Yesterday was the first day of Spring. Here in the American mid-Atlantic, we got several inches of snow overnight and we’re expecting several more inches throughout the morning. I still haven’t put away all of my winter clothes, and I’m honestly sitting here in thick Christmas socks and a polar fleece. So I’m enjoying these photos of the Duchess of Cambridge – it’s almost like she’s willing Spring to come in her seasonal green coat! This is a custom/bespoke Jenny Packham coat, which just means that it costs a lot to look this twee. Don’t get me wrong – as I said, I love that Kate is going for such a “Spring!” look. I love the color and it’s refreshing to see her in something bright and light as opposed to yet-another-blue-coat. But the collar bow and the silhouette… she’s really a throwback to a different era. (That being said, there are no buttons!!)
These photos are of Kate arriving at the Royal Society of Medicine, where she is hosting (through The Royal Foundation) a symposium on early childhood intervention, “to provide social and emotional support for children in their early years.” Kensington Palace tweeted that: “Her Royal Highness is bringing together academics, researchers, practitioners, educators and charities to discuss perinatal, maternal and infant mental health; parenting support; and resources for schools.” You know who I haven’t mentioned in a while? Catherine Quinn, who took over as Kate’s private secretary in the late summer of 2017. Quinn sounded like such a smart, professional woman and I predicted she wouldn’t last eight months in the job. But I was wrong – I think a lot of what we’ve seen from Keen Kate in the past five months or so has been Quinn’s doing. That and Kate has a healthy sense of competition.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
What, no buttons?
Buttons on the sleeves!
There are always buttons!
Hospital scrubs don’t have buttons. This is a scrubs fashion challenge, right?
No, the little bow makes up for the buttons.
Yes, the formula is: 1 bow = 4 buttons
Adding in the sleeve buttons, well, you do the math.
the color is cute, but I can’t believe anyone would pay loads of money for a coat that looks like someone’s first sewing project. I mean, seriously, I think this was one of my first sewing projects!
That’s what I thought! The color is great, but it looks like someone’s first draft of something. Even the seams look shabby.
It looks like a 3yr old’s easter outfit. That bow is hideous. She looks like a pop star who should have fired her parents as her manager 5 yrs ago. This woman is almost 40 people any women you know around her age walking around dressed like this?
Prefer Zara’s pregnancy style, it doesn’t look too costumey.
A 5yr old dressed this way would be super cute and adorable.
Very pretty springy color, hate the shoes, STAND UP STRAIGHT.
Don’t love the coat but I like the color. The lack of buttons is worrying. Is she okay?
Anyways I’m a fan of any early interventions for children to have access to more care.
Buttons are on the sleeves!
I hate the bow. HATE.
that said – I love the color. She looks spring-y and green really looks good on her in general. This is a pastel but its not really washed out (and I think the washed out colors – like all those grays and pale blues she likes are part of where she goes wrong). And I’m over mocking her for her constant theme dressing. It clearly makes her happy so by this point its just kind of expected. And I am glad to see her doing the amount of work that she should have been doing for a while now.
It’s like we’ve been saying on here – if she did more work, a lot of the criticism would go away. I’m at the point where I refuse to mock her for theme dressing because she’s showing up lol.
I’m trying but I am missing what theme she is dressing for here…other than spring?
I wore a bright floral dress to work yesterday as well because winter colors aren’t really my thing, I am always ready for spring (it was 24 degrees when I left for work, 70 when I got off).
yes, spring, march, etc. That said, if it was almost anyone else but Kate I would not consider a green dress in this shade “theme dressing.”
That bow is absurd on a woman her age.
Love the jacket, loathe the shoes.
Overall, still a win in my books 🙂
BUTTON ALERT!!! They are on the sleeve! The buttons are on the sleeve!
PHEW!
Like the springy spearmint..
I like the colour but I see that she’s recently taken to acknowledging the press and being nice to them. This is new, normally she ignores them and acts like they are an annoyance. She never waved to them before. Wonder why? Ms Quinn or Meghans arrival on the scene?
Both, I suspect. She got 7+ years of being the only young female royal in the spotlight. Meghan comes in with artillery due to her background. I’m glad Kate seems to have woken up.
