Princess Catherine opts for classic pearl earrings and oversized coat as she joins Prince William to thank staff at Windsor

Princess Catherine wore classic pearl earrings and a demure buttoned black coat as she was joined by Prince William for royal duties in Windsor.

• Prince William and Kate Middleton stepped out in Windsor on Thursday, September 22.
• The Princess of Wales looked somber and demure wearing a classic oversized coat and her trademark earings. 
• In other royal news, Prince William opens up on his 'time of grief' and the cause close to his grandmother's heart that has given him 'comfort'.

Since Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on Monday, September 19, 2022, members of the Royal Family have kept a relatively low profile as they observe their mourning period for Her Majesty.

The Prince and Princess of Wales made their first public appearance on Thursday, September 22, as they greeted volunteers and members of staff in Windsor and thanked those who were involved in organizing the Queen's committal service.

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The Princess wore a double-buttoned long oversized coat in a dark midnight navy-black. Catherine paired the collarless coat with tights and patent black stilettos along with a pair of her classic pearl drop earrings.

Kate Middleton's pearl earrings are her signature style, she even chose to wear a similar pair for the Queen's funeral - a trend followed by a number of women in the extended Royal Family. 

Since the royal couple has just moved their family from Kensington Palace in London to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, the latest royal engagement meant they didn't have far to travel. Their cottage is just a stone's throw from Windsor Castle, the home loved by the Queen before she passed.

It was previously believed that William and Catherine decided to move their family out of the city so that they could spend more time with the Queen.

Prince William previously revealed that as his great-grandmother (the Queen Mother) lived until the age of 101, he had hoped that he'd 'have more time' with the Queen. "I met my great-grandmother as well you see, she got to 101. I thought my grandmother might get a bit more," he told a mourner leaving flowers for the Queen at Sandringham. 

During the same conversation, Prince William also said that walking behind The Queen's coffin 'brought back memories' of his mother's passing back in 1997.