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The Prince and Princess joined different royal members of the family for the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey. The Commonwealth is “a voluntary affiliation of 56 unbiased and equal international locations in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific.” Below, flag-bearers at Westminster Abbey representing every of the 56 nations. 
Today’s service is a part of Commonwealth Day, “marking the start of a week-long collection of occasions and actions occurring across the globe – together with religion and civic gatherings, debates, faculty assemblies, flag-raising ceremonies, and cultural occasions.” This is the primary Commonwealth Day since Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s loss of life, and the primary presided over by King Charles as King and Head of the Commonwealth. Here you see him welcomed with a conventional ‘Hongi’ by a Ngāti Rānana London Māori Club member. 
It was a breezy day, and many ladies wanted to carry their hats all the way down to maintain them in place. Below, the Queen Consort as she arrived with the King. 
The wind caught the Princess’s skirt. 
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh as they arrived for Monday’s service. 
Last week it was introduced that Prince Edward was bestowed the title of the Duke of Edinburgh, beforehand held by his father, Prince Philip. The announcement was made on the Duke’s 59th birthday. The Duke can be now the patron of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. 
Returning to Monday’s service, right here you see Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Below, the King and Queen Consort as they’re greeted by dignitaries and clergy contained in the Abbey. 
Per Westminster Abbey’s report on the service, “Among the 2000-strong congregation had been High Commissioners, senior political figures from the UK and the Commonwealth, religion leaders, and a number of the residence nations athletes who competed on the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham final 12 months. They had been joined by greater than 750 kids from colleges and youth teams.”
Below, members of the royal household as they’re about to proceed to their seats.
There had been particular musical performances from saxophonist YolanDa Brown OBE and the all-female Amalgamation Choir from Cyprus. Marking Rwanda’s position because the Commonwealth Chair-in-Office, the National Ballet of Rwanda (Urukerereza) additionally carried out, as seen beneath. 
The King delivered his Commonwealth Day message from the Abbey’s Great Pulpit. 
From the King’s remarks.
Commonwealth Day was an event of explicit delight for my beloved mom, the late Queen; a treasured alternative to rejoice our Commonwealth household, to whose service she devoted her lengthy and noteworthy life. The Commonwealth has been a continuing in my very own life, and but its range continues to amaze and encourage me. Its near-boundless potential as a power for good on the planet calls for our highest ambition; its sheer scale challenges us to unite and be daring.
Our shared humanity comprises such treasured range of thought, tradition, custom and expertise. By listening to one another, we’ll discover so most of the options that we search. This extraordinary potential, which we maintain in widespread, is greater than equal to the challenges we face.
The King additionally stated, “In succeeding Her Majesty as Head of the Commonwealth, I draw nice energy from her instance, along with all that I’ve learnt from the extraordinary individuals I’ve met, all through the Commonwealth, over so a few years.”
The Queen Consort, Princess of Wales, and Duchess of Edinburgh as they had been leaving after the service concluded. 
The King and Queen Consort as they exited the historic church. 
The Prince and Princess as they had been leaving the Abbey. 
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. 
We shortly take a look at what a number of the different royal ladies wore for the service, starting with the Queen Consort. She selected a wealthy blue ensemble in wool crepe by Fiona Clare, accessorized by a Philip Treacy hat, described by the Royal Hats blog as a “putting royal blue beret trimmed with a crescent of royal blue and black feathers anchored with a knotted felt twist.”
More concerning the spectacular brooch worn on her coat from The Court Jeweller.
… the Russian Sapphire Cluster Brooch. It’s a Romanov jewel, initially from the gathering of Empress Marie Feodorovna of Russia. She was a sister of Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom (and the mom of the doomed final tsar, Emperor Nicholas II). It’s a Romanov jewel, initially from the gathering of Empress Marie Feodorovna of Russia. She was a sister of Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom (and the mom of the doomed final tsar, Emperor Nicholas II).
Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, wore a Proenza Schouler coatdress with the Ilithyia hat by Jane Taylor, an “ivory felt pillbox hat with pork pie indented crown, trimmed with a looping black buntal bow across the again” per Royal Hats. Her black and white pearl earrings are the pair worn for her wedding ceremony, and she or he additionally wore a contemporary brooch. Thank you to UFO No More for the coat ID. 