I say Meghan Markle’s arrival on the scene has caused Kate to step up her appearances. Meghan’s style, enthusiasm, and ease in dealing with the spotlight really upped expectations and threatens to make her more popular. Kate did next to nothing for all those years and now is out and about quite a bit. Go figure! If Meghan disappeared, Duchess Dolittle would go back into hibernation!
This is timing. The Queen is transitioning. Prince E as well. Charles taking more. William having less and less ways to avoid work. Kate’s new staffer earning her wage with this image plan. And MM.
These events are scheduled months in advance. Kait and William said they would step up their calendar once they moved back to Kensington and, unlike other promises, it seems as if they are keeping this one. It seems convenient but I honestly think it has nothing to do with Meghan. Let’s just see how long it lasts.
Kate looks pretty and healthy. I’m just floored by how often we’ve seen Kate in the past five months. She is heavily pregnant and I can’t imagine she wants to walk around in heels, pretending to listen to people when all she probably wants to do is lay in bed. Whatever is galvanizing all of this keenness, I hope it is still there once she’s given birth and has had some time off. I’m thinking her maternity time will be outrageously long.
See, I think we will see her more frequently during this “maternity leave” than we did the previous two. I could be wrong but I think Meghan’s popularity piqued Kate’s competitive instincts. She doesn’t want to be outshined or forgotten.
Whatever it takes to get her working.
She may also, after a third baby, realize that getting to dress up, go out and meet people isn’t such a bad gig. Who knows?
Kate was never at home in bed for her pregnancies. Aside from the early trimester of George and a week with Charlotte. She didn’t work, but she traveled often. And almost daily she was seen in casual clothes and heels shopping. Heavily pregnant.
She’s here working with a spring on her step not because she’s forced. She wants this. I do think MM has sparked that competitive side.
I think so, too. Kate doesn’t want to let MM get all the attention….
Good for Kate, she really stepped up. I think we should applaud her for sticking to what she likes most especially during the pregnancy. She was glamorous during their break up and then went back to dressing matronly. At least she doesn’t try to outdo Meghan. She could easily add some extravagant pieces yet she doesn’t. I think she’s not as bad as a person as we all think. She just wanted a prince (and the perks).
Hi Liriel! I don’t think that Kate is a bad person, I just don’t think she’s well suited for this role. I have to respectfully disagree on one point, Kate has worn some very extravagant pieces before and since Meghan came into the picture and I believe she’ll continue to do so once she gives birth and recovers. I do hope at some point that Kate ‘finds’ her own style. Since the birth of George she seems to waver between the Yummy Mummy look or dowdy and matronly with an occasional tween look thrown in for good measure. And God how I wish she’d quit with the Kiki earrings, I’m so over them!!
She deliberately destroyed a tradition that lasted 115 years. She did it because she doesn’t think the people she is going to be queen to should get used to seeing her, once a freaking year, at a revered ceremony. It will be a while before she earns applause.
That really was a selfish move. For a position that she holds. All the perks. The little required of her. It wasn’t good. And the reason given… middle finger.
agreed!
In Argentina, particularly Buenos Aires, we’re getting ready for a very cold winter. For the past week the temperature has dropped from mid 30’s Celsius to low 20s and Autumn has only just begun *cries*
I like this coat but not the bow. And I’m kind of disappointed Kate upped her game so close to her due date. I sincerely hope she keeps the same rhythm once her maternity leave is over (and I suspect it will be her shortest one because of *competition*)
She seems to be making appearances (I can’t say the word “work”) much later into this pregnancy than the other 2, no?
So beautiful when she’s pregnant!
I love that color. Similar to the color of our bridesmaid dresses for one of my sisters weddings. Spring green with bouquets of pink peonies & peach daisies.
Sigh…. I’d give anything to sniff some fresh picked peonies right now….
I’m in MN & we got 3 inches of snow yesterday
& it’s snowing again now..
So i dont follow the royals closely but it appears that she is doing a lot more appearances then her husband or Harry lately. Is it just the coverage Im seeing or am I crazy?
They don’t cover anyone other than Kate and now Meghan, with a side order of QEII. William has also been out there a lot in this period, but unless he’s with Kate or on a motorcycle, you have to search for the photos or follow Kensington palace on social media to check on his doings. That said, Kate has been up and at ‘me. I thought she’d be done by now, so i give her a tip of the tam o’shanter.
