Are we still dissecting the Princess of Wales’s public appearance on Tuesday? Apparently. Kate made a rare outing for the Qatari state visit. The photos of Kate and Prince William together did nothing to dispel the years-long gossip that their marriage is in shambles, but you’d be hard-pressed to find any royal reporter or commentator even suggesting that their body language and vibe is strained and closed off from one another. Instead of discussing any of that, we’re getting endless pieces about Kate’s burgundy ensemble, and look, here’s something about her Chanel purse.
Kate Middleton has no shortage of handbags, although the Chanel bag that she carried on Tuesday, December 3, in London is among her most prized – and pricey – designer bags. When the Princess of Wales, 42, welcomed the Emir of Qatar alongside Prince William and King Charles, she donned head-to-toe burgundy, right down to her gloves, boots and beloved Chanel handbag.
Like Middleton’s Alexander McQueen coat, the bag was a style that she’s been seen wearing before. The archival design is from Chanel’s Fall 2015 collection and originally had a price tag of approximately $5,000. Now it’s estimated to be worth double. However, as fashion expert Amber Graafland told The Sun earlier this year: “A Chanel handbag owned by the Princess of Wales is pretty much priceless.”
The royal is said to own approximately 110 bags consisting of 80 clutches, 15 top-handle bags, cross-bodies, totes and satchels in a collection that’s reportedly worth upwards of $315,000.
“For most mere mortals 110 bags sounds like a huge amount, but if you consider that the princess attends upwards of 100 public engagements a year, it’s not actually that ridiculous,” Graafland noted. “Having carefully chosen timeless designs, she wears them on repeat.”
While it may still seem excessive even by royal standards, Middleton’s penchant for investment dressing extends to her classic accessories, which many believe Princess Charlotte will inherit.
I agree that it doesn’t seem that extraordinary or even notable that a 40-something princess probably has a collection of 100-plus purses/clutches. If I had the money, I would also have a huge purse collection. In Kate’s case, it doesn’t register that she has 100-plus purses because I honestly don’t think she’s a purse person, and her purses usually suck? I said that even before Meghan came around too, although Kate has attempted to up her accessories game in the past six years. Kate just has no taste in purses or shoes – she has a lot of them, sure, but she has no eye for cute bags or cute shoes. It also feels like Kate is recycling older pieces a lot this year. I have a little theory that William has limited her clothing allowance now that he has all of the Duchy of Cornwall money.
Last thing – people were talking about Kate’s curtsy to King Charles on Saturday. Or rather, they were talking about how Charles and everyone else had already turned their backs on her when she curtsied. Kate curtsied too late, right?
The Princess of Wales arrives at Horse Guards Parade with Qatar’s Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani.
Prince William accompanied the Emir of Qatar.
They are welcome by King Charles at the Royal Pavillion. #qatarstatevisit pic.twitter.com/tc8V3Akemb— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) December 3, 2024
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- Catherine Princess of Wales at Horse Guards parade for the Ceremonial Welcome Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani State Visit to London, UK – 03 Dec 2024,Image: 942419738, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Victoria Jones/Shutterstock/Avalon/Avalon
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- Catherine Princess of Wales and Prince William at Horse Guards parade for the Ceremonial Welcome Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani State Visit to London, UK – 03 Dec 2024,Image: 942436540, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Victoria Jones/Shutterstock/Avalon/Avalon
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- Prince William and Catherine Princess of Wales ahead of the Emir of Qatar’s Ceremonial Welcome, Horse Guards Parade Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani State Visit to London, UK – 03 Dec 2024,Image: 942438578, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Victoria Jones/Shutterstock/Avalon/Avalon
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- MccLi0012021 . Daily Telegraph NMA ROTA !! DT News Catherine, Princess of Wales State visit by The Amir of the State of Qatar, Ceremonial Welcome by The King and Queen, Horse Guards Parade London 3 December 2024,Image: 942538814, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Heathcliff O’Malley for the Telegraph/Avalon/Avalon
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- The Prince and Princess of Wales greet Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his wife Sheikha Jawaher in London on behalf of the King for their state visit to the UK Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales Where: London, United Kingdom When: 03 Dec 2024 Credit: Cover Images
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- The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at Buckingham Palace, London during the state visit to the UK of the Emir of Qatar and the first of his three wives. Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales and William, Prince of Wales Where: London, United Kingdom When: 03 Dec 2024 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- Ceremonial welcome on Horse Guards on the first day of the two-day State Visit to Britain of The Emir of Qatar and his wife Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales, William, Prince of Wales, King Charles III Where: London, United Kingdom When: 03 Dec 2024 Credit: Cover Images
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- Ceremonial welcome on Horse Guards on the first day of the two-day State Visit to Britain of The Emir of Qatar and his wife Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales, William, Prince of Wales Where: London, United Kingdom When: 03 Dec 2024 Credit: Cover Images
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- Ceremonial welcome on Horse Guards on the first day of the two-day State Visit to Britain of The Emir of Qatar and his wife Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales, William, Prince of Wales Where: London, United Kingdom When: 03 Dec 2024 Credit: Cover Images
Imagine being married for 10-12 years and your biggest accomplishment is having 110 designer bags. Speaks to what is important to this woman.
