Kate Middleton helps jewelery designer raise £10,000 for mental health charity after princess wore earrings designed in memory of teenager who committed suicide

A jewelery designer has raised more than £10,000 for a mental health charity thanks to the support of Kate Middleton.

The designer behind EARSASS, Sophie McGown, from Perthshire, created The Issy Star earrings in memory of her cousin Issy Phipps, an aspiring rugby player who committed suicide last year at the age of 17 after struggling with depression.

During a visit to Maidenhead Rugby Club in May, where Issy played rugby, the Princess of Wales, 42, shared a sweet moment with Issy's mother and Sophie's cousin Sarah Renton, who presented her with the earrings and hugged her.

Kate wore the sentimental earrings twice, which caused a huge increase in sales and brought in orders from all over the world, it was reported Scottish field.

With £5 from every purchase of the Issy Star earrings donated to mental health charity Brave Mind, Sophie has managed to raise over £10,000.

“It feels truly monumental to have raised over £10,000 in funds for Brave Mind from the sale of the Issy Star,” said Sophie.

“We will do everything we can to continue to support the charity's vital work of educating and centering mental health issues in communities.

'It still feels surreal that the Princess of Wales has a pair of our earrings, possibly on her dressing table.'

Sophie then thanked the Princess of Wales for her 'phenomenal' support and the important role she has played in Issy's memory.

A keen rugby player, 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 last year, 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.

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.

The Princess of Wales has invited the jewelery designer who created the Issy Star Earrings in memory of tragic 17-year-old Issy Phipps to her Christmas Carol Concert

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

'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.

'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.

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

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 show of support for Issy's family, her jewelery designer cousin was included on the very special guest list for the carol 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.