Kate Middleton Wears Sentimental Necklace for Royal Outing

Kate Middleton opted for a royal power suiting moment for her latest outing in Sudbury, England, on Thursday. The Princess of Wales styled a coordinated blazer and trouser set with a British royal family-approved pattern, accessorizing with a necklace that honored her three kids.

Middleton wore the Prince of Wales check suit by London-based fashion designer Bella Freud. The pattern dates to the time of King Edward VIII (who was crowned Prince of Wales during his father’s reign) in the early 20th century. The royal, who abdicated the throne in 1936, was often photographed wearing the pattern, among the first members of the royal family to become a fashion magnet for the public.

In the decades that followed, King Charles III, the late Princess Diana, celebrities like Cate Blanchett and more British royals styled pieces with the checkered motif. The suited look was coordinated with a black shirt, along with black pumps courtesy of Stuart Weitzman.

Among her jewelry pieces, Middleton opted for a sentimental approach. The Princess of Wales wore a Danielle Draper necklace with the initials of her three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The accessory is a new staple for the British royal. While visiting the Natural History Museum’s newly renovated gardens in London on Sept. 4 alongside Prince William, Middleton wore the gold necklace as a statement accessory.

The outing to the National History Museum also marked Middleton’s introduction to her blond hairstyle, featuring root-to-end blond highlights. Just four days later, the Princess of Wales joined Prince William for a visit to the National Federation of Women’s Institutes, revealing her return to her natural chestnut brown hair tone.

On Thursday, Middleton visited the Sudbury Silk Mills in Sudbury, Suffolk, a family-run weaving mill that has been at the forefront of jacquard weaving and an integral part of the British textile industry for more than 300 years.