Sarah Jessica Parker does accessorizing a lot better imo
Between that and being praised for wearing a designer outfit I don’t know which is worse!
Considering that everything to do with the wails especially ms wails, down to nth degree – maybe a bag over both of their heads would actually be more interesting. This bag count, colour spectrum, coat dress rotation, swiping QEII’s and Diana’s jewels, 20 different colours of green, blue, brown, red etc spiked heel shoes is like watching the paint on the Closed Buckingham Palace dry.
Exactly what I was thinking…. She is so vacuous that the only thing they can talk about is her clothes (& bags). What a useless woman and for once I feel some pity for William. I wonder if he knew how dumb and useless his bride-to-be was. Even 🥚 deserves better
William is lazy and does not want to learn more. Kate enables that and behaved like a doormat and put all on hold to get the ring and waited for years. I have no pity for him or kate.
I actually think William would have done more if his wife were more involved. Do we actually think Jecca would have accepted that he spend his time hiding from work? I doubt it. But for other reasons (his low intelligence, temper, sh-tty family dynamics), I’m sure many promising women were smart enough to refuse his advances.
Or perhaps William feels that his biggest contribution to charity was marrying a commoner. 🤷🏾♀️
He doesn’t deserve better. He chose her after knowing how lazy and vacuous she was. He spent most of his 20s having his ego stroked by the Middletons and in so doing, avoided royal duties.
I was actually going to say this when all you have to say about someone is that they are carrying a 7 year old purse.
I feel like the media is trolling her… references to an old bag? It’s a little on the nose.
I wonder who put them up to that article? The other Royal Old Bag who was sleeping off her latest hangover on the day of the Qataris’ arrival?
I suspect the rewears are a result of less shopping time due to cancer treatments.
Royals can have vendors/designers visit the mansion with samples, and they don’t necessarily have to go out shopping.
Internet?
Her family is rich enough to afford to have clothing labels come to her for fittings and purchases–she’s in theory not doomed to a plebian shopping experience due to cancer.
When chemo causes you to puke for 10 hours following treatment, you tend to not browse online.
But she was going to the farmers market and to sports events to watch her kids and traveling to Norfolk and…..
Her dresser/assistant would be her buyer and know her size. Wasn’t her name Natasha? Even in good health Kate likely doesn’t browse for clothes.
Megan, She attended Trooping and Wimbledon during chemo treatment! She wasn’t completely bedridden for months with it–like most people she had terrible and less bad days. If she had wanted (or had the funds) she could have easily purchased clothing. As I get older, I know more and more people who’ve fought cancer–for most of them, their life doesn’t entirely get put on hold because they have families or work or other obligations. One friend’s husband cooked certain days of the week. Another became a stay-at-home dad. My FIL volunteers and walked 15 k during the Airborn event in the NLs after losing 25 kg and being on chemo. As it is, she’s had her existing clothing reconfigured by a tailor, so she’s gone through fittings with someone for that.
@Meghan — I’ve been undergoing cancer treatments all year and shop online all the time as my immune system has been compromised. Surely if Kate was as sick as the tabloids continuously posit, she’d be doing it too (only she probably has staffers to do it). However I very much doubt she’s been as sick as many other cancer sufferers. She’s not puking 10 hours a day and if her only contribution to her “return to health” is a cheezy Harlequin Romance video then I am more than convinced this is all a sham. What she SHOULD have done is publicly thank her medical team and involve herself with charities that support cancer patients through their struggles. It would have been a perfect opportunity to show some concern for the citizens who pay for her luxe lifestyle and 110 bags. But no. She’s too lazy, disinterested, and is clearly caught up in some major problems with her marriage and in-laws which have caused her to be benched for the most part.
From Convict: It’s vomit-inducing for a perennially lazy woman who has never worked a day in her useless life. There are Uk citizens who rely on charities to survive and may freeze to death this winter. Boasting about her expensive handbag collection isn’t a flex.
