The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined the royal family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to kick off a long weekend of celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee today. Kate and William were accompanied by their three children, Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four, to wave to crowds who gathered in central London in honor of Her Majesty’s 70 years on the throne.
Kate, George, Charlotte and Louis arrived at Trooping the Colour—the traditional celebrations to mark the Queen’s birthday—in a carriage with Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. Kate and William’s three children, dressed in complementary shades of blue and white, waved to spectators as they swept along the Mall.
The Duchess wore one of her classic coat dresses by Alexander McQueen in white, previously seen on Kate at the G7 summit in Cornwall this time last year. She added a Philip Treacy hat in navy and white, and a pair of sapphire drop earrings that match the stone in her famous engagement ring, which previously belonged to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. The decision to wear a piece she already owns for such a high-profile occasion is in line with Kate’s increasingly conscious approach to her public-facing wardrobe. The Duchess repeats outfits more frequently than ever, and for the recent royal tour of the Caribbean with Prince William, she packed several vintage pieces in her suitcase.
The Jubilee also marks the first family trip to the UK for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex since they left England for a new life in California. Harry and Meghan are understood to have been invited by the Queen to take in the pomp and pageantry of Trooping the Colour from the Major General’s Office, which overlooks Whitehall. The couple have brought their children, three-year-old Archie Harrison and his little sister, Lilibet Diana, who turns one on Saturday, to enjoy the celebrations in honor of their great-grandmother. It is Lilibet’s first visit to the UK. The family now lives in Montecito, after Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals in March 2020.
On the eve of the Jubilee, Buckingham Palace unveiled a new portrait of the Queen taken by photographer Ranald Mackechnie at Windsor Castle, to commemorate the anniversary of her ascension to the throne. Her Majesty also issued a message of thanks to the country. “Thank you to everyone who has been involved in convening communities, families, neighbours and friends to mark my Platinum Jubilee, in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth,” Her Majesty said. “I know that many happy memories will be created at these festive occasions. I continue to be inspired by the goodwill shown to me, and hope that the coming days will provide an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved during the last 70 years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm.”
