Today is Remembrance Sunday, and per usual, the British royal family was out to pay their respects to the fallen. The Queen, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Prince William, the Countess of Wessex and the Duchess of Cambridge were all out today in London, looking somber and respectful. For the first time ever, Charles took over for the Queen by laying a wreath at the Cenotaph. The Queen appealed to shed a tear from the balcony. And Kate’s buttons persevered.
There’s not a lot of chatter (so far) about Kate’s look today, which is how it should be – this was not a fashion event or a look-at-me event, it’s just that we do like talking about fashion. I don’t have the ID on Kate’s dark coat (some say this is navy but it looks black to me), but I know why she chose it: BUTTONS! If you have any article of clothing with shiny gold buttons, please send it to Kate. She is truly the Queen of Buttons. Kate also tried out a new hairstyle – I think her hairstylist likely “pinned” her hair under to make it look like Kate had gotten a dramatic haircut (she did not get a dramatic haircut, trust). The hat is too big, but meh. Kate and Sophie stood together, per usual, on the balcony of the Foreign Office.
Kate was also out on Saturday for the Festival of Remembrance, which is basically a concert. She wore a velvet Catherine Walker coatdress for that.
Photos courtesy of Getty, WENN.
I like both outfits. They’re appropriate. I also like her pinned under hair style. I think it looks cute with the hat. Also, is the hat too big? I have no sense style when it comes to hats. The hat has to be entirely wrong for me to notice. Otherwise, meh.
+1
+2. I’m not a big buttons person but, for once, they’re don’t look overdone or too costumy. I like second the outfit much better, though. Also, I think the hat size is fine–the bobbed hair balances it out.
I think the hat looks great.
I like the hat. I thought it looked familiar, so I did a bit of sleuthing. She’s had this hat since 2006: https://roaylthings.com/mum-and-baby/kate-middleton-megan-markle-outfit-first-public-appearance-royals-prince-william-prince-harry/
I think she looks great here/ocassion appropriate. She’d looks great with her hair this short (doubt it’s a cut, but it’d be lovely IMO).
Also, on other sites it shows that she s wearing a black dress under the Catherine Walker coat last night. Wonder if she ever takes the coat off indoors when she does this…?
so much better than all those bloody fascinators she always dons
Yea she looks great here. Love both outfits as well
Big gold buttons?! The horror!
I love big buttons
I think the hair with the hat and earrings looks very chic. Love to see more experimenting like this. She looks very stressed- hopefully just a reaction to the ceremony and not a long term trend catching up with her.
She has never looked comfortable at these big family events, even when they do those balcony appearances she keeps herself and the kids separate from the rest of the BRF.
It’s more likely her injections wearing off, since her pregnancy means she can’t get top ups. (Yes, yes, I’m mean. Probably correct though.)
What Ankhel said.
What injections do you think she usually has?
Liriel: Botox and fillers.
Also ditto Ankhel. It’s all wearing off.
+100
Waotie seem not to bother to interact with the RF – now middleton fotced the 3rd – she seem entitled givevoff an air like she is indispensible – not showing any effort to interact with becoming part of the RF . Only grabbing overspending /entitled laziness with taxpayers Duchy funds. With Countess Sophie the same sitting by Duke of York at the festival – she aeem to think she is more royal than he to be botheted to avknowledge his presence. Never mind he is the DoY- one of TQ’s heir (not willnot who Must have a King Charles to be heir to the throne or any middleton kid).
The RF all aware what useless waste waitie is with 3rd pregnancy strategically happen – (hindering potential King Henry’s life); no one is bothering to hide the diappointment of waitie middleton, 7 to 17 years stalker in their mist- for luxury lifestyle.
Both TQ and DoE looked like they shed a tear during the wreath laying.
As for the fashion – I liked Theresa May’s hat (I love me some vintage styles, esp from the 20/30’s era). That’s all i got.
She did. There’s a close up and there’s definitely a tear by her eye. It must have been difficult for her and Philip to stand and watch. Philip looked frail, but then it was very cold from what I understand. I bet he really feels it at his age.
+1
So much more life from both. So regal beautiful memorable with both HM DOE on the balcony together. Seem more the walking for DoE and HM surely with age.
HM her cousins of that generation are so much Regal Royalty and no buttons. DoCornwall look every bit the future Consort.
Yes, Theresa May’s hat was the best, looked like a cloche, very stylish. But then Theresa May is very stylish, if she started her own clothes line it would be a runaway success. Whereas Sam Cam who always looked awful believed so much that she knew about fashion and has started her own clothes line ‘yes roll’.
