Amid a sea of dark coloured suits and military uniforms, Queen Camilla stood out from the crowd at the 80th anniversary event commemorating D-Day, but why exactly did she wear pink?
Queen Camilla looked pretty in pink as she attended the UK’s national memorial service in honour of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on Wednesday, with her surprising choice of outfit colour making a stark contrast to many of the other guests in attendance. The 76 year old royal stood out among a sea of dark suits and military uniforms as she opted for a pale pink coat dress and stylish hat in the same vivid hue, as she paid her respects beside her husband King Charles and stepson Prince William at the emotional event on June 5.
Usually at services of remembrance, the royal family often wear black clothing or other dark shades, such as when they lay wreaths at the Cenotaph every Remembrance Sunday in honour of the fallen soldiers who have given their lives to protect the country. However, Camilla’s bold choice of outfit actually had two very sweet meanings behind it.
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As part of the memorial proceedings, King Charles, Queen Camilla and Prince William will all head to Normandy, France on Thursday, to continue with the commemoration of the D-Day landings which changed the course of history and helped win World War II. It is thought that the Queen’s pink outfit was actually a subtle nod to the neighbouring nation, as it was the very same outfit she previously wore last year for her state visit to France.
Camilla donned the stunning pink Fiona Clare pink coat dress with matching Philip Treacy beret last September, when she visited the country alongside her husband the King, to meet with president Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte. In addition to donning the same dress for Wednesday’s memorial service, Camilla also accessorised the look with the exact same piece of jewellery, a four strand pearl necklace complete with diamond clasp.
The decision to wear the same outfit, and at such a significant event, shows a clear nod to her earlier connection to France and the UK’s ongoing close partnership with the European nation.
Equally, the choice of a pink outfit also echoed advice that the late Queen Elizabeth had lived by, as the former monarch also used to make a point of wearing bright colours at large scale events in order to stand out from the crowd and make herself clearly visible to well-wishers.
Although the pink outfit may have initially drawn some surprise from royal fans, Queen Camilla was far from the only guest to choose the summery shade for the Portsmouth based service, as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty, also wore pale pink, meanwhile Call the Midwife actress Helen George opted for a far brighter hot pink dress as she took to the stage to perform.
During the service, the Queen was moved to tears as she, Charles and William joined veterans to remember their noble sacrifice during World War II, which ultimately helped to turn the tide and secure victory against the Nazi regime.
Prince William also let slip a small detail about wife Kate Middleton ’s recovery from cancer, as a veteran kindly asked him if his wife was “getting better” to which he responded: “She’d have loved to be here.”
