The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in Cyprus today to do another holiday party for RAF personnel and RAF families. Yesterday, Will and Kate hosted a Christmas party for RAF families at Kensington Palace, and it seemed to go pretty well – Kate even made a speech! The palace party was exhaustively covered by the Kensington Palace social media, further confirming my theory that the Cambridges were at least partially to blame for the smear campaign against the Sussexes as a way to bring media attention to Will and Kate’s December activities.
I really liked Kate’s Christmas-y outfit yesterday, at the Kensington Palace party. I was hoping for more of the same today with the Cyprus visit – something warm and wintery, maybe in red. What we got was… an honest to God pantsuit. After seven and a half years, Kate finally wore a pair of proper trousers combined with a simple blouse and a professional-looking blazer in muted green. After years and years of coatdresses and lace and button-slathered blue dresses, Kate has FINALLY invested in some smart trousers and separates? It’s so weird. It’s almost like she finally realized that she doesn’t have to have a closet full of ONLY coatdresses. But that realization happened quite suddenly. This year. I’m sure it was just a coincidence. And I’m sure all of the British media outlets are preparing to write pieces on how Kate is “breaking protocol” by wearing trousers too. I don’t have an ID on the trousers yet, but WhatKateWore thinks the blazer is Smythe.
Will and Kate brought letters and gifts on their flight to Cyprus, and a palace aide wants us to know that William “had been very keen to do something for the RAF community for some time.” Yes, Jason, we know that Will and Kate have been keen for some time.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
omg Meghan’s impact is real
Meghan is a gift that keeps on giving! Bless her!
Kate’s typical wardrobe appeared to be a copy of what one sees aristo ladies of London wearing – expensive, but either whimsical or flowery/frillsy.
Pippa dresses very similar btw, which leads one to believe they’ve simply been copying what they wanted to become, the good daughters of Belgravia.
Meghan, on the other hand, always wore a grown up, modern, independent woman clothes. The trousers, the stylish choice of olive color, the streamlined image – definitely see Meghan.
They have the same fashion style as Carole, they even do their makeup the same way – check out the 80s eyeliner, panda style that they all sport.
But yes the all dress in that Chelsea uniform.
Meghan looks like a grown up woman. Kate always dressed like a girl going to church to me.
So European style is good unless it’s british because you have to find some way Meghan is better. When did america become the arbiter of good taste for everyone? I rather each person feel comfortable dressing according to their milieu. Nothing wrong with dressing in the Chelsea style…
It’s not British style but aristo with no job style. Amal Clooney is British and her work style has always been much closer to what Meghan wears than Kate. It’s a style that is a bit more practical and professional.
She looks lovely but honestly why would she wear this now? She MUST know that everyone is going to be jumping up and down and saying she’s copying Meghan. Either that or they really pay no attention to what people are saying after all.
Why would she keep wearing dresses with skirts that blow up in the wind (and no, I don’t at all think it’s because she’s an exhibitionist). Kate’s just weirdly stubborn sometimes.
Kate getting off her chuff to work and now wearing grown up trousers are defo the meghan effect. Even Ma Midds don’t forget about meeee recent interview. It’s so transparent … don’t think Waity is too bright. Or thinks everyone else is stupid and won’t notice.
I thought Kate normally wears trousers/jeans when visiting military bases. If she prefers to wear dresses & it’s what she feels comfortable in then I don’t see the problem. We all have our different tastes. I rarely wear trousers myself except for jeans!
Not convinced it’s the Meghan effect but Kate has been experimenting a lot with her style of late. We’ve had the headbands, hair ribbon, that McQueen military coat from remembrance sunday and now tailored trousers! I’m glad she’s willing to step outside of the box even if sometimes it doesn’t work. I also wish Meghan would also experiment a bit more because her style & neutral palette has become rather repetitive.
@Constanceyy – ITA. Shopping in TJMaxx this weekend, I saw olive everywhere. The irony is, the color looks much better on Kate than Meghan, because those neutrals Meghan loves so much wash her out. Kate looks terrific here: her height and slim middle let this kind of casual elegance do what it is supposed to do: make you look tailored, put together, but not as if the outfit is wearing you.
She has been impacted by Meghan because she’s drowning in fabric. It’s also too high-waisted. It doesn’t go with the blazer which has a little cutout in the back.
It is very different for her though. Totally lacking in twee.
Are these pictures airbrushed?
OMG I love these pants! Just the style I have been looking for years. With the short jacket=perfect. If I could afford it, I would have these pants made by a tailor
I don’t get it! It’s Walter Matthau pants!
I hate the cutouts in those blazers. The back should be even otherwise it looks like you are showcasing your bum. It would work a bit better with a skirt, but with pants they look silly.
Outside of that cutout I don’t mind the outfit.
Everything she wears is always a little too high-waisted to try and hide the fact that she has a long torso with short legs in comparison. I can recognize it because I have same the body combination, only without her nice height.
Blazer not great. Pants wonderful. They make her look more grown-up and less college preppy. She finally looks her age, in a good way.
“Not convinced it’s the Meghan effect but Kate has been experimenting a lot with her style of late.”
The jacket/ blazer, Meghan’s Ireland tour (she wore cropped pencil trousers)
The trousers, Meghan’s Reprezent FM radio visit in Brixton
The color olive, Louis’ Christening.
She looks fine but be honest for 7+ years this woman has never shied away from wearing a dress regardless of the wind or how cold it is. It’s a step in the right direction.