Yes she does adore buttons. i think she looks appropriate and the shorter hair looks good on her. The pregnancy weight helps as well. Not much to say except: all hail to buttons.
what pregnancy weight??
She looks nice.
Pretty chic, actually!
That coat-dress is absolutely lovely. I wouldn’t mind having it myself.
I also don’t understand the “hate” towards big buttons. If well chosen, they are a lovely accent.
What I find interesting is to observe the halves of K’s face on that “serious face” picture of her alone. (You have to cover one side to see it clearly.) The left side looks bored and slightly confused, even bewildered; the right side looks unspeakably bitter and dark, defeated.
N.B. I did say “LOOKS”.
Her left eye looks droopy. Maybe she got Botox despite the pregnancy?
Her left eye is just very different from her right; as noted above, the left & right sides of her face are very different. None of us is (are?) symmetrical.
(Just realized NOTA said the same thing below.)
Growing up, some of my family members were picture-taking nuts. I remember my aunts going on and on about their “good side” while posing. This article pretty much explains their bit of vanity.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/omarvillegas/heres-what-15-celebs-would-look-like-if-their-faces-were-sym?utm_term=.sk6NrwEK1#.pcgzVZ5xa
My left eye does this too; my eyelids are assymetrical. It’s particularly noticeable in photos and I’ve actually looked into getting botox to correct it because I’m so self-conscious of it.
Long shot with 10 buttons- not too good. Last photo look like frumpy bigger muddleton from uni 2aitie years.
I find it fascinating how many people’s faces have two different expressions; some are really dramatic. She may not be feeling dark or bitter about her own life, hopefully: she may be reacting to the service, which commemorates those lost in service to their country.
It may not have anything to do with thoughts or feelings. Her face, like most of ours, is asymmetrical and it shows more when she’s not smiling. In her case, the asymmetry is significant and includes the shape and height of her eyebrows and cheekbones. One half of her face looks like Pippa, the other half like Carole.
When she does things like botox to “perk up” the right side of her face, the asymmetry is lessened because of the resulting hiked-up right eyebrow.
Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington famously have perfectly symmetrical faces.
Elizabeth Taylor and Halle Berry too.
Giselle Bundchen too? LE and CT are gorgeous though.
Ditto Liz Hurley.
It’s navy, I hate saying this…but it needs a collar…just something besides that specific neckline…and I like the hat/hairstyle on her.
I also hate saying this but it was my first thought of the main pic on this post…fake sadness. Ok. Be solemn. Don’t flash a big pearly smile. But to try to look like you’re in mourning? Idk. It feels too insincere to me.
I wonder what Sophie’s making a face about…
The fact she got stuck beside Waity instead of HM. Are there no photos of Philip and HM on the balcony? Too bad
@ Alix, yes, just imagine the comments if it was Kate with that expression on her face!
Oh good grief.
@ Merritt – can’t do anything right for some people can she? 🙄
Cmon with that second paragraph.
Her expression is fine. Respectful.
I had a chance to visit the UK and tour Bletchley Park a few weeks ago. Though that is a WWII monument, not WWI, it is making these stories of war and sacrifice hit closer to home for me now. Free people find ourselves once again facing an emboldened group of authoritarians. I hope we face this scourge with the brave selflessness of those generations!
Today commemorates all people who have fallen in both WWI and II plus those who have fallen since.
It was actually the second time Charles stood in for the Queen on Remembrance Day – although the first time he did so with her being in the country. Apparently this doesn’t mean anything in terms of a handover, but that the Queen wanted to be with her husband.
Also Kate looks so…haggard. Perhaps she is tired due to a tough pregnancy, I don’t know, but she looks so much older than her age. Girl needs a new face cream.
I think it’s nice HM stood with Philip. Philip has been away in Sandringham much of the time and HM in London missing him very much.
I wonder if watching from the balcony is a much more emotional experience than being a part of the ceremony? I don’t recall HM ever tearing up while on duty at past Remembrances.
I was surprised by the news (if the DM is right) that Philip is now at Wood Farm, Sandringham. I thought Frogmore was set aside for him. Either that or he’d move into Garden House Windsor, vacated when HM’s cousin Margaret Rhodes passed away last year. Interesting he’s chosen to retire at one of the privately-owned estates.
I was betting on Wood Farm being Harry’s country house if he gets married anytime soon. Plus, now where will HM hide Sarah Ferguson at Christmas?
Notsugarhere – thanks for mentioning the DM article, I missed seeing it at the time. It is interesting he has retired on one of the private estates, and the workers are allowed to dress casually. He has a page and a footman, wish I knew how those jobs differ.
@nota…’Plus, now where will HM hide Sarah Ferguson at Christmas?’…loool!
