Why Kate and Charlotte Weren’t Wearing Black Armbands At Royal Event — But Charles and William Were
Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte stole the spotlight during King Charles’ birthday celebration, Trooping the Color, with their color-coordinated outfits. The two rode the carriage together to Buckingham Palace and left everyone amazed with their grace and poise. However, royal watchers noted one thing that was missing from their outfits — the black armbands worn by Charles, Prince William, and Princess Anne to pay homage to the victims of the recent Air India flight crash that had 53 British passengers.
According to The Mirror, the Palace announced that a black armband would be worn by the sovereign, William, Royal Mews staff, and the mounted officers taking part in the parade “as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning, and all the communities affected by the awful tragedy.” Therefore, Middleton and Charlotte didn't wear one along with Queen Camilla. To honor victims, a moment of silence was also observed during the ceremony, once Charles reached the dais at Horse Guards Parade.
For the unversed, the crash occurred just two days before the monarch’s official birthday celebration on June 14. An Air India flight, which was headed to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed into a medical college canteen a few minutes after its takeoff. The tragedy took the lives of more than 270 people, with a British national being the lone survivor. The flight was a Boeing 787- 8 Dreamliner, fueled heavily for the long journey ahead, which made rescue efforts impossible. In 2017, the late Queen Elizabeth II had held a similar silence for the Grenfell Tower fire, which broke out in west London, killing 72 people.
As the heartbreaking news broke, Charles and Camilla released a statement. Taking to their social media handle, the monarch wrote how he was ‘desperately shocked’ by the terrible incident. He continued, “Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations, as they await news of their loved ones.” He also paid a heartfelt tribute to the first responders and emergency services for their hard work.
Coming back to Middleton and Charlotte, although protocol dictated they not wear the armbands, they paid homage to their ancestors instead with their outfits. The Princess of Wales opted for an aqua-colored dress that greatly resembled one worn by her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, choosing to also go with her favorite designer, Catherine Walker. She also wore the late Queen’s Bahrain Pearl Earrings for the occasion. Meanwhile, Charlotte, who was known to be very close to her great-grandmother, opted to wear her diamond-studded horseshoe brooch. According to People Magazine, the late monarch had gifted the elegant accessory as it symbolised their shared love for horses.