Last night, the Duchess of Cambridge hosted her first-ever solo reception at Buckingham Palace. I’m pretty sure she’s hosted stuff at BP before, but it’s never been a reception with the palace photographer and stuff. This reception was for the 25th anniversary of Place2Be, one of the Kate’s longest-standing patronages. Kate even made a speech.
As for fashion, she repeated a Jenny Packham gown which I had no memory of – she wore this for the first time in Mumbai, in 2016, during the Cambridges’ Indian tour. Kate had the Packham customized/bespoke with a matching shawl, and she did not wear the shawl last night. She paired the Packham gown with Jimmy Choo silver-sparkle heels and Erdem crystal earrings (thanks to WhatKateWore for these IDs). Honestly, go back and look how she styled it (with the shawl) in India: it’s a much better look there. Without the shawl, this looks like a gown I’m pretty sure a FLOTUS wore to one of her husband’s inaugurations. It’s extremely safe, which isn’t a bad thing, but still… a snooze. Props to her for doing so many repeats though, I guess. Maybe she blew through this month’s dress budget on the Irish struggle-tour.
As for the speech, here’s an excerpt of the written speech where Kate talks about her kids, plus Kensington Palace’s video.
The Duchess of Cambridge has given a speech at a Gala Dinner for her charity @Place2Be this evening at Buckingham Palace. She spoke of the importance of quality time spent with children. pic.twitter.com/Zmcz6cWTd3
— Victoria Murphy (@byQueenVic) March 9, 2020
🎂 Happy 25th Birthday @Place2Be — here’s to many more!
No child or young person should have to face mental health problems alone — and that has been the founding mission of Place2Be #25YearsofPlace2Be pic.twitter.com/m68zJ7pVtX
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 9, 2020
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
I kind of like this gown. It’s kind of over the top, but I guess it suits the whole royal kind of vibe. Mostly, I just really like that shade of blue – it looks good on her. Honestly, I think all 4 (W,K,M,H) look really good in blue shades. I think it would have looked nicer with her hair partially or fully pulled back, though.
Hilary Clinton 1993 inaugural realness 🙄
Good color and head styling but the rest is soo dated.
Oh my, you are right!!
100%!!!
Yes, or a prom dress.
Actually I just googled Hillary’s dress….and she wore it better.
The kids’ faces…
Lmao, compare their faces with the faces of the kids at the Robert Clack Upper School with Meghan.
That’s what I thought too!! I’ll bet the kids were all thinking “Why can’t Meghan come?” lolol.
Yikes.
Those poor children probably thought they would be meeting the other duchess.
Being at your own school and being at Buckingham Palace aren’t the same thing. I think they all look nervous.
It’s not like when she visits the schools they’re that much more elated.
Yup Bonobochick. I noticed the children’s Expression were very subdue.
If my mom knew I was headed to the palace she would put a new spin on putting the fear of God in me re: behavior. That might explain some of it. Also, kids that age aren’t easy to impress, regardless.
You’re right, it would take someone really awesome to impress them, LOL 😉
Hilarious…her own kids have the same expression. Frumpy boredom
Hilarious…her own kids have the same expression. Cold, frumpy boringness.
The color of the dress is pretty, but Kate bores me to tears.
Kate should have re-worn the Jenny Packham “Rose Who?” gown
That’s beautiful with the shawl.
At my daughter’s school lately, there’s been a definite focus lately on emotional and mental health and well-being, along with staff specifically there for that purpose, and I fully support it. That kind of thing didn’t happen in the 80s and 90s, and I hope more focus like this happens as the years go on.
It did look better in Mumbai – maybe the hair being pulled up with the earrings helped to modernize it? But here it looks like she raided Camilla’s closet. Or Hillary Clinton’s like @Scal said above. It looks very dated – and before people come at me with “that’s whats in style!” No, its not. “Dated” is never in style. Vintage, throwback, trend repeats, etc – those things are different from “dated.” This is dated.
