The clothes, shoes, and handbags of royal women are endlessly fun to analyze and break down—but when it comes to sentimentality, look no further than the accessories of women like Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle.

Case in point? The Princess of Wales’s meaningful jewelry worn on July 2 to a surprise visit to Colchester Hospital in Essex, where she was extremely vulnerable and candid about life with cancer—and life after treatment has ended. (More on that in a moment.) Kate’s looks very often tell a story—like the Blazé Milano blazer worn on Wednesday, a full circle moment to her wearing the piece in June 2024 to announce that, while she wasn’t “out of the woods” just yet, she would be attending Trooping the Colour the next day alongside other members of the royal family. Ever a fan of the rewear, Kate not only wore the blazer yesterday and last year, but originally debuted it in 2023, when she wore it alongside her family to the International Air Tattoo.

Underneath the blazer, the future queen wore a tan and white striped cotton shirt by Ralph Lauren and pants from Joseph Coleman, according to fashion site What Kate Wore. Kate also brought back a favorite shoe in the form of her Veja Esplar Leather Trainers, which she’s worn numerous times in the past.

But the jewelry, the jewelry! Often overlooked in favor of other style staples, the earrings, necklaces, and bracelets are often the heart and soul of a royal look. According to What Kate Wore, the Princess of Wales wore an Auree Bali Garnet Birthstone Necklace—perhaps a tribute to her own strength, as garnet is Kate’s birthstone (she was born January 9). What Kate Wore noted that Kate’s necklace appears to be inscribed with text on one side (though it’s difficult to make out what it says), and the site also noted that the necklace was first seen in a video released in June 2022 of Kate baking with her children.

Birthstone jewelry is a favorite of royal women. Though she was born in July (the birthstone is ruby for those born that month), Princess Diana, of course, famously wore a sapphire and diamond engagement ring, which now belongs to Kate (sapphires are the birthstone of September babies, while diamonds are the birthstone for those born in April). At her 2018 wedding reception, Meghan wore a famous piece from Diana’s collection—an aquamarine ring—and aquamarine is the birthstone of the month of March. Meghan has also worn emerald jewelry numerous times—possibly representing son Prince Archie’s May birthday—and took her jewelry into the zodiac realm by layering a gold Taurus constellation necklace (Archie’s zodiac sign) with a coordinating Gemini necklace for daughter Princess Lilibet, who was born in June.

Kate, in particular, seems to have an affinity for birthstone jewelry, going all the way back to her college days at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where she met and fell in love with Prince William. During those early years of their relationship, William gave Kate a promise ring when the two were still dating that is comprised of garnet and pearl stones—garnet, of course, representing Kate’s January birthday, and pearl representing William’s June birthday.

According to the site Dress Like a Duchess, Kate wore the promise ring in June 2005 to her college graduation day and has worn it as a working royal as well, particularly in her early years soon after marrying into the royal family in 2011. The promise ring signified “commitment and fidelity, as well as a pledge for lifelong love and loyalty,” according to Dress Like a Duchess, and Tatler reported that garnet gemstones “are said to represent commitment”—so maybe Kate’s garnet necklace worn yesterday is a renewed commitment to herself.

In addition to her necklace, on Wednesday Kate also wore a pair of Cartier Trinity earrings in bands of pink, yellow, and white gold, which, symbolically, What Kate Wore noted the Princess of Wales wore in January while visiting Royal Marsden Hospital, where she received cancer treatment.

After being diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, Kate announced her diagnosis to the world on March 22 of last year; in September, she announced she’d completed cancer treatment, and in January—the same day as the Royal Marsden Hospital visit—she shared she was in remission. That doesn’t mean that life after treatment has been easy, as Kate candidly shared on Wednesday, saying (per the BBC) that during the “life-changing” experience of cancer treatment, “you put on a sort of brave face,” but afterwards it can feel “really difficult.”

The Princess of Wales spoke about having “stoicism through treatment,” but after “the treatment’s done—then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal.’ But actually, the phase afterwards is really difficult.”

“It is [a] life-changing experience, both for the patient, but also for the families, as well,” she continued. “And actually, it sometimes goes unrecognized. You don’t necessarily—particularly when it’s the first time—appreciate how much impact it is going to have. You have to find your new normal, and that takes time—and it’s a rollercoaster. It’s not one smooth plane, which you expect it to be. But the reality is, it’s not—you go through hard times.”