Kate Middleton teams £30k leek brooch with quirky accessory from retail days in touching tribute to Queen

Kate Middleton looked effortlessly regal in red and black at a St. David's Day parade in Windsor with Prince William on Wednesday

Kate Middleton
(Image credit: Getty)

Kate Middleton wore a striking £30k leek brooch with a pair of quirky gloves from her twenties to celebrate St. David's Day in Windsor on Wednesday, much to the delight of her adoring fanbase. 


The Princess of Wales has paid tribute to both the Welsh people and the late Queen Elizabeth II with a striking accessory, much to the excitement of her adoring fans. 

The sweet nod comes just a day after Kate wore a £20 Zara skirt to visit an addiction rehabilitation center and a leisure center in south Wales, once again proving it's possible to achieve that regal aesthetic without buying luxury fashion. 

The Princess of Wales maintained her high style standards on Wednesday, joining Prince William at the St. David's Day parade in Windsor to mark the Welsh national holiday. 

The 41-year-old glowed in a £2,990 scarlet red coat by Alexander McQueen and a black fascinator by Jules Millinery for the event, which saw William receive the Royal Salute during a traditional march-past for the first time since inheriting the title of the Prince of Wales. 

Kate

(Image credit: Getty)

Kate also wore a black scarf, black high-heeled boots, and black leather gloves with an intricate cut-out design. The elegant hand warmers seem to be a relic from the princess's wardrobe at Adelaide Cottage, having previously appeared on the glamorous royal in 2006 for Prince William's passing out ceremony at Sandhurst. At the time, Kate was working as an accessories buyer for the UK fashion retailer, Jigsaw. 

It's the mother-of-three's striking choice of jewelry, however, that seems to be gaining the most attention from royal fans. 

Kate paired her designer red coat with a leek brooch that is a replica of one once worn by the late Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September at the age of 96. According to jewelry experts at UK retailer Steven Stone, the diamond badge is estimated to be worth about £30,000. 

Kate

(Image credit: Getty)

The original leek brooch was gifted to Her Majesty in 1960 by the Welsh Guardsmen and was worn by the monarch on multiple occasions throughout her reign, with its last appearance taking place at the Trooping the Color parade in 2020. 

Queen

(Image credit: Getty)

Leeks have been associated with Wales for hundreds of years, with some sources saying that the nation's patron saint, St. David, advised soldiers to wear the vegetable on their helmets to distinguish themselves from the enemy. 

Queen Camilla has also worn a replica of Queen Elizabeth's treasured leek brooch, as has the late Princess Diana

Emma Dooney
News and lifestyle writer

Emma is a Lifestyle News Writer for Goodto. Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, she mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.