The Princess of Wales boasts one of the finest eveningwear wardrobes – but that doesn't mean she is averse to borrowing items from her mother's jewellery box. In 2015, the Duchess of Cambridge, as she was known then, made an appearance alongside her husband, Prince William, at the Royal Film performance of Spectre at the Royal Albert Hall in 2015.
Kate, now 44, stunned in blue, elevating her look to the next level with the help of a £14,300 pair of Robinson Pelham earrings that belonged to her mother, Carole Middleton. The glorious 'Pagoda' earrings featured diamonds and sapphires.
© GettyKate borrows Carole's earrings
The Middleton matriarch, now 71, wore them to her daughter and Prince William's wedding reception in 2011. While Carole styled them with a black gown, Kate tied the pale blue hue of the stones in with her Jenny Packham gown.
© GettyThe gown featured a sheer open-back bodice with a floaty, full-length skirt, and a bejewelled waistband. She styled it with Jimmy Choo's 'Vamp Sandals' featuring a high platform and a twisted bun updo.
Carole borrows Kate's country chic hat
More recently, Carole showed that a style swap works both ways as she enjoyed a day at Cheltenham Festival wearing Kate's fedora by Hicks & Brown. Kate wore the hat in 2020 while attending Sunday service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate with William.
© Getty ImagesElsewhere, Carole rocked a Really Wild coat, boots by Russell & Bromley and carried a lavish Hermes 'Birkin' bag. She flew solo at the horse racing event but soon caught up with Prince William's stepmother, Queen Camilla, aunt, Princess Anne, and cousin, Zara Tindall.
© GettyCarole's role in the inner royal circle
Of her close bond with the royal family, Robert Jobson, the author of the Sunday Times bestseller Catherine, the Princess of Wales, said: "The Middletons aren’t guests any more. They stopped being guests a long time ago. They’re family.
© Getty Images"That shift happened gradually, quietly, across more than two decades, and it happened because of who Carole is and how she has conducted herself throughout every single one of those years."
Carole's valued loyalty
According to Robert, loyalty is at the core of this bond. "In an age when people write memoirs about knowing someone slightly famous, that kind of loyalty over that length of time is almost unheard-of. The Andrew situation has hurt the monarchy badly," he explained.
© Getty Images"When an institution is taking that kind of damage, what matters is having people close to the family who are solid and keep their counsel; who don’t brief, don’t gossip and don't disappear when things get hard. Carole is that person. Seeing her at Cheltenham, relaxed and comfortable among them all, tells you something. The family is holding together."
