Kate snubs royal jewellery in favour of 'particularly touching tribute' to mark key outing
EXCLUSIVE: Kate, the Princess of Wales has donned some impressive jewellery since becoming a royal but she still opts for more affordable pieces for day-to-day duties.
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Kate, the Princess of Wales chose to opt out of some of her more bedazzling jewellery as she marked World Mental Health Day this week.
The royal has been known to put on a tiara and stunning precious stones when she needs to entertain the world's great leaders alongside the rest of the Royal Family.
But for her appearance at the 'Exploring our Emotional Worlds' forum in Birmingham, Kate snubbed royal glitter in favour of a more special tribute piece.
Royal watchers were quick to spot a set of earrings that has slowly become one of her favourite go-to accessories after she received it as a present.
The 18k gold plated star-shaped earrings were a present from Maidenhead Rugby Club coach Sarah Renton and they were created as a tribute to her daughter Issy after she took her own life earlier this year.
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Maxwell Stone, Steven Stone's Creative Director, told the Daily Express: "There's no denying that Kate Middleton is a style icon and we always look forward to seeing what jewellery she's flaunting - whether it's from the royal vault or one of her favourite high street brands.
"Kate made a particularly touching tribute with her jewellery for World Mental Health Day by wearing a pair of 18k gold plated star earrings that were gifted to her by Maidenhead Rugby Club Coach, Sarah Renton.
"The earrings were made in memory of Sarah's daughter, Issy, who sadly took their own life earlier this year."
Stone continued: "Made by Issy's cousin Sophie McGown, who runs the jewellery brand Ear Sass, the design of the earrings is incredibly symbolic as, since ancient times, stars have been associated with forever, hope, destiny, heaven and freedom.
"The earrings retail at just £25.50 and £5 from each pair sold goes to the charity Brave Mind."
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The Princess of Wales met Renton while she was visiting the club in Maidenhead in June as part of her Shaping Up campaign.
The mum-of-three personally presented the earrings to a moved Kate, who pledged to wear the piece at a later occasion in memory of her 17-year-old daughter.
Issy Phipps joined the Maidenhead RFC, where her mother coaches the under-14 boys club, when she was four and later moved to Reading RFC.
Shortly before her death in April, Issy and her teammates brought home golf from the European Championship in Vichy, France.
After meeting with the Princess of Wales, Renton said: "The proceeds from the earrings are going to a charity called Brave Minds, a mental health charity that supports children using the platforms of rugby clubs.
"Mental health is such an important issue. She was wonderful, Issy, a real breath of fresh air."
She then praised Kate insisting that it is clear she is "passionate about what she does."
Mental health has long been one of the causes the Prince and Princess of Wales have advocated for through the work of their Royal Foundation.
