September 8 marked Prince George‘s first day at Eton College, but it was also a major milestone for Prince William and Princess Kate, who are sending their first child off to boarding school. What do you wear to mark such a historic day for your eldest son (and future King)? For the Princess of Wales, it’s a tried-and-true dress and suede pumps with chunky gold jewelry—a choice that Nilesh Rakholia, founder of Abelini, says falls in line with Princess Diana’s “bolder” jewelry style.
Princess Kate re-wore a long-sleeved green dress by Emilia Wickstead for Prince George’s first day at Eton, accenting her outfit with brown Gianvito Rossi heels and dark pantyhose. When it comes to jewelry, the Princess of Wales reached for some familiar favorites.
She paired her often-worn white, yellow and rose gold Cartier Trinity earrings with a more affordable option in the form of Laura Lombardi’s $192 gold-plated Portrait necklace.
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Princess Kate wears a Laura Lombardi necklace on Prince George’s first day at Eton College.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The Prince and Princess of Wales walk Prince George into school on September 8.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Laura Lombardi
Portrait Necklace – 14k Gold Plated
The Princess of Wales first wore the necklace with a Chanel blazer at a Boston Celtics game in 2022, and later paired it with trouser suits for a 2023 visit to a textile mill and a 2025 museum trip. “What’s interesting is that it’s a proper gold chain link, not a fine delicate piece,” the jewelry pro says of Kate’s Laura Lombardi piece.
“Catherine tends to be associated with quite refined, understated jewelry, so a chunkier gold chain like this stands out a little against that,” he says. “It’s a bolder shape than we usually see her reach for in her jewelry sometimes.”
Princess Diana wore striking gold earrings with a blue blazer for Prince William’s first day at Eton in 1995.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Princess Diana went sans necklace when she accompanied Prince William to his first day at Eton College, but did wear a thick pair of gold knot earrings. Rakholia notes that Kate’s choices are in a “similar spirit” to that of her late mother-in-law’s.
“Diana was known for exactly this kind of jewelry,” he says. “Bold gold chains, statement link necklaces, pieces with real presence rather than anything too dainty.”
The late royal wore a bright blue blazer over a black shift dress for William’s first day at Eton, and although Princess Kate went in a different direction for her outfit, Rakholia says that Kate’s jewelry felt “fitting for the day.”
“William walking his own son into Eton, more than thirty years after Diana walked him through the same gates. A chunkier gold piece with a bit of Diana’s boldness in it feels like a nice, understated way to mark that,” he shares.
Rakholia adds, “I wouldn’t say it’s a deliberate reference, but the overlap is there.”
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