Here are some photos from Day 4 of the Cambridges’ Super Keen Brexit Ambassadorship Trip. They spent two days in Poland, and then they arrived in Germany yesterday. I think they leave Germany tomorrow, because if they do more than five days of work, they both turn into pumpkins. Today, Prince William and Kate visited the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg. They met a British scientist named Dr. Michael Milsom who is doing work with stem cells. Is that controversial? It probably would be controversial in America. I think in Germany, stem cell research is not controversial (which is as it should be).
For today’s outing, Kate chose another new outfit, something in bright yellow, perhaps as a nod to the colors of the German flag. Incidentally, I’ve always thought Germany had one of the ugliest flags. Black, red and yellow, with black on top of the trifecta color-block? No. The darkest color should go at the bottom. Kate’s yellow dress is a “bespoke” piece (“bespoke” = $$$$$) from Jenny Packham. Which means this was made just for Fair Waity. At least that means it fits her correctly, although this is basically a fancy version of a 1950s housedress. I guess the reverse pleats are supposed to make it look updated or something, but you would be able to find versions of this dress in any good vintage clothing shop. Kate paired this bespoke Packham with her beloved Monsoon wedges, because she has to bring those hideous things with her on every overseas trip. Those nude wedges have been with her in Australia, in New Zealand, in Bhutan and India. They’re only really suitable for her trips to Mustique.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
I’m sorry this is not even a comment about her dress. Something seems off with Kate. Kate – are you okay? Blink once for no and twice for yes. I feel myself tensing looking up at her. Social anxiety or mean Willie or both??
That was funny. I have yet to see these two hold hands. Someone else pointed that out in previous posts. This relationship seems very off. At least to me.
And not a fan of the dress. They all start to blend in to one another. I’ve stopped keeping track of the styles and started keeping track of the price tags. That’s more of a wow than her style.
Do British royals ever hold hands? Edward and Sophie sometimes have linked arms. But other than that it doesn’t seem to be a thing.
I have seen pics of them holding hands in candid pics,like on the beach or private walks but not on official outings.
I don’t think they’re permitted to hold hands during official events.
That dress – my grandma used to have a couch with the same material.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-4248452/Why-Duke-Duchess-Cambridge-NEVER-hold-hands.html
Sam Louise: they are allowed to hold hands and to touch each other. They just choose not to do so.
If they’re at these events in a diplomatic capacity, it would be weird if they did hold hands, imo. I don’t think it’s “wrong”, and maybe even the royals wouldn’t consider it “wrong,” but I don’t think it would fit the context.
They seem to avoid physical contact more than usual. In the past sometimes Will would put his hand on the small of Kate’s back to guide her in an entrance or something, but there doesn’t seem to be any of that. The fight that happened in Poland doesn’t seem like it was a simple tiff because Kate was pulling faces that were more angry than she ever has, at least in a public setting.
Fighting in Poland? Do tell.
India
There was no fight that has been seen. A reporter commented on Kate not smiling and said she was shooting will glares.
What it appears more likely to be is she was caught in transition of events and didn’t smile. It’s more likely she made the face we all make, but are not aware of. Rbf.
Fight? We’ve seen fights. William yelling at Kate next to a heli on the aus/nz tour. Body language and facial expression looked it. And it was nothing like this.
Kate was giving off pretty nasty faces that looked more than just “not smiling “. There were definite glares captured. Something went on prior to leaving for that event.
Very pretty! I love yellow dresses
I love it also. Very modest and appropriate.
Same old. Her clothes are neither aspirational ,inspirational or hideous, just super expensive versions of budget mall clothes.
Yes, that is what I see too.
Not the wedges!!! Jesus H! I thought they were dead and buried 🙈
Just when you think she might be improving her shoe game, she brings out The Wedges. Girl, donate them to Oxfam or something.
Second that – how pretty would this have been with white pumps?!
oh my gosh, those wedges. i can’t–i just can’t.
