Designer praises Kate Middleton for her ‘support and recognition’ as she is invited to the royal family’s Christmas carol concert after making earrings in memory of her teenage cousin who committed suicide

The Princess of Wales has sent a sweet gesture of support to a woman who designed a pair of star earrings in aid of a mental health charity – with an exclusive invite to her Christmas Carol Concert this year.

Sophie McGown posted a photo on Xformerly Twitter, about her invitation to the annual event hosted by Kate at Westminster Abbey, which will take place this Friday, saying she was ‘honoured’ to receive the invitation.

Sophie is the owner of EARSASS, the jewelery brand that created a special pair of earrings that the Princess of Wales wore this year – with £5 from each sale going to mental health charity Brave Mind.

The Issy Star Earrings are designed in memory of Issy Phipps, an aspiring rugby player who committed suicide earlier this year at the age of 17 after struggling with depression.

During a visit to Maidenhead Rugby Club in May, Kate shared a sweet moment with Issy’s mother and Sophie’s cousin Sarah Renton, who presented her with the earrings and hugged her.

A keen rugby player herself, Issy Phipps played for Maidenhead RFC from the age of four, before moving to Reading RFC as she grew older.

The rugby ace played at provincial level for a number of years and even made the England U18 touch rugby team at the European Championships in Vichy, France last year, where they took home gold medals.

Following her sudden death at the end of April, a charity match was held in her memory between Maidenhead RFC and Macclesfield at Sixways Stadium, attended by Mrs Renton and Issy’s father Simon.

Issy Phipps, an aspiring rugby player who played for Maidenhead RFC, took her own life in April this year after struggling with depression

The Princess of Wales was touched when she met Issy’s mother, Sarah Renton, and received the earrings in May this year.

After meeting the Princess, Mrs Renton said: ‘Proceeds from the earrings will go to a charity called Brave Minds, a mental health charity that supports children through rugby club platforms. Mental health is such an important topic.

‘She was wonderful, Issy, a real breath of fresh air.

She had wonderful, wonderful friends and surrounded herself with the best people. She had life in her hands, did so well in her A levels, she went on to do an elite rugby program, she paid rugby for England and got a gold medal in the summer.

‘But she also struggled with depression. Everything was harder than it should be.

“We thought she was clearly doing better than she was. But I think one of the things we’re looking at is GPs, medication and lack of support.

Sophie McGown, who designed a pair of earrings in memory of her cousin Issy Phipps, revealed on Twitter that she has been invited to Kate’s Carol Concert

‘She ended up in a kind of vacuum. Many parents and children here at the club are affected by it, but we will get through it together.’

The mother-of-three also praised the Princess for the visit to the rugby club, adding that it was clear Kate is ‘passionate about what she does’.

Kate was visibly moved by her interaction with Mrs Renton, who coaches the under-14 boys at the club, and put her arm around the mother before giving her a warm hug.

Mrs Renton later said the Princess had promised to wear the jewelery in Issy’s memory at a later date.

Staying true to her world, Kate wore the earrings during a visit to Birmingham with Prince William on World Mental Health Day, where they attended a summit focusing on the mental wellbeing of young people in particular.

And in a further show of support for Issy’s family, her jewelery designer cousin will now be included on the very special guest list at Friday evening’s service at Westminster Abbey.

Posting a photo of her invitation to recognition of support.’

The invite reveals some details about the event, including that the dress code is “smart casual.”

Sophie previously explained why she designed the earrings in a video on her Instagram story.

She tearfully said: ‘Issy was my cousin and she took her own life. It’s been such an incredibly emotional rollercoaster, as so many people know, when it comes to suicide and mental health.”

She then thanked everyone who bought and wore a pair of Issy Star Earrings, including the Princess of Wales.