Princess Kate Middleton recently returned to official public life after months away for health reasons, opting for a series of touching looks to honor the late Princess Diana.

In her first public appearances since treatment, Kate paid tribute to her husband Prince William’s mother in two poignant moments full of meaning and style, combining her personal reference to royal heritage with family tradition.

On November 9, at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Kate attended the annual Festival of Remembrance with the rest of the royal family. Wearing Diana’s Collingwood pearl earrings and the beloved sapphire and diamond engagement ring that once belonged to the Princess of Wales, Kate made an elegant statement of honor to Diana, choosing subtle jewels linked to the family’s history.

Her emotional return continued the following day at the Remembrance Day ceremony at The Cenotaph in London. Opting for a black military dress by Catherine Walker, Diana’s favorite designer, Kate combined timeless style with a nod to First World War heroes as she wore three poppies, dedicated to her great-grandmother’s three brothers who died in the war.

The evening of November 9 was also a busy one for the Princess of Wales, as it was her first major public appearance since undergoing chemotherapy. Cameras captured her emotion as Kate fought back tears during a standing ovation for World War II troops.

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith emphasized that while Kate cannot be said to be “back” for good, it is clear that she is slowly coming back to life, becoming a “vital part of the royal family” and a “future queen with a real and symbolic role”.