Cathy does not look “fresh”.
IMHO, the only person who can re-wear her clothes and look “fresh” is Anne because she has such a complete vintage wardrobe from 50+ years of buying that she can just pull the truly vintage pieces that are currently re-trending.
I agree re: dated vs throwback. It looks kind of like the prom gowns that some of the girls I graduated with wore in ’08.
She really needs to add some much more clean cut, classic pieces to her wardrobe. Repeats are great and all, but when they are too specific of a style/trend it really shows how disjointed it looks as a repeat. That’s something that I do really admire with Meghan’s choices even if I don’t LOVE all of them. She has a lot of things that can be mixed and redone in a fresh way that makes it feel special.
Yes! at the start of her marriage, Kate should have invested in a few high quality, classic evening/cocktail gowns, that she could have reworn throughout the years, adding different jewelry, shoes, clutches etc to change up the look. I’m not saying she should never buy a new gown, obviously, but some of her re-wears just don’t work because that gown wasn’t that amazing to begin with. She invests a lot of money in her coatdresses, she should make the same investment in quality evening/cocktail gowns and separates for daytime (I said that about her Ireland tour – when she relies so heavily on dresses, and not skirts/trousers/blouses/sweaters, its harder to mix things up down the line.)
(I know she buys nice designer dresses, so I don’t mean quality in that way.)
YES. And really – even with dresses, if they’re classic enough you can accessorize them super differently, like you said. Heck, she added a shawl to this one in India, and it looked a lot nicer, I think. Or even if she had made a couple of the custom dresses as skirts and tops that LOOK like a cohesive dress but were able to be used as separates as well – that could have worked in her favor too.
this just screams “mother of the bride”
YES! That’s the first thing I thought when I saw it. Her hair/make-up looks great, but the dress just screams Mother of the Bride.
Word.
I’m very confused at the dress code. The kids are in polo shirts. The other women look more casual, too, like conservative cocktail party, but there’s a guy in a tux, and then Kate is wearing a full on sparkly evening gown.
I like the gown, but it is sort of mother of the bride —ish. But the color is pretty.
I like the dress without the shawl, and the color is good on her. Hair and makeup are good, too. She’ll get a permanent hunchback if she doesn’t work on her posture.
editing to add: Kate is not pretty, her inner mean-girl showed yesterday and every time I see her face from now on, I intend to remember that.
I feel the same way, Vava. All I see is a mean, petty woman lacking in grace and good manners.
How is it that its taken her NINE years to host her first solo engagement?
Pretty color dress, it feels very prom/dance performance like.
The BRF screwed the pooch when they pushed H&M out. Everyone else doesn’t have to the range.
Oh and look —- Kate is capable of being polite and smiling at a public function. It’s only with certain family that we get the frozen bitch face and blanking behavior.
Her coldness to Meghan and Harry? She’s cancelled.
Yes, yes, I know she is following the rules of the firm, but didn’t she and Harry at one time it appeared have a true friendship? She knew what Meghan is up against and participated (we don’t know how much–but her passivity in the face of blatant racism is participation) against the smears against her.
Her jealously (the shabby turquoise outfit which I didn’t want to think was about Meghan, but it just had to be, omg) about being upstaged is so real and so palpable, although I’m sure Meghan’s intelligence and beauty are enough to make anyone feel upstaged. But FFS, why not have the maturity to embrace what you have (beautiful children and a horrid husband who has power and money and, remember, you wanted him!) and try to be a leader of what love and humanity looks like in this family of vipers. I used to feel sorry for her at times, but now? Not. She’s clearly withering away, she’s beyond thin.
Totally agree. Kate is CANCELLED once and for all. She showed us who she is and now we must believe her.
Very much so. I was giving her the benefit of the doubt, because she has to deal with Willileaks, but not anymore. She showed her true colors yesterday, and it is not lost on the Commonwealth.
I haven’t looked at her quite the same since she shared that smirk with Camilla toward the African American Reverend during Meghan and Harry’s wedding.
