Kate wears decade old pieces for Northern Ireland garden party

14/6/2016

Following a sombre morning at the US Embassy, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge jetted off to Northern Ireland this afternoon for a garden party hosted by the region's Secretary of State.

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The party is held annually on the grounds of Hillsborough Castle which serves as Northern Ireland’s official royal residence, as well as the Secretary of State’s residence.

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The garden party was attended by around 2,500 guest from a wide cross-section of Northern Ireland society, including the voluntary and community sectors, local charities and youth organisations.

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Baron Carrickfergus and Lady Carrickfergus (as William & Kate are respectfully titled in Northern Ireland) planted a tree to mark their visit.

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For the occasion, Kate selected an old favourite from her closet - a decade-old brocade coat by Day Birger et Mikkelsen.

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The timeless pale gold coat made its debut at the wedding of Laura Parker Bowles to Harry Lopes in 2006. Kate wore it again to two more weddings, and to the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

2006 - wedding of Laura Parker Bowles & H Lopes

2010 - Wedding of Mel Nicholson & Oli Baker

2011 - wedding of Zara Phillips & Mike Tindall

2012 - Paralympic opening ceremony

Under the coat, we got a glimpse of a lace dress. It's another old favourite from the same vintage as the coat. It's the Collette Dinnigan champagne scalloped edge lace dress.

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The Duchess accessorized with new favourites - her LK Bennett 'Fern' trench leather pumps and matching 'Nina' clutch.

As nod to her hosts, Kate wore the Irish Guards gold shamrock brooch. The three-leaf brooch belongs to the regiment and they loan it out at their discretion. Kate has worn the piece on St. Patrick’s Day when presenting shamrocks to the Irish Guards.

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There were a couple new additions to Kate's ensemble today.

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She donned a new hat by Lock and Company. It is the Morning Rose Perching Hat (£645). the design is inspired by the morning rose flower with swirls of pillarbox sinamay circling around a draped centre and a teardrop tip. The hat can be dyed to match and made in alternative fabrics.

Kate finished the look with a new pair of Kiki McDonough earrings. They are Kiki's Eden Diamond Flower Drop Earrings (£2,900), which have been modified with citrine instead of the lemon quartz shown online.

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