- The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge joined other royals at the Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday (11 December).
- Dressed in a dark formal evening gown, the Duchess sported her titles given by the Queen in the form of a blue sash and yellow pin.
The Duchess of Cambridge attended the Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday evening decked in all her royal splendor, white-tie attire and tiara included. And while fans of the Duchess of Cambridge might've been easily captivated by her finery and jewels, they may have overlooked equally significant (albeit less sparkly) details on her ensemble, like the badges symbolising honours from the Queen.
The blue sash layered over her dress featuring a dangling cross signifies Kate's appointment as a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO), which she just received from the Queen in April as a gift for her eighth wedding anniversary with Prince William. Her Majesty appoints individuals to this high rank of chivalry to recognise their service to the crown. Her other royal in-laws including Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (Prince Charles's wife), and Sophie, Countess of Wessex (Prince Edward's wife), have also received the honour.
Kate wore her decoration publicly for the first time in June to a state banquet honouring President Trump.
In addition to her sash, Kate also wore a yellow ribbon with a small brooch containing a portrait of the Queen pinned to her outfit. This accessory denotes the Royal Family Order, another form of chivalry that acknowledges one's service to the sovereign. The Duchess of Cambridge wore this badge to last year's Diplomatic Corps dinner, and it accented her icy-blue Alexander McQueen gown.
It's common for members of the royal family to flaunt their titles of chivalry at state dinners or official gatherings like this week's annual fete. Viewers will notice that like Kate, the Queen and the Duchess of Cornwall also wore items like blue sashes or yellow ribbons pinned to their gowns.
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