I used to have 100 purses. I mean- most of them were from thrift shops. But they were all incredibly cool and weird. That was in my 20s-30s.
As i have gotten older, i have offloaded a ton of stuff (back to thrift, unless a friend wanted it)
I have under 20 now.
I love purses.
There is absolutely zilch between her ears so this is what they have to talk about.
I dispute the numbers. How can they be so precise? How can she have 110, of which 80 are clutches, 15 top-handle, and 15 cross-bodies, totes and satchels? She’s got way more than 15 top-handle bags, and way more than 15 cross-bodies, let alone totes & satchels.
And they haven’t mentioned it, but this is the ONLY Chanel bag Kate has, which shows how cheap William is and/or Charles before him (I think that’s how it worked, Charles forked over the dough for her clothing & accessories budget when they were the Cambridges). Camilla, on the other hand, has several Chanel handbags.
One might argue that her biggest accomplishment was driving a wedge between her brother-in-law and the rest of his family via his American wife. It’s easy to mock her vapidness when talking about handbags, but as simple as she might appear, Kate is a manipulator.
They’re work very hard to make fetch happen
110 handbags seems like a lot for someone who may work 100 engagements in a “good” year.” She has more handbags than regular engagements.
And while I love purses and clutches and would love to have some gorgeous high quality ones, it just seems like a waste for her.
i’ve seen that entrance clip now from like three different angles LOL and its just not good for Kate. I think she was waiting for Charles to approach her and kiss her cheek or something at which point she was planning on curtseying but he didnt, he just kind of glanced in her direction and then glanced away and that’s when she curtseyed.
It was a pretty blatant snub IMO. It definitely reminds me of the Windsor Castle snub from QEII in December 2021.
Was the snub from QE2 towards Kate at Windsor castle? Why do I always think it was at balmoral? Is it bc it was right after that Scotland train tour that I think that? Idk😂. But yeah, agree that it looked like a snub. Bc he clearly saw her and turned away. He turned away! Real quick and with no acknowledgment. Yikes.
LOL yes, it was at Windsor. I said 2021 in my comment but now I’m thinking it was 2020? Because the Queen was still in her Windsor bubble and they didn’t do a big Sandringham christmas that year, so the Windsor castle photo op was the closest the press got to seeing the royals at christmas. but yes it was after the scotland train tour.
I think Charles was put off by her shampoo commercial where only middletons were seen with wales.children.
Oooh, what happened with QEII? So unlike her …
@Anonymous there was a Windsor Castle photo op – basically QEII stood on the steps and greeted the different family members and then there was a socially distanced posed photo.
Kate curtseyed to QEII and kind of hung out in front of her for a few seconds, clearly expecting more acknowledgement, and QEII just gave her the smallest bit of recognition (I think maybe she tilted her head) and then looked past Kate with a huge smile at Sophie and Edward. It was a clear “move along now, people I like are here” moment……in full view of the cameras.
@Becks: thanks! I wonder what provoked that from QEII back then? I thought Kate was liked well enough.
I don’t think we know for sure how the queen felt about Kate and William. But I’m sure we could guess… At that point, Harry and Meghan had been driven out and there’s a good chance the queen was aware of how cold the Wales had been to the Sussexes. I can’t imagine what the queen must’ve thought of William. But from that Windsor greeting, it looked like the queen had little love for Kate. Not saying she despised her but she she didn’t show any outward warmth. Kate waited for something more and the queen looked away from her and then smiled hugely for Sophie. The quick contrast was striking. Kate received no such smile.
The snub happened at the end of the Covid choo choo tour when they came back from Scotland after Scotland saying they shouldn’t be allowed to travel there since there were restrictions still in place in Scotland. It was at Windsor castle because there were still restrictions in place for travel and the Queen and Philip were both staying at Windsor Castle.
Totally agree that CRex snubbed Can’t. Since WanK dropped their lovey-dovey Hallmark video, K has been seemingly demoted. I think she’s catching flack for the both of them (can’t attack the bloodline).
110 is generally too many purses. Intetesting that they’ve been valued at just over 300 thousand pounds–that seems low. Does this collection include s Birkin?
I’ve been collecting purses for years and have more than 110. Some are high end but I never buy anything with obvious logos because I think that’s tacky. And I’ll just this because it needs to be said, Chanel and Hermes bags are ugly. They exist solely for conspicuous consumption. Kate bought this bag for their France tour. I doubt he ever intended to use it again. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any member of the BRF carry a Birkin because they are massively overpriced crap.
@Megan – is there a particular type of bag you collect? I’ve been collecting little evening bags for years – beaded, embroidered, antique and vintage, some designers, some artisan, a couple art pieces that aren’t useful at all.