Facts
Um, before we rush to assign ownership of olive green, let’s recall that Kate has worn this shade many times in history. Head to toe at that forestry event in October, that cashmere wrap she’d wear grocery shopping in wales, there was a turtleneck dress. relax, it’s just green.
Copy Kate, Copy Kate, Copy Kate.
SOOOOO much better than those godawful sister/wife dresses she wears. The fabric always looks like crimplene to me. This profile is very elegant and flattering on her. Liked the tartan she wore the other day too – nice length instead of those horrible matronly just-on-the-knew A-line frocks she typically likes.
It’s definitely the Meghan effect, but not quite getting it right. The fit is great, but the moss green jacket and navy (!?) trousers are SO drab. And he matchy matchy handbag…ugh. The white top underneath… no cohesion. This look is a bunch of parts (well-fitting parts, I’ll give you that), but parts thrown together in a meh, unflattering shade. Good silhouette – bad execution. You can practically FEEL Middleton coiled like a spring, desperately yearning to slap a fascinator on her head and change those trousers for a calf length skirt and some nylons.
This is an early Christmas gift for me-I’ve been waiting for those damn trousers for YEARS!! Huzzah!! They look great.
This is a really great outfit; I love that emerald-black belt. Very polished.
I LOVE this outfit!! She looks amazing! How could she’ve been afraid that slacks wouldn’t show off he legs? These also give her a VERY proportional figure.
I also bought a pair of high waisted, black, wide-legged pants, and with a tailored shirt, or a slim sweater top tucked in, even as a short person, they made me look tall, with loooooooong legs! I got SO many compliments! I am NEVER taking those pants off this holiday season (well, except to dry clean them lol).
Deleted.
She does look fantastic!
I can’t tell you how often I’ve said out loud, “doesn’t she own a pair of trousers?” Finally!!!!
Yes! She looks great! The trousers are really nice and her makeup also looks lovely . 👏🏼🙌🏼
I saw the photos this morning and was like whoa! Finally. She looks wonderful here, she really great in those trousers, polished and professional. Her legs look 10 feet long in them, thanks to the longish hem. More please 🙂
She looks great in them, she looks classy.
IMO this look would have been perfect with some pencil trousers. Olive is one of my fav colors, I love the blazer and the matching clutch and pumps.
She looks fabulous!
She really does. This is a great look for her.
I agree. She should have been wearing these all along. She looks fantastic.
I really like it.
I saw the pics of her in trousers and thought, “stop the fucking presses!” Kate doesn’t wear trousers. Maybe her style is evolving (I think not because she’s sticking with Packham and wickstead), but I do find the timing so odd. It’s been the better part of a decade of Kate in coatdresses and skinny jeans. Why is she wearing trousers now? She looks great, though, and I love the clutch.
what if it’s William? If he’s a weirdo control freak, maybe she dressed how he liked and now that he’s seen how those pants look so good on Meghan he has allowed Kate to wear them too? (For the record, I HATE everything about the previous sentences and yet it could be true.)
Very possible and fair point, which I had not thought of. Seriously though, very possible
It’s quite possible. The not wearing nail polish very much has been attributed to what he likes as well.
Finally. She looks smart and good.
She looks nice and I like the olive color.
She looks great!!
I think she looks amazing! I would love to own that outfit. She looks classy and very well put together.
YAS
She looks stupendous. Like other royal women her age.
A+
She looks like a modern working adult woman! Fireworks!
Love the blazer. Still hate those loose, wide leg trousers but at least her hem’s aren’t being obliterated so that a plus!
I am also a holdout against the wide legs. I think it looks better on her here than on a lot of people… but I’m still not a fan. I’d have preferred a straight leg here – not skinny, not wide.
I too am nor convinced with wide leg trousers. I am 5’1 and i look *nor* good on them, the make me a bit (didn’t think it was possible) shorter, so I use a lot of cropped cigarrete pants, they are not skin tight but more streamlined.
Kate on the other hand looks terrific, and so proportionate! I love the olive blazer!
And her jeggings looks would be better if she wore longer jackets to compensate the proportions. But she has a thing for cropped and short jackets that look too small and missing somthing out with such skintight pants.
I don’t know if it la Meghan’s influence, por just that she wants to spruce things up. As some one has mentioned above, she usually dresses very matronly, a conservative Belgravia middle aged lady… Apparently as her mother, if we trust the Good Housekeeping pictures, so it is nice to see her trying to look like she is 36 and not 63.
She is so slim she needs the wide leg style or she’d look like a stringbean. I think it’s a good style for her, she appears professional, but relaxed all at once.
That’s why I think the jeggings are a bad choice – surprised she doesn’t have advisors to guide her
Love the wide leg. They make you look taller, slimmer with a clean straight line and are butt friendly. The skinny trend isn’t flattering for a lot of people but we have been led to believe other wise. They cut you off at the point where they and make you look shorter, squatter, thicker in the mid section and top heavy.
Girl, when you’re 5’2″ like me, those wide leg pants aren’t making me look anything other than stumpy! Wide leg pants draw the eye from left to right and not up and down on someone who’s short – which makes them look wider, not taller. Streamlined pants are better on shorter women. I’m sure there are certain fabrics that would be better than others, but when you’re in the petite height range it’s really not going to do the same thing it is for someone who’s average height or tall. MAYBE if you’re short and very thin the wide leg wouldn’t be so bad.
I’m not saying to go wear painted on pants – but a slimmer, sleek legged pants tend to give the illusion of a longer leg on someone who is short because the extra fabric overwhelms someone without the height to combat them.