Wood Farm is often used by the royals when they go to stay at Sandringham for shorter visits. Apparently one of the times the queen and duke always go there is hallowe’en weekend.
I doubt if Prince Philip would have much to do with Frogmore because of its associations with the Duke of Windsor and Margaret Rhodes home was used by a member of staff before she was given it to stay.
I would think Windsor would be too near London and not private enough for the duke.
He was back at Sandringham weeks before the Queen left Balmoral and the summer he was recuperating from his stomach op he stayed at Sandringham so definitely seems to be his favourite home probably because it’s away from everything and also the shooting in years gone by.
There are associations with Duke of Windsor, but stronger ones with Belvedere which is currently occupied. What I’d read for years was Frogmore was set aside for PP if HM pre-deceased him. Settling in Frogmore now would give them the chance to be closer each weekend, as they traditionally used to decamp to Windsor Castle on weekends.
I wonder if HM will now start going to Sandringham on weekends instead of Windsor? Before his retirement announcement, I was thinking they would move to Windsor during the week as well. That would have gotten them away from BP renovations once they start. Wood Farm is everyone’s Sandringham bolthole, but usually Sarah’s at Christmas.
Right? Like her own mother.
I don’t think she and Pippa were too good with sunscreen in the past…maybe she is better now. Also, speaking from experience, tough pregnancies and HG can really take it out of you.
I don’t love the hat but she has had it for years I think so definitely getting use out of it.
Omg the buttons. Both last night and today. They were all I could see at first haha.
I find it strange that she and her mother frequent Catherine Walker, even though these are all old styles being regurgitated by Walker’s widower. That brand is intrinsically tied to Diana and her style evolution/revolution. Plenty of other UK brands and designers out there. Why keep using the one automatically associated with Diana?
Because Carole is very taken with Diana? I’ve read that somewhere. Wish I could remember where.
Apparently this coat is identified it as the Dolce & Gabbana Crossover Button Coat, not a CW coat.
She wore Catherine Walker last night.
Buttons oh buttons my great shiny buttons
On me you must be seen
Buttons oh buttons my gold shiny buttons
For you I am terribly keen!
Buttons on coats
Buttons on dresses
Hiding the fact
I keep twirling my tresses
Round buttons, square buttons
I collect them with glee
Big buttons small buttons
More buttons for me!
– an Ode to Buttons by Kate
Very nice!
Why thank you!
Bravo Redgrl Bravo!!!! I nominate you for a Pulitzer or a Nobel Prize for literature!!
Major LOL on this rainy, coldest day of the year so far around here! I get that KP press haven’t got the memo re: bottoms. LOL!
Even though it’s a fake bob and the back looks weird, she should get a real bob because it actually looks good on her. She doesn’t do much with her current length as it is and it would be more practical with having three young kids. And if she doesn’t like it then hair grows back.
With all respect, Keen Katie having kids does not merit a bob cut. I wish I saw super wonder nanny Maria’s hair style, if you all know what I mean. And the deputy/assistant’s too. Mummy Carol has a bob too IIRC.
But if she wants to give off the image that she is dealing with them all the time then a practical haircut would help that along. As it stands her long hair with multiple extensions and three times a week hair appointments suggest otherwise.
I like the hair and coat.Since most of Kate’s clothes this year are new.im wondering if she’s getting stuff down so she can start recycling it later…or getting it because she likes shopping.
I don’t get why she always dresses / does her hair in a way that makes her look twice her age.
Kate looks appropriate for the event but I never knew she comes off as uncomfortable in major public family gatherings. When William takes the throne Kate would be the most senior lady of the BRF as queen consort. She with William would set the tone for the family. For being in the Firm from six years I would think she would be able over such insecurities.
I think the reason why she is so uncomfortable around the royal family is that her and William don’t spend much time with them, either as a family or with various individuals. They’re never seen at various fairs and horse events with family members, they only attend “official” family events. Sad really that George and Charlotte don’t seem to have the chance to build relationships with their cousins.
We have no way of knowing what the day-to-day interactions are within the royal family. Public photos at events are hardly an indicator of what goes on behind closed doors.
No we don’t know, Donna. But George and Charlotte have cousins their age and we don’t see them together. And Charles has said he doesn’t see his grandchildren as much as he would like. So I think it’s very fair to say George and Charlotte spend much more time with Kate’s family than William’s.
She’s currently pregnant, right? I didn’t imagine that?
Buttons, so many buttons. Always so many buttons lol.
I like that Kate tried a different hairstyle, pinning her hair under. It definitely works with the hat and collar of the coat. Its good to see her on Remembrance Day with the family and to see she can attend events without William.