Kate looks like she might have a wider foot. If that’s the case, most shoes are not comfortable. I know firsthand. If you find a shoe that’s comfortable, you live in it. What I’m saying is, give her a break. Trendy, uncomfortable shoes aren’t worth the sore feet.
They have the money for bespoke shoes tailored to her needs. Do they need to save on Charlie’s monies or does C need to keep the purse tight? Imagine the scandal: Kate Dolittle wears tailored/bespoke shoes. Scandalous!
@Honeybadger, I have to agree with you there. I have wide feet and finding shoes that fit comfortably is a struggle. I actually hate shoe shopping because of it. When I do find a pair I like, I usually wear them into the ground till they are worn so thin I can almost feel the floor on my skin. If that’s her reasoning for sticking with wedges, I will absolutely cut her a break.
Her feet aren’t very wide, she just seems to love these particularly UGLY wedges. She has been wearing 4.5 inch heel Prada shoes, so obviously she doesn’t struggle with regard to pain.
She has bunions. Only certain shoes can be worn. I know because I have them as well.
A Podiatrist told a friend of mine who has bunions, etc., that the best shoes to
wear were wedges – I am now looking for a pair……..
If she has bunions, then her 4+ plus heels with pointed toes certainly aren’t helping her any….
yeah I have bunions too. Those nude Rossi heels make my bunion hurt just looking at them. She may have foot issues, but its not bunions.
The dress is lovely. The wedges…someone do us a solid and burn those. Her hair is also lovely. The shorter cut makes everything look slightly better
I agree. I love the dress-hate the shoes.
She looks good. I’m really enjoying the new haircut. Also, it’s so odd how “uninspired” her personality is, at least for being a public figure. When I think of Maxima, Letizia, Victoria, Madelina, Charlotte, etc their personalities shine through their face and by extension their clothing. But Kate… She just seems like a perfectly fine individual, but not memorable.
It’s called being a charisma free zone.
LOL
I agree. The haircut looks fantastic on her.
Kate’s dress is fine. I like colors and patterns on her. The wedges, a big NO!!! They don’t go with the dress!!
How long can Kate keep this up? Spends all this money on clothes. Not contributing to life/society. She’s like an empty vessel. I’m not sure if I should get upset or feel sorry for her.
This is what Kate was raised to aspire to – Carole has clearly instilled the ‘marry well and live off your husband’ attitude with both daughters. Neither has a work ethic and seem perfectly content to life the life of a trophy wife.
…and yet even Pippa can rally herself into competing in charity functions, etc…when has Kate ever given the impression she cares about anyone, anything genuinely that doesn’t involve movie stars, fun sports or cute guys? at least get better at the acting, take some drama classes for goodness sakes! she just always come across as a cold, calculating person that now and then tries to strike a “genuine” smile at someone, but it just always looks phony, like she’s a model putting on a fake expression for the camera.
She was raised to be an ornament. At that, she excels, and I’m sure that’s a fulltime job for her. In her own mind, she is very, very successful and a hard worker.
Her hair looks good.
Nice colour, but a bit Von Trapp Family curtains. I think she looks very relaxed and happy during this trip. Maybe a bit tipsy? Which I wouldn’t blame her for as I would need a drink to calm my nerves in this situation. William seems happier too so maybe she just feels happier and confident with him.
Do you mean to tell me that my children have been running about Salzburg dressed in DRAPES?!
LOL
ha, ha! they do look like the drapes dresses worn by the older Von Trapp girls.
Lol @Nicky I was wondering why the dress seemed so familiar! Liesel cosplay?
And I thought she was wearing “mustard” yellow because she’s in Germany and making pretzels.
Just thinking the same thing!
What I will never understand is how Kate manages to spend thousands of pounds in clothes that one, judging by the look, can easily find for under 200 bucks? This leaves me perplexed.
