The Duchess in Alexander McQueen Coatdress for ANZAC Day Service – What Kate Wore

[ad_1]

The Duchess brought back a familiar design for today’s Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving, commemorating ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day.

A video as the couple arrived.

TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive for the Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving to mark #ANZAC Day pic.twitter.com/U8LAWYygEH

— Westminster Abbey (@wabbey) April 25, 2022

The service was at Westminster Abbey.

More from The Telegraph’s story.

The Duchess of Cambridge made a surprise appearance at a service of commemoration marking Anzac Day and joined the Duke in honouring Australia and New Zealand’s war dead.

Prince William and his wife, who wore red poppies, were welcomed to Westminster Abbey by the Dean of Westminster and joined hundreds of guests from Australia and New Zealand’s communities in the UK.

The Duke and Duchess after entering the Abbey.

More about ANZAC Day from the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia.

Anzac Day is inextricably linked with the landings at Gallipoli in the Dardanelles Strait on the 25th April 1915. On this day ANZAC troops were committed to their first major action of the war, and though the campaign would ultimately prove a bloody failure and leave more than 8,000 Australians dead, it marked the beginning of the Anzac legend.

This legend was poignantly put into words by Sir William Deane, Governor-General of Australia on Anzac Day 1999:

Anzac is not merely about loss. It is about courage, and endurance, and duty, and love of country, and mateship, and good humour and the survival of a sense of self-worth and decency in the face of dreadful odds.

People reports the anniversary has been “…honored in London since the first anniversary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli in 1916 when King George V attended a service at Westminster Abbey.”

Below, New Zealand High Commissioner for the UK Bede Corry (L) and Australia High Commissioner George Brandis (R) laid wreaths at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at the service.

ANZAC Day now honors Australians and New Zealanders who have served in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.

More about the service from this Sky News story.

The Dean, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, said to those gathered in the Abbey: “Today we gather to remember what must never be forgotten. We are also here to honour not just bravery, but common cause. We will reflect on the complex history that makes allies and enemies and leads us through war and peace.

“We remember the loyalties that bound the men and women of Gallipoli together. We think of their courage at a time when we are conscious of a very different conflict and of other challenges.

“We look around and find reason to pray for those caught up in war today. We look back and remember the recent anxieties, loyalties and demands of a pandemic which is not yet over.

“Knowing that trust, respect, service and resilience are virtuous acts, we commit ourselves once more to a renewed determination to seek peace and to work together for the good of all.”

More from the Dean’s message via Sky News.

The Dean went on to say: “We have been tested in pandemic, we are tested now by what is happening in Ukraine. We’re asked to consider what we think of our own humanity – our purpose. We’re tested, not just in courage but we’re tested in hope.

“Do we believe that we are better than the worst that we can do? Do we have the resource to imagine and name something better when we look around and see the waste places of our wrath?”

The Duchess greeted people after the service concluded.

The duo outside after the service.

Earlier today, the Duke of Cambridge also participated in the ANZAC Day ceremony at the Cenotaph, laying a wreath on behalf of HMTQ.

“In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.”

Elsewhere in London today, the Dawn Service at the Australian and New Zealand War Memorials at Hyde Park Corner in London.

The dawn service always attracts a crowd.

Across the miles, a scene from the ANZAC Day Parade in Sydney, Australia.

Another view from Sydney.

A veteran at the Sydney parade.

There are events throughout Australia and New Zealand. Below, this morning’s service at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.

Here you see Lance Corporal Arthur Davis Salutes on the steps of the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.

The Auckland War Memorial Museum just before dawn this morning in New Zealand.

Poppies were laid at the Cenotaph at the War Museum.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern lays a wreath at Mt. Albert War memorial hall in Auckland.

In Christchurch, you see part of an ANZAC Day observance before a Super Rugby Aotearoa match at Orangetheory Stadium.

Below, a social media post from the Cambridges.

We move now to our look at what Kate wore for today’s service.

She brought back the Alexander McQueen coatdress first seen at Princess Charlotte’s July 2015 christening. Quoting my original post, “this was an intricately engineered piece; the multiple gores and darting made for a complex tailoring job. It also featured a fitted bodice with wide, winged lapels.

This is the fourth time the Duchess has worn the garment. Its second appearance was at the 2016 Trooping the Colour events.

We saw it again when the Duchess attended ceremonies in Belgium commemorating the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele.

A view of all three wearings.

Today the Duchess accessorized with a new Jane Taylor design, the Calypso Halo in Tweed (£830, roughly $1065 at today’s exchange rates).

The design is described as ” A sensational all-rounder halo headpiece made from iconic British tweed – ideal for weddings, smart events, and races – topped off with a fetching tuxedo satin bow at the nape of the neck for a smart finish.” Thank you to Carly at Kate Middleton Style for another fab ID!

The Duchess carried her Jenny Packham ‘Roxy’ clutch again today.

And repeated her Gianvito Rossi 105 Black Suede Pumps ($675).

The Duchess wore the Collingwood pearl drop earrings that belonged to Diana, Princessa of Wales.

She also wore a poppy that supports the RSA, the New Zealand Returned and Services Association, “one of the oldest ex-service organizations in the world” per this military history site. It was founded in 1916 by wounded soldiers returning from the Gallipoli Campaign and it received royal patronage in 1920, according to that same site. Many thanks to Natasha for the tip on the poppy.

The poppy was attached with what looks like a new brooch. Several have suggested the pin is a Robinson Pelham style because of its similarity to the tiara and matching headpiece worn by Ms. Matthews on her wedding day.