I kept waiting to get these photos in on Friday, but we only just got access to them. These are pics of Duchess Kate doing an appearance at her old school St. Andrew’s – that was like her middle school and high school elementary school, for those Americans looking for a comparison. November 30th was “St. Andrew’s Day” and to mark the occasion, Kate made an appearance, spoke to some kids, played field hockey and made a speech! She was the first to play on the school’s new Astroturf, and she unveiled a plaque too. She’s a former field hockey player, and it looks like she’s still got some moves, right? I’m actually impressed that she played with the girls while she wore those heeled boots. She looks very graceful. I would be on my ass with a broken ankle.
Kate’s dress/suit thing is Alexander McQueen. I like it! I like a dark tartan, and those colors look good on her. Kate loves a full skirt, and I think the outfit on the whole is cute. I’m including some full-length profile pics of Kate too, where you can see that unlike so many of her outfits, this McQueen doesn’t emphasize her tiny waist. Her mid-section does looks slightly larger, but I can’t tell if it’s just a weird cut, or heavy fabric… or a BABY.
Would you like to hear her speech? Now that I’ve realized that her speeches sound like they were written by Bridget Jones, I can’t get it out of my head.
Stylistically, this is probably her best public speech to date, although she has set the bar pretty low for herself. I wanted to yank her new bangs back – you could tell that they were irritating her and she longed to fuss with them after they kept falling in her left eye. But overall, she did a better job memorizing the short speech and she sounded less nervous. You can read more about her appearance here.
Photos courtesy of WENN.com.
Personally I think the hair change is a distraction for the bit of weight she’s gaining because she’s prego…not that it’s shocking it’s her only real job ‘an heir and a spare’.
Make that “‘hair’ and a spare”
yup!
the hair change came just as she started becoming thicker around the mid-section. she’s definitely pregnant.
I was literally thinking the exact same thing. Her face is a little more full and she looks a little different. I think she’s totally pregnant.
Her legs are in the most terrifying position EVER in the first picture. It looks like something out of a paranormal movie. :O
Oh dear . . .
I always cringe at her speeches. But, it’s definitely an improvement from the first one. Which is something, I guess.
Oops, I was under the impression that St Andrews was her Primary School! I’ve got to learn to listen to the news more carefully.
I’d like that skirt please!
I like Duchess Kate but I’m a sucker for the Royal Family and I’m moving to Cambridge (for family reason not them ha!) I do think she’s get a bit of a hard time with the whole ‘must have a baby now’ crap
Good luck to them
I agree Carrie! I used to have a job that made me a bit of a public figure and that meant lots of speeches and public appearances. I suffer from anxiety and began to loath going to these things. Her job is PR and it is a job! I admire the fact that she seems to enjoy it and despite what some people say I envy how great she looks at all of these things. More power to her!
So, if they had to wait until after their immunization shots wore off post-trip abroad, then she must have gotten pregnant very quickly. Hope she is in fact pregnant!
I agree Apples. I hope she is preg’s and good for her. My 3 boys are the best thing I have accomplished and I am no slacker. This woman has a college degree and married her college sweetheart and people just love to minimize everything about her. And btw, one of the biggest things in fashion right now is plaid, so not only homage to her alma mater but top of fashion too…and yet the slams continue.
Blackwatch plaid is my favorite!
Those boots again… *exists*
I think she’s awesome,
Tiny correction: St Andrews is a prep school for 3-13yr olds. Don’t know what the American equivalent for that would be.
I am convinced McQueen style her every time she wears their clothing because every time she does, it’s not just the perfectly tailored clothing, but it’s also the perfectly judged accessories and hair and make up. Her clothing is never a distraction When she’s wearing that label.
On a different note,if she was wearing tartan to mark st Andrew’s day, she should have worn her own tartan rather than the black watch one.
Just curious, what does black watch mean? Does it refer to the purple, green and black pattern?
The different tartans pattern refer to the different Scottish clans. Hers is the scarf she carried on the Jubilee flotilla.
What Reece said.
Her tartan is strathearn.
Blackwatch is a scottish military regiment. The colours and pattern she’s wearing are their tartan.
LAK aside from the McQueen military themed dress to visit the riot victims they always dress her correctly. Or did she just choose to wear that outfit without a stylist from the fashion house?
3-13 covers basic elementary school or K through 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in the US. Grade grouping to lower class sizes varies from school to school and by state. The schools vary in names. Prep, magnet, middle school, etc…,but in the end they’re all just elementary.
I convinced they recommend accessories etc because when she’s in McQueen, all the details are on point. From head to toe. Whether you like the outfit or not.
The appropriateness (sp?) of occassion is completely up to her, and where a dresser is urgently needed because she doesn’t get that.
The Queen’s dresser, Angela Kelly, has just released a book on dressing The Queen. I have a mind to send Kate a copy of it because it gives minute detail on all the details that Kate keeps tripping up on.
Appropriateness aside, the outfit seemed too large/baggy or maybe it’s suppose to fit like that and the hair was overwhelming as it was. I am however, not a stylist or designer. Just a nurse, so maybe as she was the styling was perfect.