And me. It’s not the ‘fashion’ thing either. The queens clothes for example are basically a uniform. HM sticks to what suits her, what’s comfortable and what she can be seen in, she knows she has to be seen to be ‘believed ‘ It’s savvy because she know her appearance when she’s in public and representing her country is part of her job. This is part of Kate’s job as well, she’s out there representing a nation. She has access to the best of everything, designers, stylists, PR, huge funds – last year she spent £174,170.00 of The Dutchy of Cornwalls money BUT she still gets it wrong. How can you consistently get it wrong when you know what’s required and you have all that help? Congenitally thick perhaps, badly advised, ill conceived ideas about modernity? I have no idea at this point.
I think she needs to look the part but does not manage to do it properly. Other RF women have expensive outfits but manage to wear them better. So there is not much discussion on what other RF ladies wear. Gone are the Waiting Years (20xx-2011) when Keen Kate was wearing high street fashion at affordable prices. After 2011, a few HS pieces here and there. After so many years (post 2011), C does not get any return on investment. None.
Same cut and style as most of her dresses. The design looks like a giant doily glued on a dress. It looks cheap with the white fabric of the dress being so obvious underneath. All that money she constantly burns and still she insists on looking the same and wearing the same type of clothes.
She looks like a 1950s Stepford wife except she lacks polish and grace. No substance or personality.
I couldn’t agree more, Maiden. Lengthen the sleeves and add several buttons, and this dress would also be the same as her countless coats.
I agree except that I think the dress looks like fabric you would see on a couch made in the 50s. Leave it to Kate to have the worst style.
Stem cell research is controversial in Germany, too. Can’t really compare it to the US, though, ’cause I don’t know about your discussions regarding the topic.
A national flag isn’t supposed to be pretty, but have a historic meaning. The national flag’s colors are black-red-gold, not yellow, btw. It’s just shown that way because it’s easier than dying every flag a metallic color.
I don’t get the wedge hate. I have a wide foot and wedges are really the only type of heels I can wear.
There are some great wedge shoes out there, but these are not in that category, IMO.
I love this dress… but the orange color is doing weird things to her skin. It’s making her glow in a weird chemical spill way. I don’t know if its because she fake tans or what, but orange is definitely not her color. Imagine if the parts of the dress that are orange were emerald green. That would have been gorgeous.
The close up picture of her — she looks so much like her mother there.
Really? I find Kate really doesn’t look much like her mother at all. Kate’s eyes are much larger and Kate’s smile is also larger. Carole has squinty eyes and a tight smile which only reveals her upper teeth. Carole also has the it factor IMO.
Love the dress, it looks very Boden. I love Boden, leave me alone! Will on the other hand … that’s an ugly jacket. He really doesn’t dress that well, does he? Charles always looks impeccable. Ask dad for advice, Will.
Seems to like his tight pants.
Lol, I love Boden too!
THe dress is lovely, Kate herself is looking sun-damaged on her face, and very frizzy.
I like like the dress this time and so like her haircut, it’s what I’ve always wanted from her. Why does she have such a problem with accessories? This would have look so cute with a blue shoe, purse and earrings (which I know she has in her closet). Also I don’t feel that she needs a new frock every time she steps out. Maybe take what you have to a good tailor and switch repurpose outfits?
I used to really like her and think she would be good for the BRF and PW that maybe she needed a transition period but now I see she is just a vain, lazy debutant that has to be give presents to “work”.
On another she looks very tired. I know when I don’t sleep as well because it’s not my bed, home, routine. Honestly though do think there could be more with her? A mental illness, chronic disease, anything? Maybe that could be the reason for her not taking to her role. Honestly you do not marry the second in line and not step up to the plate. Anyone would know that.
About 8 years ago I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It took 10 years and a multitude of wrong diagnosis (I.e. lupus, rhumitoid arthritis even liver failure) to get the right answer. In that time I lost my career in the Navy and even though my husband didn’t lose his we did have to move apart for 5 year because I was unable to take care of our children myself.
So it would make since for W and K if she does have an illness to have to deal with that more, especially her. If not they are just vain and lazy.