Heels with wide legs pants, not talking about the huge huge leg pants , but an average wide leg will make you look slimmer if you let the cuff go past the ankle. Even for us 5’5 and under. Some of the celebs wide legs are ridiculous but the legs like Kate aren’t as big as they appear. A good wide leg pant won’t have extra fabric because it is straight up and down, the fabric will be a bit “stiffer” which hold the pant up well. I look like a little sausage when I wear tight ankle length skinny pants.
I’m someone who usually prefers to wear dresses & skirts so I don’t get all the criticism! I don’t think women have to wear trousers to be taken seriously. This is an appropriate look while visiting an RAF airbase and I believe Kate usually wears trousers to these kind of events (usually skinny jeans!) A dress or skirt would have looked out of place. And great that her hair is also tied back!
The criticism isn’t about dresses/skirts in general but about Kate wearing them at inappropriate moments in which she’s had tons of wardrobe malfunctions.
Most of us aren’t photographed in a skirt walking down stairs exciting a plane, in the wind, or bending over & talking to children while photographers snap away.
I also love dresses and skirts but I am happy that Kate is wearing REAL trousers. Skinny jeans and skinny pants and jeggings are not professional, least of all for royalty on official visits.
Finally! And yes, I am going to say that this is Meghan’s fashion influence on Kate, so sue me!
Awesome. Maybe she ans Megs do chat over tea and crumpets 🙂
She looks great. So does this mean that in the past she didnt care and now does? Because the effort shows.
FINALLY – a Katie Keen look i can get behind. She looks professional and its ONLY taken 7.5 years to get there. And yeah she is copying Megs – gf is stepping up as her competitive side is coming out.
Great outfit!
*takes of glasses to clean them again*
Trousers and hair in ponytail so that it will not be flying all over the place as she exits flight.
Huh.
What is going on in the House of Cambridge.
I love this! But yes, despite my being a Kate defender, it’s obvious that she’s copying Meghan. Still don’t think it’s competition so much as Kate doesn’t have the eye to put together a modern pantsuit for herself.
I don’t care if she copies Meghan, since it improves and polishes her look. Yay!
+1
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
I’m choosing to believe she did it in solidarity with Megs and as a show of support of the beating she (they all) have been taking lately.
Me also, Brandy A.
It looks more like something Queen Letizia or Queen Rania might wear, rather than Meghan
Oh please
LOL. ‘Tis all. 😉
This is so blatant and it makes me so angry. Hate that the bar has been set so low for her and that she’s been able to get away with doing so very little.
Just be grateful she is doing something. A true Christmas miracle!
The bar is below sea level
I’ll be impressed if she and William keep it up after Christmas, or if this is their traditional end of the year goosing the numbers with an additional tinge of competitiveness with his brother.
“Such praise for doing so little.” Right. At the age of 30-whatever, after 7.5 years on the job, as a mother of three children, she has finally mastered pants. Throw a parade! 200+ praising, gushing comments because an adult working woman has bought and worn a pair of pants. The bar is set so ridiculously low for her that we are all falling over ourselves to congratulate her on wearing trousers.
What a refreshing, modern change. She looks great. Like a person, instead of a caricature.
What a great look! (I have really disliked her skinny jeans, and was sick to death of them.)
😄 Kate broke protocol, right?
So glad to see her in proper trousers, after all these years! Meghan seems to be a good influence.
But I don’t think the Cambridges are behind the press drivel. I think it’s Pierce Morgan?
You’re not toeing the party line!
Piers Morgan doesn’t have an original thought in his head. He’s piling on what was already a press takedown. I also sincerely doubt anyone would take “insider palace tips” from Piers Morgan LOL REALLY?
Seriously, what took her so long?? I look at other Royals out there like Princess Mary of Denmark and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands who wear smart looking trousers all the time and look AMAZING. Princess Mary runs circles around all the British Royals in the fashion department alone anyway.
I love Princess Mary, she is AWESOME. And Kate looks so much better here – and the parties for the RAF families are epic.
I think it’s Prince Andrew. Angry that the Sussexes stole the Yorks’ positive press right after Eugenie’s wedding with their bebe announcement.
Also possible, but you know, I think the press are having fun ditching her. Makes good headlines and clickbait = millions in revenue.
She’s so obvious but no you won’t see a million think pieces over her wearing pants like they would do about someone else because she’s their homegrown girl who they must protect at all cost.
She gets praised for wearing the same thing Meghan gets roasted for. Amazing
“She gets praised for wearing the same thing Meghan gets roasted for. Amazing” — Right?! This is why I get so annoyed. I do think Kate looks great here and IMO, this is how she should be dressing all the time. However, it’s annoying as hell that we won’t see headline after headline slamming Kate for “breaking protocol” or whatever. I hate hypocrisy and I hate double standards.
Also, this quote: “William “had been very keen to do something for the RAF community for some time.”” — Ummmm…so what was stopping him?! These two are just SO.LAZY. Why has it taken him so long to do such an “easy” gesture? (By easy, I mean that this type of Christmas/holiday event could have been done every year since they married and doesn’t seem like it would take much to pull together – especially the one that was held at KP! – and they would, rightfully, get huge props for it. So, what was the holdup?! Camilla does something similar (although not for military families), as did Michelle Obama.)
All along, I wanted Harry and Meghan to do something like this and the timing makes me wonder if they had proposed doing it and William and Kate “stole” the idea. And, yes, I do think the Cambridges are that lazy and William is that sneaky. They’ve had 7 years to do an annual event like this, so why now? Or is it just another event where they don’t want us to assume they will commit to doing annually?
