How the Duchess of Cambridge's earrings honoured the Manchester Arena victims
Watch: William and Kate attend opening of memorial to Manchester Arena victims
The Duchess of Cambridge has paid a visit to the Glade of Light memorial in Manchester which commemorates those who lost their lives in the May 2017 terror attacks at Manchester Arena.
The duchess was joined by her husband Prince William, who had travelled to the city fresh from accompanying his father Prince William at the State Opening of Parliament in London.
Kate, 40, wore a blue tweed coat dress to attend the official opening of the garden memorial in the city’s Medieval Quarter ahead of the fifth anniversary of the terror attack.
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The Glade of Light Memorial commemorates the 22 victims of the terrorist attack that took place after an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on May 22, 2017.
The royal couple are expected to take a tour of the Glade of Light memorial – a garden memorial created as a space for reflection and remembrance – before meeting privately with families inside the nearby Manchester Cathedral after the official opening event.
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The duchess wore a fitted Michael Kors tweed coat, first worn in 2014, and paired it with her suede high heel pumps for the event, and a dark navy leather bag by Polène.
Kate accessorised with golden drop bee earrings – a touching tribute to the Manchester’s ‘Worker Bee’ emblem that has been one of the best known symbols for the city for over 150 years.
The ‘Worker Bee’ emblem took on a life of its own in light of the 2017 Manchester Arena attacks and became a symbol of remembrance for those who lost their lives in the terror attack.
Kate was also seen to be wearing a ‘We Choose Love’ charity band from Liv’s Trust CIO, a charity set up in memory of Olivia Campbell-Hardy, one of the victims who was killed in the attack, that helps under 25s in Greater Manchester get help to receive education in music & dance.
The Duke of Cambridge previously attended the national service of commemoration at the cathedral in May 2018, marking the first anniversary of the terror attack.
The centrepiece of the Glade of Light ‘living’ memorial – conceived by designers BCA Landscape and Smiling Wolf – is a white marble halo bearing the names of the 22 people who lost their lives during the attack in 2017.
Families of those who lost loved ones have also been able to place personalised memory capsules, containing mementos and messages, inside the halo.
It features plants which grow naturally in the UK countryside and have been selected to provide year-round colour and echo the changing seasons, according to Manchester City Council.
Watch: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at Glade of Light Memorial in Manchester
