Meghan Markle’s missing brooch: Kate Middleton, others have brooch at RAF Centenary
The senior members Royal Family were in full force on Tuesday at the celebration of the 100 years of the Royal Air Force (RAF). Meghan Markle, the new Duchess of Sussex, joined husband Prince Harry and the rest of the family, but there was something missing from her attire that was present in other female royals.
Eagle-eyed watchers have noted that Meghan, who was wearing a black Dior dress with bateau neckline, was missing a brooch in her outfit. It didn’t seem to be a requirement, but the other female members of the royal family were wearing one. Kate Middleton; Sophie, Countess of Wessex; Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; and Anne, Princess Royal, all wore a Dacre brooch on their left chest. Even Queen Elizabeth herself was wearing one.
It’s not because Meghan didn’t want to ruin her outfit; it’s because she hasn’t been honoured with one yet. The Dacre brooch has been awarded to female cadets since 1982 and is awarded to members of the royal family who hold honorary position within the RAF’s bases or squadrons, Express reports.
Meghan, who joined the illustrious family only in May, has not been awarded yet. And as her husband had served in the British Armed Forces for 10 years, it is expected that she would receive a brooch as well.
The Duchess of Cambridge could be seen wearing an Air Cadets Dacre brooch, the highest award any female cadet can achieve. She is not a cadet, but she had been appointed as Honorary Commandant of the organisation. She was presented with the brooch by the Air Cadets in 2015.
Camilla is Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Halton, while Sophie is Honorary Air Commodore of HMS Daring, 5th Battalion, the Rifles (5 Rifles) and RAF Wittering. Princess Anne wore a gold version of the brooch as a nod to her role as Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Brize Norton.
The Queen’s brooch is a little more special. Her Majesty, as the Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces, has the Jardine Star brooch, which has eight diamond rays separated by a single collet and that fan out from a central cluster of one large diamond and eight smaller ones. She was left the late-Victorian brooch by Lady Jardine in 1981.
The RAF 100 years celebration features aeronautical display, which the royals watched from the Buckingham Palace balcony. The Queen appeared on the balcony with her firstborn, Charles, as well as Camilla, William, Kate, Harry, Meghan and Anne. Prince Philip is notably absent. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were also absent at their great-grandson Prince Louis’ christening on Monday.