@Eurydice I collect all kinds, but I love vintage evening bags. I found most of them at thrift or charity shops. I’m going to a wedding this weekend and still have not chosen a bag. I love them all.
That sounded low to me as well. I wondered if she couldn’t get Birkins because they’re French, but so is Chanel.
I used to read a site called Bagsnob, they were in Dallas and California. They should get the crazy expensive purses and critique them. I just remember one of the ladies saying that Tods was the brand for ladies who use birkins as their gym bag 😂 it’s probably 15 years since I read that, but I still relented.
Charlotte is not going to wear mom’s hand me downs. First of all they will be out if style.
Might be true for you, but I know TONS of people who love their parent’s old stuff, What’s old usually comes back in style again – and while it would look bad for ME to wear it the 2nd or 3rd time around, on a teen or 20something, it usually looks great. And if the stuff is high end, all the better! [also, tons of hollywood celebs talk about their kids raiding their closets all the time – normal people AND rich and/or famous people do it!]
I think the advice is – if you’re old enough to have worn the style the first time around, you should avoid it. But once the style skips a generation, it seems fresh and new,
The bag is nice? I’m definitely someone who also doesn’t have an eye for bags or shoes. If I was famous I’d definitely need a stylist for those two things. I basically go from slides in the summer to converse and boots for the winter. Huge Mary Poppins bags in which I can fit anything ever possibly needed in case of an emergency. Cute small bags are not for me. But I like seeing people who can accessorize well. I do wonder if they’re low-balling her purse count but at the same time I could believe that’s it. 100 is still a fair amount.
They’re low balling it. She had more designer purses and longchamp bags before she was even married. When pippa and Carole were accepting freebies blatantly on her behalf, they were sending purses in every color.
👋 @Jais….are you me? Are you a nurse?
Kate would probably have less bags if she didn’t feel she had to compete with or cosplay Meghan. With the exception of this Chanel bag most her bags were clutches. I still remember the royalists and the press criticising Meghan for carrying a top hand bag on her first engagement. Kate only started wearing top handle bags on engagements after Meghan joined the family and every now and then she doesn’t carry a bag at all just like Meghan did and was critcised for when she was a working royal.
I noticed that too, that Kate only began carrying a top-handled bag after Meghan married in. And I’ve never seen her carry Chanel before, either. Strathberry, yes, not not Chanel.
She always carried clutches because she was still in her cosplaying Diana phase. Diana carried clutches.
I love this bag, and it’s so Meghan. Kate used to carry clutches, etc, and now she too is using small bags just like her mentor Meghan
Kate had this bag before Meghan (she wore it on the trip to Paris in 2017 I think but had it before then, this article notes its a 2015 bag), but generally speaking, yes, she always preferred clutches.
She has a few larger handbags that she has worn on engagements – I cant remember the brand – she and Pippa both have them……they actually look like nice handbags but the name completely escapes me. But I don’t think we’ve seen them in a while.
I’m surprised she hasn’t leaned more into the bigger handbag with top handles because of QEII.
I love the stories of how QEII used her handbags to signal her aides – from left arm to right, “let’s wrap it up.” On the floor, “Get me the hell out of here.” On the table, “Dinner’s over.”
Kate wore a lot of Smythson & Mulberry bags, before & after her marriage. I think the three Middleton women share.
Maybe PW woke up and inventoried all her clothes and accessories and said enough. It’s funny, though, that it was different when it was dad paying and not him.
Honestly, I’m wondering how much access she has to her extensive wardrobe. No way is it all at Adelaide.
110 purses seems smallish for someone with eleventy-billion coatdresses!
Big deal she owns lots of bags but what has she done with her platform? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Lort. 315 K is actually probably a conservative estimate for 110 highend bags and purses. Her luggage probably cost many times that. Remember the constant outrage over the cost of Meghan’s wardrobe that continues to this day and the press utters praise for this grifter when she works less and costs more? Good lort this family is one con after another. How many of those purses and handbags have walked out to pay for her parents lifestyle? How much does she need when she has never done more than the bare minimum?