Thanks for that, I was really wondering were everyone else was.
So, if the press doesn’t even follow anyone else, what is the point of any of them doing events? I thought it was to get publicity for the organization, but it doesn’t seem like that would work without press coverage…
BrandyAlexander: they get local coverage, and at grassroots level, people are excited that a royal dropped into the area for x reasons and start conversations about it.
Yes actually, Kate has done more in the first three months of this year than in any other year since she’s joined the royal family.
2010 – 10 engagements
2013 and 2014 – 3 engagements
2015 – 13 engagements
2016 – 7 engagements
2017 – 11
2018 – 38
No! those numbers can’t be accurate!!! She only did 3 engagements in the first three months of 2013 and 2014? Only 7 in 2016?
(I’m not actually doubting you, I just am really surprised to see the difference.) No wonder it seems like she’s working her tail off thus far in 2018. She actually is (comparatively.)
ETA: I checked and I think she did more like 7 engagements in the first few months of 2013. Still, there’s a marked difference.
Hi Becks, those numbers came from the DM but I also just looked at the Duchess Kate Tracker site to confirm and it is accurate. Don’t forget that this year had the royal tour of Sweden and Norway which accounted for 16 engagements/4 days. Taking out those 16 engagements would have the 2018 engagement total at 22 engagements. Here’s another perspective, for the first 90 days of 2018, Kate has “worked” 21 of those days. Considering her engagements last an hour tops, she’s “worked” about 21 hours in 3 months. I work a 40 hour week and so far I’ve worked approximately 519 hours this year.
ETA: thanks for the correction on the 2013 total!
@ Harla i think you have to account for the planning before and figuring out the right costume/clothes to wear.
Formerly: the people working 40 hours a week are also spending extra hours preparing for their work, working from home, answering work emails, and figuring out what to wear. Kate isn’t the only person who has to prepare or dress for her job.
January 1 to March 22 =81 days, minus 22 days for weekends (Harla, if you’re working more than that you probably need to join a union stat) =69.
Average annual holiday allowance in the UK is 28 days, so for the first quarter minus 7 days =62 days.
Everyone wanted her to work more; she worked more (and no full-time royal in any European monarchy works what we’d call full time, 9-5, 5 days a week.)
That coat with that bow is just horrible. She looks like she’s just stepped out of the 1950s. I find her embarrassing.
Exactly. The colour and the Col. Sanders bow are ridiculous IMO. At least she’s “working” though and earning her keep.
Betty Draper maternity coat.
Ha-You beat me to it! I was scrolling down the thread to complain about the bow-it’s hideous. But, she does look beautiful with a fuller face.
It is hideous. I hate the whole thing.
Twee when pregnant is something I thought we left behind?
Glad she’s working but the outfit is a hard No.
co-sign. It’s the worst outfit I’ve seen in a long time. Are there any women Kate’s age walking around London in these types of outfits??? I feel it’s the early 80’s when I see this chick “dressed up”.
This comment is hilarious considering I make a damn good living from selling clothing from the 1950’s!
you probably sell fashionable vintage stuff. this coat ain’t that.
The colours nice but other than that another bespoke piece this Kate in what is probably her last pregnancy. What a waste of money, why not repeat something from the Sweden tour they obviously still fit. Why spend another couple of grand on this.
As for this symposium she’s sitting there for an hour or two and that’s it. An easy way to up the numbers and no effort involved.
Yes. Saying that she brought all of these qualified professionals together is really pushing it. What kind of sway could she possibly have? She has no credibility or gravitas. It’s just another appearance to add to her year end totals.
Translation: Catherine Quinn + assistants called everyone on a list and because people go weak-kneed at royalty, everyone accepted.
I’m sure academics, specialists and so on do not need anyone to give them the motivation to bring them together, let alone a vacuous, idle woman with no achievements whatsoever to her life so far. However, if these people get weak-kneed at the thought of royalty, perhaps they are not as clever as they think.
It’s incredibly surprising that super accomplished people acquiesce to royalty.