I think that Will and Kate are having to spend time in much closer quarters than they are used to and it is getting to her. Plus with only one nanny, the kids may be taking up more time too. There aren’t quite the degree of extra servants and nannies as compared to what they have at KP and Anmer.
JennDama – OMG yessss – blue shoes would have been spectactular, up to date and fresh. I guess the British Royals still think that is not appropriate. Maybe for the bicycle-riding rest-of-Europe royals, but for them? Please.
I hope Brexit is over soon or they might visit us again. Or they might actually have to cut down on expenses when the whole country goes down the drain. The “Independent” is already talking food shortages.
As for your illness – I am in a similar situation. After 30 (!) years of crazy symptoms I will finally insist on tests for 2 different incurable metabolic disorders. The 30 or so symptoms fit like a glove. It would not surprise me if Dr. Google would actually turn out to be smarter than my general practitioner. I am actually hoping for a positive test result, so I can tell people that I am suffering instead of being just weird.
Some people don’t travel well. I look worse coming back from a vacation than I do before I go. I’m out of my comfort zone and it shows all over my face and skin. I’ll still have a good time, but that underlying stress is still there. Throw in a kid or two and I’m all sorts of frazzled.
Ok I have to admit that I actually really like this dress.
Well, at least William is looking right at her boobs in that picture. That’s something, I guess.
That dress….the material looks too heavy for this time of year–maybe it’s just an illusion. I liked it better from a distance. I still think her hair should be even shorter and neater, but that’s just me.
Perfect fabric for a 70s sofa.
Love the color on her with her red hair. The dress is just okay. Her hair looks great in this photo.
I like the dress and it works well for her body type. There, I have said my first nice thing about Kate ever.
Ugly flag?? I beg your pardon.
During the Weimar Republic, the black-red-gold colours were the colours of the democratic, centrist, and republican political parties, as seen in the name of Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold, formed by members of the Social Democratic, the Centre, and the Democratic parties to defend the republic against extremists on the right and left.
Why is she incapable of covering her knees? 80% ofvthe time she wears dresses inches above the knees. Call me crazy, but it’s unprofessional of her. Yesterday’s blue dress was practically showing her who leg with the slightest bend.
The haircut has done wonders for her. I don’t hate the dress but I don’t love it either. I loathe the wedges.
I think living with William must be extremely difficult. To put it mildly.
Full disclosure here-this is coming from a woman who still loves wedges, I always hear the Darth Vader theme in my head when I see her coming in the wedges of doom. I get the wedge love, I just think that for events like this I nice pump would be more appropriate.
ITA HK9, wedges are way more comfortable. But I agree, they don’t see dressy enough for her role. I would expect to see these if she went to lunch with friends, shopping etc.
She could wear shoes with a chunky heel instead of a wedge, if wide feet was the issue. However she is often wearing stilletos that are strapped shoes, like she did yesterday so she just has crappy shoe style.
I actually like this dress, its pretty and sunny and seems appropriate for the occasion. I’m so over those wedges but for some odd reason I don’t hate them here.
I’m just really glad she did not wear the wedges last night with the red McQueen.
someone on another site referred to this trip as a “grueling diplomatic mission” and I had to laugh.
I hate it when William decides to do the business casual look. He knows his third leg makes an appearance.
Hahaha great comment! I needed this today thank you!
Call William tripod.
These post are getting old. She’s not the best dressed. Can we move on please🙄
I guess it’s like watching a train wreck in slo-mo. Can’t look away. Waiting for the aftermath.
Geez. Willy is flaunting himself again. Cringe. I guess that’s what’s meant by modernising the monarchy.
I thought she looked good today. I liked the dress which is unusual for me because I usually find her bespoke outfits awful. Even the wedges didn’t look too bad.
My only gripe is that it yet another new outfit which will probably never be seen again.
Looks like drapes made into a dress.