I wonder that too, they do share offices at the moment and they must have seen their plans to do these events – especially the military/army related ones since Harry is so passionate about them. Somebody in KP must have said “let them do this” even if its your idea so that they can “shine” as well. Of course this is all speculation, but idk just something seems off. Makes me think that this may be the reason for splitting offices as well.
Ooh, interesting points from you and @arsesds73. Remember that they initially tried to claim William had a big influence in the creation of Invictus. Also, aren’t there conflicting stories about how Heads Together came about? There’s the official story of Kate coming up with the concept, but there’s also that story about Harry writing ideas on a cigarette pack. It wouldn’t surprise at all if Harry wanted to have a military-based event like this and was ‘asked’ to let W&K do it.
Well, Kate did make it very clear when she destroyed a 115-year-old tradition, that the peasants were not to count on her showing up every year. A 115 year military tradition their future QC decided really wasn’t that important. What an appalling statement. I bet Meghan gets the job.
@ Royalwatcher +100!
This is sad if it is true, HM do all the hard work and WK steal the ideas. The Heads Together thing is still blurry to me, some people are saying that it was Harry’s idea and they just all shared credit, but in the video they say it was Kate’s idea. I don’t really care, I still find the whole thing hella confusing on what they are doing with it, but hey if it has been positive for some people then job well done.
She looks professional. I love pants but I can never wear them. They never fit correctly on me and I’d have to get them hemmed because I’m short.
She has looked really great lately. She suits trousers. The whole look is good.
OMG olive and navy are one of my favorite color combos. Of course Will is still in navy, but at least he doesn’t clash with her.
She looks amazing and so much more modern! Love it.
All this outfit needs is a gorgeous brooch.
Yes! That would have been a great finishing touch.
I’m also normally a Kate defender but this is just blantant copying. It’s a little annoying that tons of bad publicity about hemlines flying up on windy days did nothing to influence her style, but one well-dressed sister in law and suddenly Kate takes notice. Oi vey.
Still, however she gets there, I’m so happy she’s a) doing a lot of work this season and b) is wearing a professional outfit with pants. She looks absolutely incredible.
It might be her quiet way of showing support for her new sister-in-law?
That would be nice.
FANTASTIC
She’s really copyng Meghan LOL. Before was Diana, now Meghan. Kate really hasn’t a personality.
I agree and during the first early dating year when William was visiting Jecca more, she copied Jecca.
I don’t like the top, but it’s a minor complaint.
I would totally wear all of this.
Love the jacket
Kate looks great but I hope every single reporters who wrote pieces trashing Meghan for wearing trousers does the exact same to Kate.
No offense but I don’t want to see a single praise piece.
Also, It’s clear as day she is copying Meghan but difference is, Meghan gets painted as an outsider who doesn’t know Royal fashion while Kate will more than likely be praised as dressing like a “modern woman”. The perks of being white!
They will not, they will call Kate a trendsetter and laud her for her sartorial innovation, lol.
Lol, yep. Too true, Chaine.
It’s a nice outfit, but I have to laugh. She’s so obvious.
She should thank her lucky stars for Meghan. Ever since Meghan came on the scene (stole the scene, really), Kate has been forced to update and upgrade her look and her game. She looks the best she has in years.
I don’t know if they really hate each other, or if Cambridges are orchestrating the anti-Meghan campaign, but Meghan is the best thing that has happened to Kate in all her royal years. And not because Meghan is being put down, but because Kate has finally been forced to put in some effort.
I agree and want to add that
a) Kate has looked extra happy every since Louis was born
b) there is now way less pressure on her because the media is so focussed on Meghan. IMO that’s why Kate seems much more relaxed at her public appearances this year. Also, the body language between Kate and William has improved a lot, so maybe they are in a better place in their relationship as well?
Gad willy and waiyty actually aknowledge each other in public since the megan and harry parade of PDA. Willy is allowing his wife to actually touch him in public now. He doesn’t want people thinking even Harry has the better relationship.
Kate’s personal advisors have been working on her big time, especially with public speaking, to counter the Meghan mania sweeping the world.
Haters can’t say that MM isn’t having an impact, as this is just👏🏼too👏🏼obvious👏🏼 ! Kate is looks wonderful!
Trousers and she’s wearing Meghan’s go-to colors…olive green and navy. Kate truly has no personality of her own. But I guess that’s what happens when you spend your formative years chasing after a guy instead of focusing on your own development. She looks great for what it’s worth but I firmly believe she and Will are behind the smear campaign against Meghan and for that reason I will forever give her side eye. It’s astonishing how “suddenly” she’s so keen to work and keen to wear trousers…😒
Yes, very SWF of her.
@ValiantlyVarnished – I agree 100%.
Or maybe she doesn’t care much about fashion (seems clear by her choices – particularly her shoe choices!!!) and decides what to wear by observing what looks good on those around her. She wears coat dresses/dresses because that’s what the Queen and Camilla generally wear now. Then she sees Meghan wearing great trousers and thinks, “wow, she looks amazing, I’m going to try that out” and voila. Not gonna lie, that’s how most of my style changes come about.
You don’t have to like fashion or even have a good fashion sense to have a personality.
Lol. At 37 if you are copying what other women are doing at every turn it’s a good indication that you dont have a grasp on your own aesthetic or what YOU like. I say this as a 38 year old woman myself. My comment regarding her personality is because since she has been married to Will all she has done is copy other people. She even changed the way she speaks! So no she doesnt have a personality of her own. And that goes beyond her fashion choices.