That’s part of the reason being a member of the royal family is spoiling. The access to anyone and anything is crazily ridiculous. One phonecall is all it takes and like magic, you (the royal) get.
Rare is the person who tells them to eff off.
These days academics are scrambling for grants and funding, I’m sure they are glad for any opportunity to increase their visibility. And professional conferences like these are a lot of work for organizers, I doubt anyone would be complaining about having additional resources, and a big name, to help put it together.
The bow is stupid, almost like an afterthought
‘The Duchess is bringing together academics, researchers,’ etc. Sure she is.
+1. The woman is a total joke.
Kate read scientific papers…. so, I believe it 😀
Great look, love the color. I’ve made my peace with the fact that her overall style isn’t for me. This wouldn’t even be fashion forward in 1964. But I guess that’s her and it won’t change.
I honestly don’t believe Meghan is competition for her. I think it’s really rather about finally having someone there with you who can relate, who you can talk to and who takes off some of the pressure and attention. I don’t know how people can assume she hates that some of the attention is off of her. She has never given the impression that she wants to be in the spotlight 100%. She loves making chutney in the countryside for god’s sake.
I go back and forth on this, as you said “She has never given the impression that she wants to be in the spotlight 100%” but that doesn’t mean she wants anyone else to have it either. I’m kind of getting a “don’t forget about meeee” vibe from Kate on occasion.
I think it’s competition in the sense that with Harry and Meghan out and about, there’ll be comparisons made if Kate and Will don’t keep up. And they already work the least out of everyone.
My god, this is a hot mess. Looks really cheap and poorly made. I guess the Packham design studio never heard of triple pressing seams during the construction process. And that bow is laughable. Kate, what the hell happened to you? Kaiser is right – this is TWEE with a capital T.
The shoes are ridiculous, too. She’s pregnant, why is she wearing these right now? They don’t add anything to this ensemble, which IMO is one the worst things I’ve seen her wearing. From what I can see in the photos, the dress underneath looks sort of cheap, too. ICK
I do like the color of the coat, but that is the only positive thing I can say about this outfit.
She really has a knack for veerOmg wildly between toddler chic and granny chic, it’s kind of amazing actually. She sure loves her bows & buttons.
The twins are really showing now!
The only thing I noticed was the poor hemline….and that again, if she’s greeting children, she needs to have longer dresses and/or lower shoes so when she’s bending down……..
She looks like she has a nice tan.
William investitured Ringo Starr yesterday (he’s now a Sir), and apparently told him that Kate is due “any day now”. I knew I was right about my late March due date theory!
The word you are looking for is knighted. 🙂
Or invested, which always sounds like you are dressing a baby!
I would think since she’s working a lot people would be happy more and that there would be large crowds to see her. Why no large crowds?
it’s baby number 3.
I’d read a lovely thought. The idea is that WIlliam and Catherine have purposefully become more visible and public as a loving gesture to MM and PH. Basically the British press was/is being terribly rude and racist and the thought is to get some attention off MM and PH until after the wedding at least. I’m choosing to believe this because it’s endearing.
I absolutely love this theory, and since there is so little joy in “royal watching” these days, I’m totally going to embrace it. I do think it’s possible that Will and Kate are feeling more motivated toward royal work these days because they don’t want to lose ground to Meghan and Harry – but to me that’s normal. It’s healthy, friendly competition – not oneupmanship.
Her new speech writer has been working very hard!
This! I saw her entire speech and it was a whopping 5 minutes long. She has improved a lot but sounded like she was going to cry throughout the whole thing. She wore her coat during the speech too.
Duchess, Betty Draper called to ask if you like that maternity coat she lent you.
That is my favorite color.
The coat has a nice fresh spring vibe. She looks okay.
I’d love this look if it weren’t for the twee bow. She looks like a Madam Alexander doll come to life. Again. But hey, she’s not hiding out this far along in her pregnancy like usual so I’ll give her props for that.
The colour is a bit hospital gowny. I mean the standard issue is usually light blue or light green. But Kate and baby number 3 are getting ready so I guess it’s theme dressing right now 🙂
I have changed my mind probably a ‘girl’ ready to pop but I think when the moon is full possible Easter baby nice green
That guy is totally creeping on her bump in that first picture.
I thought he looked utterly delighted by it.