The Princess of Wales debuted a new Daniella Draper necklace symbolising ‘love and connection’ as she met the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, in London today.
She was joined by Prince William at Lambeth Palace for an introduction to the first woman to hold the role of head of the Church of England.
The royal, 44, looked on trend in a custom Edeline Lee textured midi dress, and showcased her engraved Gold Keeper’s Heart Trace Chain Necklace, which retails at £1,555, for the first time at the engagement.
The elegant chain, handcrafted in England using recycled 9-carat gold, is engraved with a handwritten message, although it’s not clear what the inscription says.
The family-run London-based brand, which uses sustainably sourced materials, credits its inspiration to nature, much like Kate herself.
And it’s not her first piece from the brand; Kate donned a Daniella Draper design at Wimbledon last year, with the sentimental piece serving as a tribute to Prince Louis, who, unlike Prince George and Princess Charlotte, didn’t attend the sporting event.
The Princess of Wales debuted a new Daniella Draper necklace as she met Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally at Lambeth Palace today
The Archbishop welcomed Prince William and Princess Catherine at the steps of Lambeth Palace
The Princess of Wales speaks during a meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally (not pictured) on Thursday
Kate kept her youngest close to her heart in his absence, as the gems featured in the piece were the birthstone for April, the month Louis was born.
For today’s event, Kate completed her ensemble with a longline custom brown coat from Catherine Walker and heels from Gianvito Rossi.
William and Kate sat down with the first woman to hold the role of the head of the Church of England at Lambeth Palace.
Separately, they also met with the leader of the Ismaili Muslims, Aga Khan, with the heir to the throne pictured shaking hands with him outside Kensington Palace.
In a post on social media, the Prince and Princess of Wales said it was ‘a pleasure’ to welcome Mr Khan to the palace on Thursday morning.
Kate unexpectedly joined William at Lambeth Palace in London as he held a half-hour meeting with the first female to hold the top role in the Church of England’s 1,400-year history.
While neither are regular churchgoers, it has been reported that the princess turned more to her faith during her recent cancer battle.
The couple were greeted by Dame Sarah on the steps of her London residence, offering a brief curtsey and shaking both warmly by the hand.
The Gold Keeper’s Heart Trace Chain Necklace from London-based brand Daniella Draper retails at £1,555
The royal mother-of-three sported a bespoke Catherine Walker coat with a custom dress from Edeline Lee
Pictured: The Prince and Princess of Wales met the Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally during an audience in the Archbishop’s study at Lambeth Palace, London, today
The meeting marked a significant moment in the future king and queen’s relationship with the Church, with royal sources saying the couple were ‘looking forward to spending time with Archbishop Sarah and building a strong working relationship with her’.
William will also attend her formal Installation at Canterbury Cathedral on March 25.
In the Archbishop’s study, the royal encounter was relaxed. William cracked a self-deprecating joke and asked how she was finding her way around the sprawling palace and grounds.
Kate focused on the gardens and their potential as spaces for reflection and calm for clergy and visitors alike.
It is understood the visit reflected the importance the royal couple place on faith and their desire to build a strong working relationship with the senior cleric.
Lambeth Palace said after the meeting the trio discussed the contribution of churches around the country to their communities, and William and Kate’s work through their Royal Foundation.
The Archbishop said afterwards: ‘It was a privilege to welcome the Prince and Princess of Wales to Lambeth Palace today.
‘I know we hold the same hope for a better world and I look forward to working together in the years to come. I will continue to hold them and their family in my prayers.’
Kate looked animated as she chatted with the first female Archbishop of Canterbury on Thursday
The Princess looked effortlessly elegant as she made an appearance alongside Prince William
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive ahead of an audience with the Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally
As their informal chat began, with an afternoon tea of cakes and fruit salad on a nearby table, the trio discussed Lambeth Palace’s garden outside a window.
When Dame Sarah commented that in her previous role as the Bishop of London the deanery had a ‘small patch of ground’, Kate said about central London: ‘It’s amazing how much green space there is.’
William asked Dame Sarah if she knew the layout of Lambeth Palace yet and was told she is ‘getting there’.
She was confirmed as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury at St Paul’s Cathedral last week and on Wednesday she made the oath of allegiance to the sovereign, in which she acknowledged the King as the supreme governor of the Church of England, in a traditional ceremony dating back to the reign of Elizabeth I.
Dame Sarah became the first female Archbishop of Canterbury in the Church’s history, after the role was left vacant for about a year when Justin Welby announced he was to resign over failures in handling an abuse scandal.
It came after Dame Sarah took her place in the House of Lords in her new role as the Church of England’s top cleric.
Dame Sarah Mullally already sat in the upper chamber as the Bishop of London, prior to her historic appointment.
The Lords Spiritual have 26 places reserved in the unelected house for senior Church of England bishops, including the archbishops of Canterbury and York.
Dame Sarah was supported by the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, and the Bishop of Peterborough, the Rt Rev Debbie Sellin, for the short introduction ceremony in the Lords, where she swore the oath of allegiance to the King.
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at Lambeth Palace in London ahead of a meeting with the first female Archbishop of Canterbury
Kate donned a brown dress teamed with a matching coat for the outing in London today
Look of love! The Princess appeared to share a loving glance with her husband today
In a statement after the ceremony, Dame Sarah said she was committed to ‘bringing a compassionate voice to my role as an advocate for equity, justice and hope’.
She added: ‘I will draw on my faith and my practical and pastoral experience as a nurse and a priest, to help scrutinise and finesse legislation that improves the lives of all those who live and work in our country – of all faiths and none.’
The first female Archbishop of Canterbury was officially confirmed as the 106th person to take up the post at a service in St Paul’s Cathedral last month.
She filled a vacancy left by Justin Welby who was forced to resign over his handling of a child abuse scandal.
Dame Sarah, a former chief nursing officer for England, will have a further service at Canterbury Cathedral in March where she will be installed, or enthroned, and after which she will begin preaching in her new role.
Technically, the King is head of the Church of England, but the person holding the role of Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior bishop and the spiritual leader of the Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The Lords ceremony came a day after Dame Sarah met the King at Buckingham Palace to acknowledge him as the supreme governor of the Church of England, in a tradition dating back to the reign of Elizabeth I.
Dame Sarah thanked Charles for his support for the Church and reflected on having, in her role as the new Bishop of London, paid homage to the King’s late mother Queen Elizabeth II eight years previously.
Also taking her seat on the Lords red benches on Thursday was the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, the Rt Rev Dr Joanne Woolway Grenfell.
She was supported by the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Peterborough as she swore the oath of allegiance to the monarch.
She previously served as the Bishop of Stepney.
There were an estimated 1.02 million regular worshippers across the Church of England in 2024, up from 1.01 million in 2023.
There are said to be 85 million people in more than 165 countries around the world forming the Anglican Communion.
