On May 7, Prince William and Kate Middleton surprised well-wishers who gathered along the Long Walk outside Windsor Castle ahead of Sunday night’s Coronation Concert.
One day after attending King Charles III’s Coronation ceremony in traditional dress robes and an intricate floral crown, the Princess of Wales dressed down in a blue Reiss blazer over a white t-shirt and black trousers. She accessorized the simple summer ensemble with one of her favorite pairs of pearl drop earrings and her sapphire and diamond engagement ring, which was previously worn by Princess Diana.
“It was a lovely family atmosphere,” one source told People of the Big Lunch event. “William and Kate were really relaxed straight from the get-go. They were posting for selfies and talking to kids wearing crowns.” The source added, “As soon as word went around that they were there, people descended onto the area around the Long Walk.”
Prior to the coronation on May 6, the royal couple visited Wales, where they took a similarly low-key approach to their face time with Welsh locals. On April 27, the pair surprised fans with a quick chat while stopping to pick up pizza for the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team. Dressed for the rain in a pair of gray skinny jeans, a cozy green turtleneck sweater, chunky hiking boots, and her favorite Barbour x Alexa Chung wax jacket, the princess took the time to speak with fans, even discussing Princess Diana’s 12-carat engagement ring with one local.
“Same ring,” Kate Middleton said of the piece, per People. “And exactly the same—the same size.” She also told the fan she feels “honored” to wear her late mother-in-law’s ring, adding, “We miss her every day.”