I’m 34 and I take inspiration from the people around me all the time. I don’t give a crap about fashion and I am too busy to invest much time in it, but I like to look nice. Watching what my fashionable friends and colleagues look good in and taking inspiration from them is a far more expedient way to do it. Perhaps I have no personality. Meh, doesn’t bother me and hasn’t seemed to hinder my life in any way.
Not to mention that she joined one of the most ridiculous families in the world and lives in a fishbowl where she is criticized at every turn. I can only imagine what the talk is like within that family let alone in the tabloids. I might chose to be boring and safe too, if it meant that people weren’t going to be whispering about me behind my back. Meghan is the perfect example of this right now – she is criticized every time she wears something outside the norm (and often when she is boring and safe too). I get the impression that she cares a lot less about what people say than Kate does, which is definitely a product of her upbringing and previous career choices. It will serve her well with her new in-laws. I don’t think anyone would argue that Kate hasn’t led a sheltered life. She doesn’t have a dynamic personality, but she clearly loves her family and takes a lot of joy in the nurturing role. And it seems to me that William needs a partner who is more of a supportive rather than dynamic personality. It takes all kinds.
And by the way, I think Meghan is great. I think she looks great most of the time (the too long pants are weird to me no matter who is wearing them) and I like the causes she is associating herself with. She’s super well spoken and confident. If I was Kate I would definitely be a bit jealous of how well suited she is for public life, and it might inspire me to feel comfortable trying new things and trying to step up my game a bit.
Love your post LNG.
yes, some people don’t care about fashion. My mom is one of them. But people who don’t care about fashion aren’t out there shopping all the time. They’re not known as shopaholics.
ALL the Royals do a Decemeber Push to get the numbers up at the end of the year. And Kate *has* been on maternity, so I can’t fault her for only showing up lately (not *this* year, anyway).
But I agree with other posters: she *has* changed since Louis’ birth. She is *much* happier, more relaxed, (both personally and satorially). Will is, too. Seems he’s finally accepted his “place” in the family, and is finally tucking in. And they seem more relaxed “together” as well, laughing together more, a bit more physical in public (touching each other’s backs, hand on legs). Could definitely be H&M’s influence, consciously or not, but if so, YAY H&M for getting the ball rolling.
Kate isn’t just getting her numbers up by years end. As soon as Meg was on the scene for real waity immediately jumped up off her chuff. Even whilst preggers … like all other royal counterparts and women in general around the world. Highly unusual behaviour for waity. Of course she cares somebody new is snapping at her heels.
I also think the fact Chuck had to hire a professional kate wrangler to manage waity is also an influence. I would say the new stylist has finally arrived. Waitys outfit here looks like a professional put it together. Everything is polished ,perfect and appropriate. I could see Princess Chaz of Monaco in it. Finally Ma Midds ‘styling’ services are kapput? We live in hope.
Kate can’t wear navy,a color that she has worn countless times,and olive green because they’re Meghan colours? That blazer is even a repeat. LOL
She also owns that same blazer in navy.
@ValiantlyVarnished
“and she’s wearing Meghan’s go-to colors…olive green and navy”
___
This is seriously the most absurd thing I have ever read! Like @vi has said she has worn the olive blazer before. She had it in her closet way before Meghan came on to the scene.
And I hate to break it to you but Navy *is* Kate’s go-to colour ever since she got Diana’s engagement ring and wore that navy Issa dress to the engagement photo-call. She has NUMEROUS navy dresses, dress-coats, shoes, purses it’s become a running joke.
Hahahahaha. That is all. The two of them truly are the keenest of them all.
I hate the idea of women not supporting each other I have a fantastic relationship with my SIL (although I’m jealous of her ability to eat anything and stay thin! Lol). So I’d rather believe Kate is giving a nod to Meghan, was ring trouser pants in solidarity! I have a hard time believing the bad press is from the Cambridge’s alone – more likely bitter employees and racist press looking to make a quick buck.
Hear, hear!
Agree! I do think it is Meghan’s influence and I think in a positive, not competitive way. Kate didn’t have a lot of women her age to model herself after when she stepped into the royal family so maybe seeing someone dress more modern and professional just gave her some new inspiration. She looks great and approximately 5 years younger than she does in her old lady/little girl clothes.
I agree KK2. I think Kate lacks in some confidence in her public life (and I don’t say that as a criticism, I think she just has a more introverted personality within the royal family), and I think she does take inspiration from seeing someone else do something differently. I am an introvert and I always feel inspired to take bigger risks when I am working with extroverted personalities. This is why motivational speaking exists.
She modeled a see through undie dress when William decided to ask her out, she sunbathes topless, bottomless, she wouldn’t weight her hems in her light fabric dresses knowing she had plenty of mishaps before.. She chased William in and out of nightclubs, preening for UK press cameras for years, This is NOT a introvert.
I should have scrolled down, I posted basically the same above.
Problem is she might be copying Meghan but she is doing it better. Pants are not to long; fit is perfect, colours are great. And by the way she has worn trousers before look on google images. Just saying
She has worn trousers (not jeans) to work events maybe twice? There is a pair of cropped sailor pants we have seen her wear as well as a printed pair of pants that I think are Gap. I think that’s it. We have seen her wear jeans/jeggings on several occasions.
Louise, I agree. The problem wasn’t Meghan wearing trousers it’s the fact that most of them didn’t fit and looked awful under the big coats. She looked like she’d popped out from the office. They can both learn a lot from each other. Up to now Kate’s fashion guru has been her Mum. Meghan should learn from Kate’s attention to fit, and Kate can get some inspiration from Meghan. When Givenchy and that Wickstead woman come knocking someone needs to make an intervention, for both of them!!
