The Princess of Wales walked Prince George to his first day at new school Eton on Tuesday morning wearing an emerald Emilia Wickstead dress, Gianvito Rossi suede pumps and two very different pieces of jewellery. Her earrings were £1,720 Cartier Trinity earrings. However her choice of necklace was significantly different, she wore a quiet £144 gold-plated brass chain by Laura Lombardi. Cartier is a go to jewellery choice for the future Queen, but a Laura Lombardi portrait necklace made of brass, that sends a very different message.
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All of Princess Catherine’s jewellery choices have significant meaning. She wore Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra pieces to Wimbledon in the Summer and a bracelet by Atelier Molayem for her first overseas visit since her cancer diagnosis. She first wore Lombardi’s Portrait necklace to a Boston Celtics game in 2022, combines with a Chanel blazer. It returned for a visit to a textile mill in 2023, the next occasion was at the V&A East Storehouse in 2025 and now she’s worn it again for Prince George’s first day at Eton.
Four appearances. Not a single gala dinner. Every time she’s worn the necklace has been for a working engagement or family milestone. Catherine obviously has the royal vaults and the Royal Collection to pick from in terms of her jewellery choices. The fact that she mixed Cartier earrings with a heavier weight brass chain sends a slight different message. Normally her chains are lighter more discreet pieces from Cartier, Mappin & Webb and Daniella Draper. That Laura Lombardi necklace is heavier, sturdier.
“It’s a proper gold chain link, not a fine delicate piece,” comments Nilesh Rakholia, founder of Abelini. “Catherine tends to be associated with refined, understated jewellery, so a chunkier gold chain like this stands out.”
Of course everyone is searching for Diana references. When Diana first took William to school at Eton in 1995 she wore gold knot earrings and no necklace. Catherine doesn’t need to reference Diana. The day is about George, and she’s reflecting that in her quiet jewellery choice.
She’s also on trend. Princess Catherine knows it’s very much in vogue to mix expensive jewellery pieces with more accessible pieces. Wearing Cartier earrings at £1,720 with an inexpensive £144 brass chain does just that. It’s simply how women wear jewellery today. Full stop.
Laura Lombardi meanwhile has sold out her pieces every time Catherine has picked them. No doubt she’ll do it again.
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