Princess Anne was in a structured inexperienced coat, minty inexperienced trilby, and a contemporary brooch set with an amethyst. 
The Princess’s coat is a design seen on a number of events, together with Christmas Day companies at Sandringham in 2016. 
Now for our take a look at what Kate wore to the service.
We start together with her go well with by Canadian-born, London-based designer Erdem Moralioglu. The Ottoman Jacquard Peplum Jacket ($2495) and Flared Ottoman Jacquard Midi Skirt ($1695) are from the designer’s pre-fall 2023 assortment. Both items had been made within the United Kingdom, crafted of a viscose/polyester material in navy blue with a fragile white floral motif. The lined jacket has a slim match, button entrance, pleated peplum, raised shoulders, and distinctive topstitching. The unlined skirt includes a flared silhouette, waistband, zipper, and fascinating seaming particulars.
Many thanks to Laura for her speedy ID of the go well with. More on the look from this Vogue piece.
Kate Middleton tends to veer away from extra fashion-forward wardrobe decisions for an event as formal as this, typically choosing her uniform of coat attire from the likes of Catherine Walker, Alexander McQueen, and Emilia Wickstead. Today, although, she displayed her vogue credentials by sporting a pre-fall Erdem look, which received’t be in the stores till a minimum of August 2023.
The Princess has worn Erdem for royal excursions and gala dinners up to now, and at this time wore a navy blue jacquard-print skirt go well with, that includes a putting silhouette because of the darted waist of the jacket resulting in a pleated peplum and flared skirt. As is commonly the case with Erdem’s designs, the look has a chic really feel to it—along with his pre-fall assortment being impressed by the wallpapers and upholsteries of Victorian homes.
Here is a better view of some particulars, together with the zigzag topstitching used at the back and front darts, the branded buttons, the hid snaps beneath the buttons, and the raised shoulder. 
Here are higher views displaying the intricate development of the skirt and its fullness. 
Many of at this time’s equipment had been acquainted, together with the Gianvito 105 Suede Pumps ($695) by Gianvito Rossi. This is the model’s signature type, with a traditional point-toe design and 105mm (4″) stiletto heel. 
The shoe is accessible at My Theresa ($695), in addition to Net-a-Porter ($775), and FarFetch ($775).
We additionally noticed the return of the Natasha Clutch ($425) in navy suede by Emmy London. 
The Princess additionally carried the bespoke blue gloves with bows on the wrist, designed by Andy Shiels in collaboration with Dents Glovers and The Worshipful Company of Glovers in London.
There was a brand new accent worn to the service, a hat by milliner Sean Barrett.
Thank you to Emma for her work on this ID in addition to the design worn for the late Queen’s funeral. You can see the similarity between the hat worn Monday and the type seen at the Queen’s funeral in September. 
The Princess wore her hair up. 
In the jewellery division, the Princess introduced again Queen Alexandra’s Three Feather Brooch. 
We first noticed the brooch final November in the course of the South Africa state go to. On that event, it was worn with the emerald drop. As noted by The Court Jeweller, the brooch “…which can be worn as a pendant, has been worn by a number of Princesses of Wales.” 
She additionally wore the sapphire cabochon cluster earrings that belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales. 
They had been first seen at last year’s Commonwealth service and once more at Trooping the Colour in June (beneath).
Thank you to everybody to your supportive messages relating to my husband’s surgical procedure; he’s doing a lot better. I’ll have a publish on the annual St. Patrick’s Day ceremony with the Irish Guards tomorrow or Saturday.
VIDEOS:
Here is the BBC’s full service protection, together with the royal members of the family’ arrivals.
A Service of Celebration for Commonwealth Day | 2023 – BBC
For the first time, His Majesty The King will deliver his Commonwealth Day Message during the service of celebration at Westminster Abbey, in his new role as Head of the Commonwealth. This historic occasion, in the presence of senior members of the Royal Family, will feature musical performances from all regions of the Commonwealth including artists from New Zealand, Rwanda and Cyprus.
A backgrounder on at this time’s occasion.
Happy #CommonwealthDay to all 2.5 billion residents of the #Commonwealth!
Today marks the start of a week-long collection of actions occurring across the globe – together with religion and civic gatherings, faculty assemblies, flag-raising ceremonies and cultural occasions.
Learn extra👇🏾
— The Commonwealth (@commonwealthsec) March 13, 2023