2 events in one day – poor sausage must need a month long vacation to recover.
The difference in how the children reacted to her v’s Meghan is very telling – she’s not comfortable and neither are they. Partly due to the location and that she’s all formally dressed up.
The Dynasty Linda Evans realness. Poor thing, she will never look stylish no matter what she wears, she just doesn’t have IT.
“Dynasty Linda Evans realness”
😂😂😂😂
We have a winner, lmaoooo!
Tell me about it. Alexis would never be caught in this. Never.
Alexis was at the Commonwealth service earlier, lol!
Agree, this is Dynasty realness and, if that wasn’t bad enough, it looks off-the-rack.
I am not body shaming her at all, I would just like to know how someone still young and so thin has rounded shoulders. No one who even exercises even lightly or just stretches has rounded shoulders which is a sign of bad posture with weak muscles.
Muscles need adequate fuel to grow & strengthen – it’s not just a matter of doing the right exercises. Osteoporosis may be in her future.
The gown is lovely and formal
My issue is, how is Meghan older than Kate but Kate looks 10 years older and slightly haggard to boot?
I realize she in her mid thirties now without the benefit of melanin but she still should not look a rough 45.
But I like this look of hers better han anything she wore in Ireland, that’s for sure. I like the hair too.
A sweat suit from Target would look better than anything she wore on the Shamrock Tour!
That Ireland tour was hands down her worst set of clothes EVER. And I didn’t think anything could top the India tour a few years ago. But those green getups were sooooo bad.
Tanning and smoking. I don’t know whether she and William still smoke, but they definitely used to.
You already answered your own question. Melanin. It is the fountain of youth!
Meghan is only about 6 months older and, as others have said, the other duchess is now wearing the face (and pretty soon, the neck) she deserves.
You can really see she doesn’t connect with older kids.
Perhaps she will get better once her kids grow up.
Hence why her focus is on early years.
I don’t like this dress at all. Her hair is pretty, but her hair never matches her clothing, and that bothers me about her. The dress looks like an off the rack mother of the bride dress.
With all the repeats (a good thing!), she’ll be making a name for herself as The Frugal Duchess. The colour really suits her.
Two repeats after blowing £25,000 on a 3 day struggle tour isn’t exactly frugal.
And the £26,000 doesn’t include the pink vintage Oscar de la Renta, which will be another few thousand.
Or the McQueen green coat, that she first wore in January, so basically new.
The so-called “Frugal Duchess” usually buys herself expensive jewelry and accessories when she repeats a gown. Hardly frugal.
Omg I agree🤭the kids didnt seem excited to be there! I felt the dress was too extravagant for this. I mean look at the other ladies wearing casual dresses. I’ll commend her for hosting the charity after failing her other patronages I hope they’ll make more effort to avoid the closure of another one
Not that I enjoy anything about helping out Kate, but the last few times she’s been with children, most of the comments stated that she should have dressed like a princess for them, which I agreed with. I thought she was finally listening?
I haven’t seen any comments like that. Kate seems to get the most compliments when she is dressed down and interacting with kids. Like someone else down below said, here Kate looks like she’s dressed to go somewhere else afterwards. It’s ridiculously over the top for the occasion.
She looks like she should be wearing a sports outfit and be on the field. No glamour to what could be a beautiful look with a decent jazzed dress.
I can’t believe she’s 9 years in and only now hosting her first solo engagement.
I mean, I can because of her track record, but it’s ridiculous.
I love the colour of her gown, but the style is dated on her. It also seems a bit too formal for the event, but that could just be the photos I’ve seen. Maybe other people were dressed just as formally.
Petty yikes moment, I’m not sure the slow motion smile KP have used to start their video has quite the effect they were going for… 😬
I think she hosted an event at Clarence House shortly after she was married (where we could see the wiglet?) and I think that was by herself, but yeah….if she has hosted any other solo events I cant think of them. And all her BP events have involved someone else – Sophie, etc.