I like the coat and the length of the hair, too. The hat is fine as well. Let’s talk about those eyebrows though……
I like the hat, I much prefer hats like that to fascinators. I really don’t get the fascinators appeal, but as an abnormally large headed person, I suspect I’m projecting my own insecurities that a fascinator on my head would look like a tiny Barbie doll hat.
As the Windsors worryingly presses in,
their demands again increasing,
calendars rudely plucked from the bin,
it seems I must attend this thing.
Again, dear self, to the breach.
The Queen insisted most firmly.
What’s the horror waiting this week,
perhaps I can get out a bit early?
The only bright stars in my sky,
eternal, not ever changing,
their splendour growing by and by,
are my buttons, always aiding.
For since those bores won’t let me be,
sweet trinkets they shall fund for me!
Wow! A most excellent poem!
Thank you very much!
My grandmother used to have this massive tin of amazing random buttons. Mother of pearl ones, shaped ones, bejewelled ones. I used to get to play with them on rainy afternoons if I was good. Buttons were so amazing to me as a kid.
It’s sad she has so little about her that is more interesting. That we know, at least. I mean, it’s not like she’s an artist of some kind, where her personal life isn’t our business. At this stage in history it’s pretty well the point of them. That, and the charity work that they don’t seem to want to do.
You have brought back that same memory! Thank you for that. Oh mine was my mother’s tin and I was totally fascinated by them
I had my favorites too and I would try to match them up. .
@K ….My mother had a button tin, it was an old baby milk tin, I wish I had kept that old tin. As a kid I also used to love emptying the tin and spreading the buttons of all colours shapes, sizes and textures all over the floor and playing with them…God bless my darling old Mum. There is a shop in central London that specialises in second hand buttons, a really amazing shop.
I still have a button tin!
I think both outfits were nice and appropriate for the occasions. There were no maniacal grins or hair twirling either.
William and Harry have been getting a hard time among some of the press for going to rugby games instead of attending the festival of remembrance on Saturday. A bad PR move on their parts, I think.
Although Harry has never been invited to attend so he is getting lumped in with his brother for something he wouldn’t be attending in the first place. It’s William who as future head of state who could take a chopper to go to the ceremony. He also only did the royal fake service instead of Harry, who actually went to a war zone, so he should be more conscientious about honouring those who protect his spoiled petulant ass.
There was absolutely no need for William and Harry to both be present at that event. Why should all the senior royals gather together on two consecutive days?
Prince Andrew was photographed beside Harry and William. Andrew represented the Navy, Army (Harry) and Air Force (William).
Because it was Remembrance Day and honouring the country’s war dead is more important than attending a rugby match!
Harry participated in a large Remembrance event the day before, no? If someone needed to “represent” at rugby? It would have make sense for Harry to attend the rugby match and William to attend Remembrance Day in London.
She looks horrible. Awful buttons, too big hat and flower. Fake smiles and fake sorrow, as usual. But she doesn’t play with her hair, what a big step for 35 y.o. duchess of cabbage!
How do you know it is fake?
@Nikolen, thank you! I felt like I was taking crazy pills, reading so many comments about how great people think she looked. IMO this is one of the worst she’s ever looked; definitely in the top ten. That hair is ridiculous and she looks as old as my mother.
And that dress is identical to a bunch she already has. It was incredibly wasteful for her to buy *another* black coatdress. How many does she need?!
Sombre sombre sombre, Beaming!?!! At least there was no hair twiddling I suppose
Was that the hat she wore at William’s passing out parade at Sandhurst? With the red coat?
Damn, usually she looks better when preggo and her face fills out but those deep wrinkles around her mouth are kind of shocking for someone her age. She looks at least a decade older than she really is.
She smokes and she does not care. Safe in the Middleton’s haven paid for of course from the public purse.
Surely she stopped smoking years ago. I am praying that Harry will stop smoking.
Shots from the France trip (the one with the topless photos) included her smoking. Hopefully she quit soon after, as she was expecting soon after.
Turned-under hair! Ye gods! Absolutely awful – sack the hairdresser now!
So this time Waity got new bling bling earrings for turning up instead of the usual new coat dress?
I am not buying her fake sombre attitude. No maniac grinning is an improvement but she really doesn’t grasp what this ceremony is about.
Sophie does look stressed. Not just sombre or serious but seriously stressed. Waity effect?
Huh? Of course she gets what the ceremony is about, why/how wouldn’t she?
Get you don’t like her, that’s ok, but that was a bit OTT
She gets what the ceremony is about, she just doesn’t GAF.
@Redgirl & Ankhel I came here looking for the button poetry so thank you!! And I love Sophie’s expression in the top photo it’s priceless