LOVE the tartan! & Her hair looks good here. I didn’t like her bangs in earlier pics but they must have tweaked them because they seem to blend in better now. Now if we can just get rid of the sausage curls…
Ugh that dress is awful, but maybe its because I hate tartan. I think she is improving on her speeches, I don’t cringe listening to them now. Also I think she is sounding less posh, its still not her natural accent but she sounds a bit more comfortable.
Sorry, but I still find her cringe-worthy. I don’t think this dress/coat looks good on her at all. I like the fabric a lot, but the tailoring of this thing just makes her look like a cross between Frump and Child. The proportions are off. It doesn’t fit right, for a bespoke creation. It seems as if McQueen is getting into a rut with these fit-flare designs and pocket flaps on the hip for Kate…. At least the others all fit her nicely, this one does not.
The hair is even more difficult for her to handle now that she has this layering by her face. Her makeup looks pretty good though.
I think it’s about time to retire those boots……they aren’t quite as beat up as the booties she wore with the Max Mara coat, but they just look out of style. There’s no reason why she shouldn’t try a lower heel in the future, either…..
I think she’s lovely…minus the sausage roll curls.
I love love love that dress, but the bangs give her an older look, maybe because they’re reminiscent of a different generation.
I could be wrong about this, but I don’t think Americans have an equivalent to sending your kids to boarding school at age 3 (or really even before high school in most cases).
I’m glad Kate wore the school colours. That dress really suits her. I guess she’ll be happy to grow those bangs out.
Nah no babies. I think it’s the material, it’s heavy. Looks like she’s trying to match the school uniforms.
I love McQueen. She always looks good in it because they tailor so well.
Just been announced that she’s pregnant. Official. From BBC.
They’ve announced their expecting! Let the wait begin!
I hope she has twins…a boy and a girl…that will really set the royal watchers and followers on fire. congrats to them both!
I don’t know about her being pregnant, but the extra room in the outfit could be due to her wearing lots of layers. I’m not sure how cold it’s been in Berkshire, but in Edinburgh, it’s been FREEZING! I’ve been wearing layers upon layers when I go out and I still can’t keep warm.
I really hate all the baby speculation. If and when she’s ready, she’ll announce it. Until then, it’s no one’s business.
EDIT – I take that back. The St James Palace has announced she’s preggo!
She is obviously a good sport. Wearing the tartan (I love) and playing field hockey. Oh and she is totally pregs..
OMG!!!!! She’s pregnant!! For reals!
I really like the bangs: they make her hair and face look softer and lovelier.
She’s in hospital with acute morning sickness apparently, poor thing.
And supposedly when you have severe morning sickness you are more likely to have a girl!
I’m British and it’s breaking news on TV that they’re expecting a baby as she was taken to hospital this morning because of acute morning sickness and I’ve always loved Kate so happy for her and she looks good in these photos 🙂
if she had to be taken to the hospital for acute morning sickness, it sounds like the poor girl has hyperemesis gravidarum. I’ve been there and it is not fun
Definitely bumpy. Confirmed officially this morning.
They just announced her pregnancy! (I called it when she cut her bangs! yay!)
Congrats to Wills & Kate!!!
CNN is reporting the Palace just announced Kate is expecting
Congrats to her and Prince William on their pregnancy. Heres to hoping they have a healthy happy child. BTW I like the dress, but not the boots, they need to go.
They announced it. It’s true. Even a broken clock is right twice a day, I hope she starts feeling better, poor thing.
Awwww….just saw the breaking news alert. Congrats for them – she’s definitely, also, going to be a fun one to watch for pregnancy fashion. 😉
This is such happy news! I LOVE the Royals. Can’t even help myself. Although now I realize how old I am… I remember when it was announced Diana was pregnant with William.
I had horrible morning sickness, too. I feel bad for her.
haha, well now that I know she’s pregnant.. bumpy.. NAILED IT
Huzzah, it’s true! Congrats to Kate & Wills!!!
It’s official, they’re expecting.
Not surprising she’s right on schedule with this pregnancy.
she is preggers- uk newspaper just released the news 😀 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2242350/Kate-Middleton-pregnant-Duke-Duchess-Cambridge-having-baby.html (daily mail)
that mini royal will probably be the best looking modern royal to date
bbc has an announcement from st. james palace that she’s preggers
Congrats to William and Kate. I think she always looks gorgeous.
It’s really cool for them and even cooler that no gossip rag managed to get an “exclusive”. While normally it wouldn’t be a good idea to annouce it so early, it’s nice to see the speculation end and the announcement coming from the correct source.
She looks beautiful! Congrats to them both.
My favorite skirt is my tartan one. I love it! I like Kate, but not Wills….I can see her jumping in to be a good mom; him, he’s just so boring.
Looks more like Black Watch.
That outfit looks just like my high school uniform skirt! I went to Catholic schools for 12 years, grade school was blue, high school was green… just like that outfit!