suede Rupert Sanderson pumps, and a lapis-lazuli pendant necklace by British jeweler Astley Clarke.
Ahead, take a closer look at Middleton’s latest commemorative style moment and shop her accessories.