Kate Middleton accessorizes with Vanleles honeycomb bee earrings

Duchess Kate accessorized her blue Eponine London coat dress with buzzing bee earrings from African high jewelery brand Vanrelles during a visit to the Christie Cancer Hospital in Manchester, England, on Thursday.

The Princess of Wales’s earrings were made from 18K yellow gold and featured the brand’s Nile hoop earrings with dangling bee charms. The bee itself is also made of yellow gold with black striped accents and features wing detailing and small gemstones.

The earrings have been part of Middleton’s jewelry collection for years, most notably in May 2022 when they were worn by members of the British royal family and her husband Prince William at an Ariana Grande concert to unveil a memorial to the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.

Bees are an important symbol of Manchester, representing the city’s resilience, community and people’s work ethic. Founded by Vaneles, Vanleles blends cultural significance and its African roots with contemporary glamor and design, a quality that also recalls Middleton’s approach to royal wardrobe.

In addition to the 18K yellow gold earrings, the Princess of Wales wore a blue coat dress by Eponine London, which she also kept in her closet for years. Middleton completed her look with suede praline pumps by Gianvito Rossi and wore a pendant necklace by London-based Astley Clark.

Thursday’s visit to the Christie Cancer Treatment Hospital had special meaning for the Princess of Wales. The British royal family revealed in March 2024 that they were undergoing treatment for their cancer diagnosis. In September 2024, she revealed that she had completed chemotherapy.

“Although chemotherapy has finished, the road to healing and full recovery is long and we must continue to take it day by day,” Middleton said in a September 2024 video shared through the Prince and Princess of Wales’ official social media channels. “However, I am looking forward to getting back to work and taking on some more public engagements in the coming months if possible.”

Prior to Thursday’s outing in Manchester, Middleton attended a reception to mark the 125th anniversary of Cancer Research UK at St James’s Palace in London, where she wore a red Rodarte midi dress with a playful white heart motif.