Tuesday 10 May 2022 04:14 PM Kate Middleton joins Prince William for opening of memorial for Manchester ... trends now
Kate Middleton paid tribute to Manchester today as she wore earrings with the city's bee emblem teamed with grey Michael Kors coat she first wore in 2014 as she and Prince William visited the Glade of Light memorial to honour terror attack victims.
The Duke, 39, and Duchess of Cambridge, 40, were sombre as they arrived at the structure, which is a white marble 'halo' bearing the names of those killed in the attack, alongside Manchester Cathedral today.
Families of those who lost loved ones in the May 2017 atrocity have been able to make personalised memory capsules, containing mementos and messages embedded inside the halo of the 'Glade of Light' memorial.
The Duke and Duchess attended the service taking place alongside the memorial where Prince William went on to make a short speech, in which he spoke of his own grief for his mother, Princess Diana.
Prince William said: 'As someone who lives with his own grief, I also know that what often matters most to the bereaved is that those we have lost are not forgotten. There is comfort in remembering. In acknowledging that, while taken horribly soon, they lived. They changed our lives. They were loved, and they are loved. It is why memorials such as the Glade of Light are so important. Why Catherine and I so wanted to be amongst you today.'
The royal couple then took a short walk around the memorial garden, where Kate lay a bouquet of white and blue flowers.
Prince William and Kate went on to join a private reception inside Manchester Cathedral, where they spoke with some of the bereaved families and those involved in the response effort.
Hundreds of people were injured alongside the 22 who died, who included six children under 16, the youngest aged just eight, in the attack by suicide bomber Salman Abedi at the end of an Ariana Grande concert.
Kate Middleton, 40, joined Prince William, 39, in Manchester today as they attended the official opening of the Glade of Light Memorial to commemorate the victims of the 2017 terrorist attack
The Duchess of Cambridge ent on to lay a bouquet of white and blue flowers during the memorial service earlier this afternoon
During the visit to Manchester today, the Duke of Cambridge made a short speech to the families of the victims who had died in the suicide bomb attack in May 2017
During the speech, the royal father-of-three spoke of living with his own grief, and said he found a 'comfort in remembering' those who have died
Meanwhile in a touching nod to the city, the Duchess opted to wear a set of dangling earrings which featured a bee, the emblem of Manchester (pictured)
The Glade of Light memorial site, which the couple are visiting today, was created to provide a 'tranquil place' of 'remembrance and reflection' for families and friends of those who tragically lost their lives
The Duchess was elegant for the occasion, rewearing an old Michael Kors coat dress for the occasion, which she paired with navy accessories.
She first wore the coat dress during her first royal tour of Australia in 2014 but has since gone on to wear it on a number of occasions.
The mother-of-three also opted for the outfit when she opened the Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace on May 4, 2016.
Kate wore the outfit for a third time when she joined members of the Royal family including William, Harry, and the Queen to unveil a war memorial in Victoria Embankment Gardens in 2017.
The Duchess waved to crowds of people as she and the Duke left the memorial service earlier this afternoon
Prince William and Kate went on to join a private reception inside Manchester Cathedral, where they spoke with some of the bereaved families and those involved in the response effort
After leaving the reception, the Duchess crouched down to chat with one young boy Scout who presented her with a bouquet of flowers (left and right)
The memorial designer Andy Thomson, left, and the chief executive of Manchester City Council Joanne Roney, right, showed Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate around as they attend the launch of the Glade of Light Memorial garden
Both the Duke and Duchess appeared sombre as they observed the flowers laid at the Glade of Light memorial in Manchester earlier today (left and right)
The Duchess carefully laid her flowers down onto a platform at the memorial earlier today as she and Prince William remembered the victims of the attack
The mother-of-three laid a bouquet of white and blue flowers onto a plinth at the Glade of Light memorial in Manchester
Following Prince William's speech, Kate carried a large bouquet of white and blue flowers to place on at the memorial while the Duke watched on (left and right)
During a brief speech, the Duke remembered visiting Manchester in the weeks after the terror attack, recalling the 'shock and grief' of those whom he met
Meanwhile in a touching nod to the city, she also opted to wear a set of dangling earrings which featured a bee, the emblem of Manchester.
The bee, which was added to Manchester's coat of arms in the mid 19th century and represents the industrial heritage of the region, has been used as a symbol of strength following the Manchester Arena attack in May 2017.
The Duchess wore her long brunette locks down for the occasion, sweeping them behind her ear to reveal her poignant choice of earrings.
Meanwhile she kept her makeup muted for the outing, pairing a sweep of eyeliner with a nude lipstick.
Later today, the royal couple will then join a private reception inside Manchester Cathedral to speak to some of the bereaved families and those involved in the response effort
The royal couple appeared to share a smile with members of Manchester Cathedral's clergy as they arrived at the memorial earlier today (left and right)
The Duchess beamed as she spoke with members of the clergy ahead of the official opening of the memorial earlier this afternoon
The Duke and Duchess smiled as they spoke with members of the public ahead of the memorial service and official opening of the structure today