A bit of topic. It is the anniversary of JFK Jr plane crash. So sad. But there are parallels with the Windsors. Their marriage was on the rocks because she could not deal with 1) John doing what he wanted when he wanted and 2) living in a fish bowl. However, Carolyn sounded feisty and would have terrible fights with him. Kate is a yes person. 3) John and William’s privledged lives make them selfish. Plus of course the loss of parents at a young age.
Carolyn had the most incredible, chic minimalistic style so when I see Kate it reminds me that less is more.
What is up with Wills’s outfit? He looks odd to me. And older than usual…
Bad jacket colour – he should have had a solid blue shirt underneath and a tie with some yellow in. He looks all washed out i. That pal sports jacket.
I like the dress, and I think the texture of it makes it more interesting.
Stem cell isn’t as controversial in America as it used to be. There’s always going to be a group of people screaming “but…but…my religion!” but there’s such amazing work coming out of stem cell research that most people are in favor of it.
It’s a pretty dress but what a tough color to wear: most white women just can’t pull it off, even solid brunettes – it is soooo draining. And damn Kate and the sleeves – this dress would have been ten times prettier with little cap sleeves. Make ’em long or make ’em short but please stop making them in-between!
Her style is definitely better on this trip than it was the Paris trip and the Canada tour last year.
I love a mustard yellow but this dress looks like the kind of ugly and stiff thing made for an actual Barbie doll…which she is…in a way.
Imagine how much of a visually interesting look this would be if she actually wore blue or wine red shoes and accessories? But for a former accessories buyer (hahahahaha!), she has no sense of what looks good.
My fav look of her so far was that cone boob dress she wore in Poland- it was different, interesting and I loved the origami like
Structure to it.
I like yellow dresses but this one looks like an old upholstered chair my grandma use daily to have. Hate the wedges. For so much money, she should look better.
I love this dress. I’m thinking that if she has to do a lot of walking, she wants really comfortable shoes. There are adorable pics of them on DM with their arms around each other. They were doing some kind of kayak race and looked really happy.
Funny how apart from the Fail this trip has totally escaped the news headlines in the UK.
ETA i.just zoomed on the first picture and realised that the wedges AND the clutch clash with the dress.
She could have picked so many colours…
While I don’t see a major style change (we can dream!), I do like this dress. Especially the fabric, if for no other reason, keeps the skirt from flying up at the hint of a slight breeze.
I think the length cut and style are all very appropriate because she is an ambassador, not an actress at a film festival.
And the shoes…
Enough people have already said what I think. lol.
Dress almost identical to the one Ivanka Trump wore this week. Trump will love that Kate wore this dress. Ivanka so desperately thinks she is ‘merican royalty.
+100
The DM has a whole article about how Kate is copying Ivanka’s style. sigh….
In the last photo William starring directly at Kate’s boobs? And she seems to be enjoying the attention.
At least Wills switched it up a bit here. FFS-if I had to look at one more navy suit…
Bored to tears with her clothing. It all looks the same. She is skinny as heck and could wear all kinds of things. Maybe the Queen has rules about what she can wear. BORING. She needs to go shopping with the other royal wives of Europe. I’m willing to bet what Diana enjoyed after the divorce, was wearing stylish frocks and being free from the matronly stuff.
I guess it depends if embryonic stem cells are used – these are basically fertilised, unwanted embryos left over from IVF treatments. Those are the ‘controversial’ ones (such a non-controversy, they are not a baby). There are multiple other types including cancer stem cells that can form parts of tumours (that can stick around after chemo and cause the cancer to come back even worse as the same treatment won’t work on these) or induced pluripotent stem cells that are adult tissue cells (e.g. skin cells) that are reprogrammed back to their earliest stem cell state (which is what I work on, yay!).
I’m not sure what this guy’s research group works on but their website wasn’t overly clear, and I couldn’t be bothered to do much more digging. I imagine if his group’s work was controversial to some German people it wouldn’t have been a good idea for K&W to meet him?