Agree, they can share tips…
She is definately NOT doing it better.
Kate is getting too thin, those pants drown her.
I don’t think she looks great, she is getting wayyyy to skinny.
Looks good, if a bit thin. Can’t her husband’s trousers be made of material that’s a little less thin and, um, revealing? It’s like he shops at Old Navy.
She looks stunning. I also don’t get this constant attack on her for wearing dresses. I personally don’t typically like her dress choices but I would prefer to wear a dress to pants any day of the week and I am an executive. But I don’t love pants. This doesn’t make me unprofessional, infact I am the most professionally dressed in my office.
Let us be real these people don’t have a real job- they don’t sit in an office they go to charity events and chat. Now do I wish Kate would wear more sleek dresses like her Wimbledon look or that amazing yellow sheath she wore? Yes of course.
Also this isn’t the first time she has worn pants, she does frequently. Honestly this complaint about her not wearing pants is just people looking for a reason to attack.
Not everyone likes wearing slacks doesn’t make them unprofessional.
Honestly.
One of my issues about her wearing dresses is that she wears un-weighted, lightweight, floaty dresses on windy tarmacs or exiting helicopters. It’s just a recipe for a$$-flashing (which has happened multiple times) or crotch-flashing (the red coatdress while holding George!).
What does it say when someone makes the same type of mistake over and over again? Why not just wear trousers and not have to worry about that type of “malfunction?” Then she can just relax and be engaged and present, instead of worrying about holding down her skirt.
Seriously, it’s been about 100 years since she had a dress fly up on her. Find something new to complain about in regards to her dresses.
No, not really @Brandy Alexander. At Eugenie’s wedding Kate had another Marilyn moment, but at least she “just” flashed some extra thigh and a sheepish smile.
@Beach Dreams, no, she didn’t She had a moment of holding her skirt down, there were no flashes of anything, And guess what? So did nearly every other lady there wearing a dress because it was extremely windy.
@Brandy Alexander LOL okay. “A moment of holding her skirt down” where she flashed a good amount of thigh and Sophie stepped in front of her out of concern. The difference between Kate and “nearly every other lady” is that most of them weren’t in danger of flashing the cameras yet again. At worst, they had to worry about a hat flying off or their hair/clothes looking too windswept. Like I said, at least she didn’t flash her ‘goods’ again, but that’s a very low bar (as usual when it comes to Kate).
MM showed off a whole lotta thigh on the tour soo I guess they’re equal now, Happy?! Geez. You can’t control the wind, that day was hella windy, same as the red coat dress plane landing.
@MAR. One instance of showing your thigh hardly compares to 7 years of flashing your bare ass and thighs, but it’s cute that you felt the need to bring up Meghan. Weighted hems and slips exist for these situations, yet Kate can’t seem to bother with them.
@Beach Dreams, 5 pound weights weren’t going to hold a dress down on that day, it was that windy. It was a nothing event. And if your scandalized by a little bit of thigh thigh showing, you must be positively puritanical in your own life. Sheesh.
Waity looked bloody delighted the wind came up under her skirt at the weddings. Sophie had to do something because she knows our kate. I will never gorget that time when she was in a grey skirt suit with hair up by a centotaph just after it was announced Charl was on the way. The gust of wind took the whole back of her skirt up for …. 5 seconds, That is a long time in the land of potential bum flashing. It’s in fact an eternity! There was no way kate is not feel the wind on the whole backs of her legs, thighs. Was she bothered? Nah she wasn’t, She did nothing. WEIRD.
Kate had a Marilyn Moment at Eugenies wedding, it was Sophie who first put her own hand out to warn Kate and help her skirt not fly up
Great, very on trend trousers! I think I would classify them as flared vs wide-legged but it’s hard to tell with the wind. They’re exactly the right length, but I think she needed to pull them up a smidge? In any case, high waisted trousers are her friend and this is a great update from skinny jeans.
And the blazer is Smythe and a repeat. She’s also doing some light theme dressing today, I think.
She looks fantastic. This is a good look on her.
She FINALLY looks age appropriate and professional. What a coincidence!
Just wondering so you didn’t think she looked age appropriate at the renemberance day ceremonies?
What is looking age appropriate anyway? I’ve never gotten that one. If a 16 yo wants to wear a blazer so be it, and if a 60 yo wants a t shirt and skinny jeans, well so be it. Jeez, we have serious issues in the world right know….
She looks amazing.
She looks fab!
Her waist is impossibly tiny though, goodness
Well, once again Kate could use some fashion help. The top she is wearing doesn’t work with this ensemble at all. Something is missing – a print top/shirt, a scarf with print/color, or even a turtleneck would look better than this boring white t-shirt.
The trousers, jacket, and clutch look good. Boring shoes as usual. But even though she is finally FINALLY wearing a pair of trousers, I’m so underwhelmed by this I can’t even clutch my pearls.
Baby steps. Scarves are covered on the advanced class.
She needs a long necklace IMO.
Whaaaaaat, Kate in wide legged pants that are not skinny jeans?? She’s worn blazers in the past so that’s not new but this is something I would expect Letizia to wear… or Meghan. It’s pretty obvious where the fashion influence comes from but I congratulate her at least on expanding her fashion palate and to getting out of her comfort zone of dresses/coatdresses. Hopefully this is not a one off because she looks great.
Maybe it took someone like Meghan to test the waters with trousers for Kate to realize she can wear pants and not have the palace down her throat.
“Test the waters” and get slammed in the press for it for Kate to do it and get praised? You don’t think there’s a problem with that?
