Kate Middleton Wore Meaningful Earrings to Windsor Castle Meeting After Completing Chemotherapy

The Princess of Wales wore a pair of drop earrings inspired in part by "celestial power"

<p>Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace</p> Kate Middleton hugs Liz Hatton at Windsor Castle on Oct. 2, 2024.

Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

Kate Middleton hugs Liz Hatton at Windsor Castle on Oct. 2, 2024.

Kate Middleton accessorized with a poignant pair of earrings for her first photographed meeting since announcing she had completed chemotherapy.

On Oct. 2, the Princess of Wales, 42, made a surprise appearance at Windsor Castle after Prince William held investiture ceremonies there to privately meet with 16-year-old Liz Hatton, a budding young photographer who is navigating a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Prince William, 42, invited Liz and her family to capture the investitures for her "photography bucket list," and the teen later told BBC Radio 4 it was a "massive shock" to meet the Prince and Princess of Wales after.

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Princess Kate wore a maroon suit with what appeared to be her Cassandra Goad Temple of Heaven earrings, reaching for baubles that have been in her jewelry box for years and bear a key meaning, according to the brand.

<p>Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace</p> Kate Middleton hugs Liz Hatton at Windsor Castle on Oct. 2, 2024.

Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

Kate Middleton hugs Liz Hatton at Windsor Castle on Oct. 2, 2024.

Related: Kate Middleton Seen in New Photos Post-Chemotherapy, Helping Teen with Cancer Fulfill 'Bucket List' Dream

"The Temple of Heaven earrings in yellow gold are inspired by the Emperor of China. The Emperor was regarded as the son of Heaven, responsible for the celestial power for success or failure for his government," the Cassandra Goad website says about the drop earrings, which retail for $3,347 in yellow gold — and are currently in stock.

Statement earrings are one of Princess Kate's style staples, and she has worn the Temple of Heaven earrings before. She wore them for Zara Tindall's pre-wedding celebration in 2011, and later to a 2014 reception for Place2Be, a children's mental health charity she supports as patron, among other occasions.

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Cassandra Goad is a female-founded brand based in London, and the Princess of Wales wore the luxe jeweler's Cavolfiore Pearl Studs to Trooping the Colour in June (which were also already in her collection). King Charles' birthday parade was one of Kate's two official public appearances so far this year after she announced in March that she was undergoing treatment for cancer.

As has become her new norm, Kate opted to not wear her iconic sapphire engagement ring that once belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, swapping it for a different ring — which she has done multiple times recently.

<p>Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace</p> Kate Middleton and Prince William pose with Liz Hatton (center) and her family at Windsor Castle on Oct. 2, 2024.

Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

Kate Middleton and Prince William pose with Liz Hatton (center) and her family at Windsor Castle on Oct. 2, 2024.

Related: A Complete Timeline of Kate Middleton's Abdominal Surgery and Cancer Diagnosis

The Princess of Wales issued a video message on Sept. 9 to announce that she completed chemotherapy treatment and shared a bit about what she imagined the months ahead would look like.

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"Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes," Princess Kate said in part. "I am, however, looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can."

The royal has quietly had a few meetings for work since, but the Windsor Castle meetup with Liz and her family was significant because it was the first of its kind that Kate was photographed at since she announced on Sept. 9 that she had completed treatment.

<p>Will Warr</p> Kate Middleton in a video issued on Sept. 9, 2024.

Will Warr

Kate Middleton in a video issued on Sept. 9, 2024.

"A pleasure to meet with Liz at Windsor today. A talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both," the Prince and Princess of Wales wrote on social media.

"Thank you for sharing your photos and story with us. ❤️," they wrote. The couple signed the post "W&C," using the initials of their first names as shorthand to signal that the update came directly from them.

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The Prince and Princess of Wales' team posted two photos from the meeting, one of Kate (who has described herself as an "enthusiastic amateur photographer") hugging Liz, as well as a group shot of the royal couple with Liz and her loved ones.

The teen later recapped the royal meeting in a Gen Z-approved way — on her Instagram Stories! — and told the Today show on BBC Radio 4 that it was wonderful to meet William and Kate.

<p>Liz Hatton Photography/Instagram</p> Liz Hatton's Instagram Stories on Oct. 2, 2024.

Liz Hatton Photography/Instagram

Liz Hatton's Instagram Stories on Oct. 2, 2024.

"Talking to them was amazing ‘cause it was like talking to anyone, like just a normal person," she said during her Oct. 3 appearance on the show. "There was no sort of grandeur about them, there was just humanity and kindness.”

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