However, it was her sparkling diamond brooch that really caught the attention of royal watchers. Discreetly attached to her lapel was Queen Alexandra's Three Feathers brooch, which is traditionally worn by women married to Prince of Wales. The miniature piece imitates the heraldic badge of the Prince of Wales with three ostrich feathers surrounded by a crown, set with tiny rubies and emeralds and surrounded by an impressive cluster of diamonds. While Kate usually wears a brooch with this option, you can add an emerald pendant and also turn it into a necklace pendant.
This piece was made by Garrard in 1863 as a wedding gift to Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who married the Prince of Wales that same year. Together the couple dominated high society before becoming King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra at the turn of the century. The brooch was given to the Princess as part of a jewelery set which also included a leek brooch and a pair of emerald drop earrings purchased by the Ladies of North Wales Committee.
A touching reflection of tradition, the Three Feathers brooch has been worn by the Princesses of Wales for the past half century. Princess Diana wore it frequently during her marriage to then-Prince Charles, although she preferred to wear it as a pendant necklace. Before becoming queen, Camilla wore the brooch with an emerald pendant to the film's premiere in 2006, pairing it with emerald earrings from the same set.
Kate Middleton wore the brooch for the first time in November 2022 – two months after becoming Princess of Wales – to welcome the South African president to London for a state visit. Since then, she has worn it several times, with or without the emerald drop, on important occasions, such as at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in 2023 and when welcoming President Donald Trump to Windsor Castle during his second state visit in September this year.
