The Princess in Black: Festival of Remembrance Ensemble – UPDATED

The Princess of Wales graced the Festival of Remembrance wearing a stunning black coatdress. She was accompanied by the Prince of Wales and other members of the royal family.

This prestigious event is held annually at the Royal Albert Hall. According to the British Legion, it serves to “honour the service and sacrifices made by the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces community.” Here’s another glimpse of the couple as they made their entrance.

The Princess Royal was also in attendance along with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence.
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The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh arrived together.
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The Duke of Gloucester was also present.
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He was accompanied by his wife, the Duchess of Gloucester.
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King Charles received a standing ovation from the audience upon his arrival.
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Unfortunately, The Queen was unable to attend due to a respiratory infection. You can read more about her health in this article from The Telegraph.

A Palace spokesperson stated: “Following doctors’ guidance for a complete recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to safeguard others from any potential risks, Her Majesty will not attend this weekend’s Remembrance events.”

“This is a source of deep disappointment for the Queen; however, she will commemorate the occasion privately at home and anticipates returning to public duties by early next week.”

The Royal Box featured the Prince and Princess of Wales, King Charles, and Princess Anne, while the second row included the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, and Sir Tim Laurence. Prince Edward was situated on the far right, although the Duchess of Edinburgh was unfortunately out of view.

This year, the Prince and Princess were joined by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. Tonight’s program offers insights into the performances of the evening.

This year, the festival commemorates the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, while also acknowledging more recent military milestones, as highlighted in an article by People.

For more details on tonight’s event, you can check out the coverage by The Daily Mail.

Hosted by Adrian Lester, the festival featured performances from several British music legends, including Sir Tom Jones, Alexandra Burke, Jack Savoretti, and many others.

Further details about tonight’s festival can be found in The Telegraph.

The Prince and Princess of Wales applauded Sir Tom Jones’s performance of “I Won’t Crumble With You If You Fall” alongside the central band of the Royal Air Force. The Princess smiled and exchanged words with the Prince following the performance, while the King engaged with the Princess Royal as he joined in clapping for the Chelsea Pensioners who made their entrance.

Here’s another view from the event.
This event follows closely behind Prince William’s recent return from South Africa and the 2024 Earthshot Awards.

During his trip, the Prince shared candid thoughts with reporters about the challenges faced by both his father and wife over the past year, describing it as “brutal” and probably “the hardest year” of his life. More details can be found in this Telegraph article by Hannah Furness.

Prince William mentioned, “I’m so proud of my wife and my father for managing through these challenges.”

Tonight’s look by the Princess is noteworthy and highlights her impeccable style.

Initially, it was believed that she wore the black coatdress seen during the Queen’s funeral, which would have carried a sentimental significance. This garment appears to have been modified for the occasion, featuring a slightly shortened length and a deeper V neckline, metal buttons, and a reduced volume skirt. However, Middleton Maven pointed out differences in pleat design and material weight, leaving some ambiguity about the designer until an official confirmation is made.

UPDATE SUNDAY, NOV. 10: Thanks to the thorough investigative work by Royal Fashion Police, it seems the Princess wore an Alexander McQueen design. This coatdress appears to be similar to the ivory one previously worn during a G-7 reception in June 2021.

The similarities in cut, button placement, left chest pocket, flare at the cuff, pleats at the waist, and button count suggest that the black version might have been purchased around the same time as the ivory design, particularly as the Princess has a penchant for acquiring multiple colors of favored designs. The piece was also seen during the Platinum Jubilee Trooping the Colour parade in June 2022.

There has been some confusion regarding the existence of a pocket on the black version. Here’s a digitally enhanced depiction to highlight this design element.

For accessories, the Princess carried her Chanel Classic Mini Flap Bag ($3350), crafted from lambskin and featuring a detachable metal chain, measuring approximately 5″ x 7″ x 1.5″.

Moreover, she adorned her look with the exquisite Collingwood Pearl and Diamond Earrings that belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales. These earrings have been worn by the Princess previously, including during Remembrance Sunday 2021.

Additionally, she wore her Monica Vinader Nura Pearl Drop Necklace ($186), a paper poppy, and the Fleet Air Arm badge, as she was appointed Commodore-in-Chief in September 2023.

For insights on the tradition of wearing poppies, take a look at this People article.

Every November, members of the British royal family traditionally wear red poppy pins in remembrance of those who have served in wars, coinciding with Remembrance Day on November 11, also known as Armistice Day, or Veteran’s Day in the U.S. The red poppy has been a symbol of remembrance since 1921, closely associated with British and Commonwealth nations during commemorative events on this day.

It appears the Princess opted for her Jimmy Choo ‘Romy’ Black Velvet Pumps for her footwear choice.