I’m sure she curtsied “too late” so they could get a full shot of her curtseying
I will stand corrected on this however I am sure that in the past it was not entirely acceptable to be constantly wearing French or Italian designer clothes & accessories if you are royal
You are expected to use your national design houses of which there are plenty
Even Jackie O was criticised for wearing French gowns I believe
It really irks me to see all of them now using our taxes to purchase ,even if at discount from non U.K. brands
It is even more annoying at an event such as this which is a national welcome to a Head of State you should be show casing British or Commonwealth design houses
There is amazing talent so I find seeing a Chanel bag ( & their dubious historical connections)
vexing
An argument which is used to keep them is their value to U.K. business
How is that when they don’t promote it at important opportunities
If you are a private citizen with your wealth from your endeavour that is different
British royals have worn foreign designers going back to at least Queen Alexandra. She was noted for her stylish gowns by Worth and other French designers. Queen Mary and her mother the Duchess of Teck were huge supporters of British home industries and really started the tradition of wearing British materials to help revitalize declining industries like British and Irish lace (also a big deal to Queen Victoria) and support ones like tweed. Her 1893 trousseau was famously made of only materials from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
This expanded amongst the family post WW1 with the patronage of couturiers like Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amis during the reigns of George VI and Elizabeth II. But starting with the fashionable Margaret (huge Dior fan) and then Diana foreign houses were sometimes worn. Even Anne has worn foreign labels. This continues with Sophie, who has worn many foreign designers, Camilla, Kate then Meghan. Over the decades we’ve seen Dior, Chanel, Armani, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Loboutin, Balmain, Yves St Laurent, Dolce and Gabbana etc.
Word@ What was that.
Thank you
Kate does100 engagements a year? When?
Right?! That’s what I came to comment! Upwards of 100 engagements a year?! Since when?! And considering some of those are “meetings” that’s hilarious
That’s a spectacular purse, and I’d wear the hell out of it.
I find this line very interesting: While it may still seem excessive even by royal standards, ….
A dig, I think.
It seems snarky, doesn’t it? But whose “royal standards”? QEII wore 5,000 different hats during her time and over 200 handbags and hundreds of pairs of the same style of shoes.
Whatever we might think of Kate, she’s still the future queen and will eventually set the royal standard.
She hasn’t yet made it to Queen Consort and she may not. It isn’t a done deal. Charlotte may be setting the royal fashion style – after all, she was born a princess and Kate already looks old.
“QEII wore 5,000 different hats during her time and over 200 handbags and hundreds of pairs of the same style of shoes.”
But that’s the tally for 70+ years & 400 or 500 engagements per year. While Miss KKKatie mostly did less than 100 events per year…… And she didn’t rewear much.
@Square2 – sure, I was just commenting on the idea of “royal standards.” Where are the standards for how many handbags a royal can own? And who set those standards?
Yeah but I’m with Square2 – Lizzy worked. A lot. And, according to all the books I read about her clothing, they sold quite a bit of her bags and outfits, so she didn’t keep the whole lot like some mercenary hoarder.
Kate doesn’t do the work.
Quite, why are they commenting on this now? Is this a first sign that the royal protection in the media is being removed?
Now tell us how many coat-dresses she has. And how much they cost.
I’m a bag girl too so 110 is goals, lol. Seriously though, they must have a warehouse (or two) to keep all of her stuff. She could open her own department store.
“but if you consider that the princess attends upwards of 100 public engagements a year,” No she does not. In what fantasy land do these 100 public engagements occur?
This was so funny for me. Every time I read the word “purse” I unconsciously pursed my lips, which I noticed towards the end. Subliminal perception because purse is what one does with their lips. What she’s carrying I’ve always called a handbag. Oxford Dictionary says “Purse: to bring your lips tightly together so that they form a rounded shape, usually as an expression of disapproval”. For this particular person in this particular story, I can’t help but think how apropos!! Some days I just crack myself up!
🙂😖 (that second one is what Apple gives me when I searched for ‘pursed lips’)
Why does she need so many designer bags for exactly ? Is she doing the school run with them or what ?
How very nice for her. Not.
OK, finally watched WednesdayChisShip’s video. I found it hilarious that they put her in a low-floor car to prevent her “flashing” exiting the car.
(The dress or skirt she wore under the coat has front slit, [from the climbing the stairs picture,] so she could’ve do some exhibition if the car was the same car as the S. Korea visit, if she so inclined.)
Hey, interesting fact. These boots are thigh high I read at Vogue. THIS state visit she won’t be flashing her thighs at least.
The boots were knee high. You can clearly see that from where the zip ends in one of the above photos. I suspect she was also wearing thick burgundy coloured panty hose/tights which would give the appearance of the boots being thigh length.
I’m sorry, but when has she ever done 110 “real” engagements in a year? What a joke. But I guess if they use her pocketbooks as a way to show how “busy” she is….
So as ever, it’s ok for the white duchess to own a lot of nice things but Meghan is Satan for having a few investment pieces that are always added as a new piece when being totted up in the frantic pricing frenzy from the rota.