Dress was styled much better in India. I think it worked nicely with the shawl. Its nice for the kids that she dressed up for them
The problem here is the hair, which ages her 10 years. When you compare the updo from earlier in the day this blow out is very matronly.
Why is it nice for the kids that she dressed up for them? I don’t get that comment. They still don’t look excited to see her. And they’re all in polo shirts and stuff which would make me feel very underdressed if I was meeting someone who was wearing a formal gown. She looks like she’s stopping by the nursery to say goodbye to her kids and their gaggle of governesses before she heads out to some grand opening gala for the opera. She doesn’t look like she’s there to stay and interact with them. She looks like she’s passing through.
She looks gorgeous
I don’t like the dress or her hair here but I think some of the comments towards her to be overly harsh. We can speculate but don’t know what’s gone on. I felt desperately sad for all of them yesterday no one looked happy and it must be crushing to know it will be played out on a world stage. Meghan was trying admirably hard to try and pretend everything was alright and props to her for doing that but it was clear it isn’t. I thought she looked beautiful though.
“Hoisted by their own petard” springs to mind.
The kids look cowed. Her dress has an inaugural vibe a la Hilary Clinton. She couldn’t wear a simple day dress and omg look at her holding on to her clutch for dear life. I hope BP offered some decent appetizers.
Kate’s gown is a beautiful color but it does come off as incredibly matronly.
I need to see more pics of the event but it also seems like the gown is… excessive. Like, folks seem not quite as dressed up for this event as Kate is.
That’s a Nancy Reagan gown if I ever saw one.
Yikes. Dress is too formal. Kate likes to look like a Disney princess. It falls flat with older kids who aren’t impressed with Cinderella cosplay. Same with the over eager grin. Does she only have two expressions? Earlier in the day she was wearing a face like thunder and now we have the fake looking so happy to be here look.
The dress doesn’t fit the occasion. Kate look like a 50 year old woman going to the Mountbatten Festival (Meghan’s red dress event) vs hosting children dressed in school uniforms at KP. I’m not sure who is advising Kate but it’s obvious she is grasping for attention…it’s starting to look very desperate and sad. She should stop trying to copy/compete with Meghan…they’re not in the same league. She should stick to her Turnip Toff looks
Hey easy on the age thing lol. Many over 50 have great style. Not me, but then again I never did.
It’s a compliment to 50 year old women. The problem with Kate is that she’s 38
Yes, that’s my take too – this dress is to compete with Meghan’s red dress from the Mountbatten event. It’s completely inappropriate here with children dressed in polo shirts but she wants us to see how good she looks in similar jewel tones and long dresses. She must not be able to help herself from being competitive even if she’s going about it completely the wrong way. Meghan makes an impact with what she wears not just because of how she looks, but because of the depth of character that shows in the things she does.
These people and their advisors (mama Carole?) are beyond stupid.
I was never a fan or impressed by Kate but based on her conduct yesterday, she disgust me. Harry always seemed rather attentive and caring towards her and this is how she repays him.
No amount of gowns or tiaras is going to get rid of Kate’s mean girl ugliness.
+1 I as saying this from a long time ago, Kate is not a nice person.
Her faces during the wedding really showed who she was, especially the face she made in the formal photo. She’s been showing us who she is for years but many pretended otherwise.
Seconded that Flying Fish (Bim?)
Yes, BIM.
I knew it from your name. I am spice.
She really is in the wrong decade. Girl would have THRIVED in the 80s and early 90s!
Why is it that whenever she gives a speech she is always aided by subtitles!
So the hearing impaired can understand.
Seriously? They don’t do it for anyone else or for the reporters or the rest of the television program that features a Kate speech, they just subtitle Kate.
No, shit Sherlock, the individual who introduced Kate wasn’t subtitled.
She looks nice but she isn’t interesting. I miss Megs!!!
Not interesting because the fakeness comes through.
The children’s faces! Children cannot lie.