Yes, test the waters. No one on here slammed her for wearing pants. Most of the comments was about tailoring. Frankly, she (Meghan) proved you can wear pants to certain events. It took Meghan wearing pants for Kate to wake up. And I don’t find that to be a bad thing.
And I never said there was a problem with that did I? I’ll judge the ladies on what they wear, how they wear it and when. It’s the fashion/styling I’m looking at, not who is wearing it.
Major wuss move by Kate if true. Shades of Diana and Fergie too with Diana using Fergie to test where the boundaries were.
Oh, I agree. Now if one or both of them would not wear pantyhose I will throw a damn party.
What did Diana test Fergie with?
Nah Kate has worn PLENTY of pants over the years but almost invariably they have been skin tight ones. This is one of if not the first time she wore this type of pants to an engagement.
I’m just jumping on the, “OMG! Kate looks fantastic” train.
Claps all around for this outfit. She looks so chic and professional and not so mimsy.
YAY!
Agree I love it as soon as I saw a pic I came straight to Celebitchy to celebrate festive TROUSERS!
I think the younger royals, Kate, Meghan, Beatrice and Eugenie should all look to the Duchess of Wessex for inspiration. She knows how to dress for her body/age/occassion. The only times I’ve thought she’s not looked her best was when wearing those awful heavy Wickstead dresses. They tend to make them all look matronly. The younger ladies don’t seem to get it right often enough considering how much they spend.
Sophie dresses way better than Kate, IMO Sophie looks great.
Meghan looks great and has her own self of style.
Kate seems to be always copying someone else. IMO
Jecca, early on, then Aristo set around PW, then Diana, now Meghan
Yay! Glad to see this, a very polished look. Maybe Kate is finally realising she has been dressing exactly like her mother for the past 20 years or so! And it is never a good thing for anyone to dress like one’s mother, ever.
This wardrobe change is clearly inspired by Meghan. ( And HUGE improvement IMO) Totally different from what Kate normally wears. So either Kate and Meghan are friends and share wardrobe advice and the tabs are just making stuff up or Carole Middleton must be behind the negative gossip about Meghan. I’ve always suspected that Carole was responsible for Kate’s (IMO) weird girlish hemline that is too short and (IMO) frumpy outfits. Kate dresses exactly how I would dress if my mother dressed me. I honestly find it hard to believe that either Kate or William feels competitive with the Sussex’s but I could see Carole fretting over how much attention Meghan is getting… but is Carole really that stupid and that much of a control freak ? And how could she get away with it?
I think Carole is a total control freak, no matter what she tries to convey in interviews lately.
All of you who want to praise Kate for doing this can kiss my ass. Kate is a hollow vessel who has no sense of self and she has spent years SWF other women’s style from Jecca Craig, to Diana, and now Meghan. The reason Kate is like this is because Carole never instilled any self worth or sense of identity into Kate (& Pippa and James ) which makes me worry for Charlotte.
This doesn’t strike you as an extreme reaction to someone who has little to no impact in your life?
LOOOL
Just wow. I don’t car for neither of them, just follow for fun. You sure you don’t need a hobby?
What are you so pissed about? She’s wearing pants. What’s so upsetting about that and why are you blaming Carole and so worried about Charlotte? It’s just clothing, nothing life changing or serious about it. Jeez
Well said Danielle.
Kate has no strong sense of self, IMO She spent years consumed with chasing that title and not really developing beyond that.
She practically SWF Jecca during the early years at University when William was still visiting her regularly.
Tha one reason I have never felt Kate was a fashion icon, is because almost none of her styles seem to be authentically her, except her skinny jeans.
I don’t think she has a strong sense of self on some level.
Oh la la. Kate looks absolutely stunning. Slow clap!!!!
She looks good. I do think this is the influence of MM and it’s a good one.
Did you see Piers Morgan’s comments on Meghan? Interesting spin. Said she’s a social climber.
He is a butthurt little baby because Meghan won’t talk to him. The first time I saw him was one BGT, where he had an ugly smirk on his face while watching Susan Boyle speak. It turned me right off him. He’s a foul slug who should do the world a favour and retire his mug from TV or print media.
Oh my goodness. Yes, she is a social climber, and No it is not a bad thing! Why is social climbing seen as such a dirty phrase around here?
She looks so good here. I LOVE the green jacket
These comments are amazing. When Meghan wears trousers there was all this “OMG SHE’S BREAKING PROTOCOL WTF”, yet Kate does it and it’s “YAY SHE LOOKS SO GOOD.” Not to mention the fact that this is literally on the heels of a horrendous campaign against Meghan in the press. It’s so beyond transparent.
Preach!!!!
You are so right, and I really can’t put all the blame on the tabloids for their hypocritical, racist media campaign against Meghan. They know their audience, and are writing what sells and feeds people’s prejudices. Right now, KM could come out in public, slouching and lumbering, wearing a burlap bag with buttons and bows, and they’d still say she looks regal and “classy”.
I don’t know what comments you’ve been reading, but all I’ve seen on this website for the last half dozen years is that Kate NEEDS to wear pants (but not skinny jeans) and that her dresses are terrible. The racist bullshit tabloids hate everything about Meghan, but the vast majority of commenters here love her.
No one has yelled that Meghan is breaking protocol and have it be negative. Several have pointed out prior that there is no protocol to wearing pants. With Meghan, for me, it was more about tailoring. What people have yelled about is Kate wearing skinny jeans and wedges.
I recall several news outlets publishing articles about how Meghan was breaking protocol by wearing trousers. Some tried to soften their affront to this anachronistic idea by calling it “breaking with tradition”. But, a slight is a slight and, yes, her detractors were all over it.
