Jeweller had 'no contact with Catherine' ahead of 'incredibly special' surprise outing: 'I just sat there crying'

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Sophie McGown said the Princess of Wales's visit to Liverpool left her feeling 'so emotional'

A jeweller had "no contact" with the Princess of Wales or Kensington Palace before Catherine decided to wear her earrings on Thursday, Sophie McGown, founder of Issy Star Jewellery, exclusively told GB News.

The Princess of Wales wore £39 gold hoop earrings from the Issy Star Brave Mind jewellery collection for Thursday's engagement in Liverpool, which coincided with World Suicide Prevention Day.

The star-shaped earrings were created in memory of Issy Phipps, a gifted rugby player who took her own life in April 2023 at age 17. A share of the revenue from each pair sold is directed to Brave Mind, a mental health charity focused on suicide prevention, working within rugby communities and schools.

Issy's mother gave Catherine the hoops, which she chose to wear on World Suicide Prevention Day. In the wake of her death, her cousin, Ms McGown, established the Issy Star jewellery brand, designing the distinctive star-shaped hoops as a tribute to her memory.

When asked if Ms McGown knew the Princess of Wales was going to wear the Issy Star earrings on Thursday, she told GB News: "No, I had absolutely no idea.

"I was flying down to London for Issy’s birthday walk, and as I came off the plane and got onto the bus at Heathrow, notifications suddenly started appearing on Instagram. People were tagging me and saying, 'Oh my God, I think the Princess is wearing the earrings.'

"I just sat there crying. Issy’s mum, Sarah, was on her way to collect me, and all I could think was that Catherine had woken up that morning and chosen to think of Issy. It was completely overwhelming and incredibly special."

The Princess first wore the earrings in 2023 after Issy’s mother, Sarah, gave them to her. When asked what that moment meant to Ms McGown as Issy’s cousin, she said: "It is very difficult to put into words.

"The earrings were created from such a personal place of grief and love. Seeing the Princess of Wales wearing them meant that Issy’s name, her story and the message behind the star were suddenly being carried around the world.

"As Issy’s cousin, it made me feel incredibly proud, but it was emotional too. I would give anything for Issy to be here to see what her star has become. Catherine didn’t simply wear a pair of earrings - she helped people to stop, ask questions and speak about mental health and suicide prevention."

According to Ms McGown, the family had no contact with Kensington Palace or the Waleses ahead of Thursday's outing.

She told the People's Channel: "We had no contact with Catherine or her team ahead of yesterday’s appearance and no advance notice that she would be wearing the earrings again. That is part of what made the moment so emotional. It appeared to be a completely personal decision by Catherine to choose Issy’s earrings that morning, and that means more to us than I could ever properly express."

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The jeweller spoke out about meeting the Princess of Wales two years ago and what that experience meant to her.

Ms McGown said: "In 2024, Catherine very kindly invited me, Issy’s mum Sarah, and Simon from Brave Mind to her Christmas carol concert, where we were incredibly honoured to sit with her in the royal section.

"It was such a special and emotional evening for us. Her invitation made us feel that Issy, her story and the work being done in her name had not been forgotten. To then see Catherine choose to wear Issy’s earrings again was another extraordinary moment for our family and for Brave Mind. Her continued support has meant more to us than I could ever properly express."

Speaking about the transformation for Issy Star Jewellery after Catherine chose to wear the earrings, Ms McGown said: "It was completely life-changing. Until then, this was something deeply personal that had grown from our family’s love for Issy and our determination to create something positive from such unbearable loss. Suddenly, people all over the world knew her name.

"Personally, it gave me an even greater sense of responsibility. I knew we had been given an extraordinary opportunity to keep telling Issy’s story, raise money for Brave Mind and encourage conversations that might genuinely help someone. It made me realise that this little star could become something far bigger than I had ever imagined."

Ms McGown opened up about her cousin's personality, saying: "Issy was the star of the show in our family - she always was, and she always will be. She was loving, funny, creative and incredibly talented. She was a gifted rugby player, musician and artist, but what mattered most was the way she made people feel.

"She was a fixer and a carer. Her friends were like family to her, and she always made an effort to welcome, encourage and look after people. She had so much love to give.

"I want people who never met Issy to understand that she was not defined by the way she died. She was a beautiful, vibrant young woman with an enormous life and so much potential. Everything we do begins with Issy, and that must never be forgotten."

Ms McGown added: "I chose a star because Issy was our star. That is how our family has always seen her. She shone so brightly when she was with us, and she continues to shine above us now.

"The star also has a wider meaning. When someone wears it, they may be thinking about Issy, someone they have lost, somebody who is struggling or perhaps their own mental health. It is a small and beautiful symbol, but it can carry an enormous amount of love, remembrance and hope."

The earrings have now raised more than £30,000 for Brave Mind. When asked if she ever imagined they would have this kind of impact when she first created them, Ms McGown told GB News: "Never. When I first created the earrings, I simply wanted to honour Issy and do something that might help other young people. To have now raised more than £30,000 is mind-blowing.

"That money is vital because it allows Brave Mind to continue working with young people in sport and giving them the knowledge and tools they need to understand and protect their mental health. Knowing that something created in Issy’s memory is helping other young people is incredibly powerful. It does not take away our grief, but it gives real purpose to what we are doing."

The new Issy Star collection launches on what would have been Issy’s 21st birthday, and Ms McGown said this decision was "our gift to her", as the milestone "should have been a huge celebration of her life and everything that lay ahead of her."

Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.