Also, what a shame that her other patronage The Art Room had to close due to a lack of funds.
I think after years and years of no to poor result, one can say she doesn’t really care about her patronages, they are only there for them to give her good PR.
No wonder that charity (whose name escapes me) preferred Ed Sheeran to her.
What a weird thing to wear to a reception for children who are all dressed casually. Was that the only thing in her closet that matched the kid’s purple shirts?
I like the dress. It’s a little aging, but so are most of her looks and this is better than most. I would have liked it better with her hair pulled back like the first time she wore it.
I fell asleep looking at these photos.
Camilla called; she wants her gown back. And Camilla wore it better.
Terrible dress on Kate. Old fashioned, a real old lady dress. I notice Kate always seems to cover her arms. I wonder why? Clearly she does lots of sports, her arms must look pretty good. She looks tired as well. It must have been a hard day for her no matter what motives are ascribed to her. And she’s got three young children , whom she does look after. But she looks pooped.
I think the dress is absolutely stunning, but apparently by the comments here, that may be due to my age and the fact I have no taste. I just know I like blue and I like shiney things. My great niece loves Elsa from “Frozen” so I know she’s going to go nuts for this dress if she sees it, because it looks a little like something Elsa wears in Frozen 2.
So anyway, I love the dress. If I were suddenly to find myself switched Freaky Friday style with Kate, after everyone leaves, I’d spin around the palace singing songs from Frozen and fling ice cubes at William (if he’s even around) and any courtiers I come across. If I were Kate for the day, I’d be such a handful. I’d call a press conference and let loose on Piers Morgan for starters. Lol.
I agree. I love the dress and Kate looks good but probably because I am older and have no taste. I don’t think you have to be in up to the minute styles to look great. Just wear what fits you properly and what you like. The royal family is not a fashion show.
I don’t mind the dress but it seems too formal for the occasion.
I think Kate looks fine in the dress. It’s not a dislike of the dress for me— at this point it’s a dislike of whose wearing it.
was this photo taken in 1982?
Kates manic grin is scaring the kids.
The look on those kids faces shows no enthusiasm. Clearly disappointed the wrong duchess came.
Those kids look like they would be happier to see the other duchess. Too bad Kate is not a nice person. Her and Meghan could have done so much for kids if they worked together. Jealousy is a horrible thing.
I have to say it:
The Duchess of Cambridge needs to eat a GD sandwich. That girl is waaaay too thin.
Kathy Keen is busy mean girling her inlaws, and feigning concern for the commonwealth….she doesn’t have time to eat.
The dress is fine, just rather matronly. She is so bland.
Bland and phony
I really loved this the first time she wore it but the shawl really did make a difference and her hair was up and she was wearing great earrings. The effect is muted with her hair down. I really think she pulled this out at the last minute when she saw all the great outfits Meghan put together for her farewell tour. She also looks way fancier than the other guests so it’s kind of a weird choice for her to wear it.
THis looks like a prom dress with sleeves, kind of blah, but things usually do the second time you wear them. Her hair and her make up is getting better, I noticed her eyeliner used to be done very heavyhanded, her eyes are naturally very dark and slightly close together so the eye liner all around made them look more so, now her eye makeup is more towards the outer eye, it’s getting better she must be paying attention to the experts that work for her.
Oh I like the dress, mostly because of the colour.
Shame about the woman inside it.
That speech is just so anodyne- buzz word after buzz word so that it becomes meaningless. I quite like Kate but she’s the epitome of bland (and that’s why she’s a ‘successful’ royal wife I guess)
Unfortunately she has to play it safe but at the same time I think that’s her personality too.
Hummmmm another blue dress. Just missing the raindrops… I wonder if she is still trolling Meghan? If so it isn’t working.
she has an amazing head of hair. Unfortunately, the style reminds me of that “Like you just stepped out of a salon!” ad from the 90s.
https://youtu.be/C-VZ2fBzGnk
She looks quite lovely here.