I can’t be bothered to Google but I’m sure I’ve seen Princess Anne and Sophie wearing trousers on public engagements. I dont think there are any protocols written in stone but I think the Queen has set standards she expects. Maybe Kate flashing is passive aggressive because she’s not allowed to wear her wedges on public duty. 😄 The problem with some of Meghan’s outfits is that she can look a bit too professional or like she’s popped out of the office. The Queen mum used to say that people dress in their best to see the Royals so it’s only right that they pay the respect back and dress in their finest. The bright colours allow people to see them. Meghan is sometimes in danger of blending in with security. I think at this stage in her life I think the Queen can’t be bothered with the small things. Both Kate and Meghan had better watch themselves when Charles is King, I’m sure Camilla wears clothes many times and people don’t notice. Charles has been known to darn coats until there’s hardly any of the original coat left. In a few years they might have to share that damn olive jacket.
The hypocrisy of some is astounding.
It’s obvious.
Thank. God. It only took seven years! This is why we’ve all been saying for so long that she should wear trousers! This is a very un-Kate-like, very Meghan-like outfit and she looks good and appropriate.
Oh wait, she’s breaking protocol though, right?
I would actually like to think that over tea and talk of fashion, Kate asked Meghan about her thoughts on trousers and they discussed and she thought to try them out now. Simple as that. She’s not necessarily copying Meghan, but I would not be surprised if she confided in Meghan that she’s been apprehensive to wear them, but likes that Meghan has tried them out and that she might change up her style a bit by doing so. I think Meghan influenced it, but I think it’s more positive than Kate just copying her. I also think that Kate put her own spin on things, because as often as Meghan has worn trousers, Kate looks incredibly neat and polished and Meghan typically has a “messy” vibe about her look (drowning in fabric and too long of trouser hems).
These two women are the only two people who truly know what the other is going through (well, maybe Fergie) and I bet they influence each other, privately and in a positive way, in more ways that we all realize.
You think Kate needed to discuss pants with Meghan over tea? Has Kate never seen images or royal women wearing pants before?
And there is so much fabric in these pants which is unusual for Kate. Less fabric in pants for both Kate and Meghan!
I could quibble about the slightly off fit of the trousers but overall, nice way to wear the wide-legged look.
Honestly the best she has looked in awhile, love it
Finally, Kate has turned up for an engagement wearing smart trousers instead of jeggings. I think she looks great. Very professional. Whether it is copying Meghan or not, I have no idea.
One of the funniest #mypalacesource tweet said something about meg begging caught sewing weights into kate’s dresses. Lol
Lol
I like a lot these wide leg trousers for her body type. She should experiment with other designs too. I read the blazer is a repeat. What if Kate liked olive green before Meghan? LOL She wore it with jeans last time.
I hope she isn’t take fashion tips fro Meghan because Meghan’s style is not good. And no I’m not a troll just happen to prefer Kate’s style to Meghan’s.
Kate finally looks like a 30-something woman rather than a 60-something grandma. I’m side-eyeing the timing but giving credit where credit is due. Will could also take note that leaving something to the imagination looks good on everyone.
Dont like the fit of the trousers at all, imho they should be slightly more tailored. She’s tall, reed thin and these just flap about her legs. Love the top half though.
Exactly. I don’t see stunning, to me she looks way to thin and pants swimming on her.
The hypocrisy of some is astounding.
Wow, she finally got the message that the jeggings & too short coat dresses are not appropriate for professional appearances. She looks nice in slacks, very professional & classy.
I’m going to be the odd one out and say I don’t like it. I really love Kate’s usual style. I love her dresses and her florals and buttons. She gets called mumsy and drab on here, and while I don’t think she always hits the mark, I think her usual style is so appealingly feminine and timeless. I think she looks great, and it’s a really solid look for the occasion, but I find it boring. I hope this doesn’t become her norm.
I’m with you hieronymus. I like Kate’s usual style and I don’t why everyone is so excited about a pair of boring office pants. I guess because the outfit is more relatable to the average office worker.
I love it, but then I’m a trousers-at-all-times kind of woman. I feel stronger in pants for some reason, and definitely more confident.
Longtime lurker, first time comment.
WOW HOW OBVIOUS. Kate has never worn professional trousers until today, and the riff off Meghan’s style is real. (And gotta say- the olive is a nice military touch, and she looks so much better in those trousers than those awful jeggings.)
I realize HM probably doesn’t put too much stock in these things, but I wonder if she or anyone else in the family notices she’s copying Meghan. Sophie Wessex? Bea or Eugenie?
Good god, they’re boring.
Do you think there is even one thing in that flat as a pancake clutch she’s carrying?
Praise the lord, she ditched the hideous leggings. This ensemble is completely understated and she looks a million times better. Anyone think Kate came up with this look on her own without Megan’s influence? Lol! She’s copying Megan’s whole vibe.
Harry and Megan should move to the US and get away from all those weirdos in the palace including Harry’s family. Just buy a posh mansion somewhere with nice weather, get some help and security and be happy.
Yawwwnn. So boring.
If you are going to write about what Kate wears, at least know that the blazer is a recycled item from her closet. It’s at least 2 years old and I’m sure if we look back in your archive there will be an article trashing it. Because that’s all you do…trash Kate. Her make up, her hair, if she works too little she’s work shy, if she works too much she’s desperate for attention, she controls William, she’s controlled by William…it goes on and on. I have read your articles for years constantly trashing her, judging her, finding fault with every single thing she wears or says or does. It’s getting old.