Kate Joins William, Harry & Meghan for the RAF Centenary at Westminster Abbey

RAF Centenary Daily Mail/PA

On Tuesday, Kate made a surprise appearance and joined the Queen, William, Harry, Meghan, dignitaries and politicians for a service to mark the Royal Air Force centenary at Westminster Abbey.

RAF Centenary3 Daily Mail/BBC

This year marks the centenary of the Royal Air Force – the world’s first independent air force – which was founded on 1 April 1918, independent of the British Army and Royal Navy.

RAF Centenary4 Daily Mail/PA

The Duchess is still on maternity leave and isn’t due to return to work until September. We suspect that her decision to attend the event was due to the RAF making her an Honorary Air Commandant in 2015, which was passed from Prince Phillip to her.

RAF Centenary5 Daily Mail/David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock

RAF Centenary6 Daily Mail/David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock

After the ceremony, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were whisked off to Buckingham Palace for a reception.

RAF Centenary7 Daily Mail/AP

RAF Centenary8 Daily Mail/PA

After the reception, the Cambridge’s’ and Sussex’s joined other senior royals to watch a fly past of up to 100 RAF aircraft, a parade of more than 1,000 personnel, and a feu de joie from the balcony at Buckingham Palace.
RAF Centenary10

Princess Charlotte’s Christening
Daily Mail/AP Pool

RAF Centenary11
Trooping the colour
Daily Mail/EPA

RAF Centenary12
Visit to Belguim
Daily Mail/PA

RAF Centenary13
Harry and Meghan’s wedding
Daily Mail/PA

Kate’s outfit choice may seem familiar to some, and that’s because she’s worn versions of it in ivory and buttercup yellow to celebrate Princess Charlotte’s christening (2015), Trooping the colour in (2016), during her visit to Belgium (2017), as well as Harry and Meghan’s wedding earlier this year.

RAF Centenary9 Daily Mail/PA

The Duchess of Cambridge looked elegant in her pale blue Alexander McQueen coat dress. The knee-length, summery coat featured structured shoulders, wide fold-back lapels, a fitted waist, and a flared skirt.

RAF Centenary15 Daily Mail/BBC

Gianvito-Rossi-105-beige

net-a-porter.com

RAF Centenary16
WhatKateWore/Getty Images

She accessorized her chic coat dress with a matching, Sean Barrett hat, complete with elegant lace detailing and a white floral decoration. Kate also wore her Gianvito Rossi 105 suede pumps in praline (£510) and held a new clutch (not yet ID’ed).

RAF Centenary17 Daily Mail/Reuters

On her right lapel the Duchess wore a striking, over sized RAF Dacre brooch. The opulent diamond and ruby piece was reportedly a gift to Kate when she became an Honorary Air Commandant in 2015 when she took over the role from the Duke of Edinburgh.

RAF Centenary18
Mirror/UK Press

According to the Mirror, “The brooch used to be given to the best female cadet every year and it was the highest honor they could receive. However in 2015 the tradition was changed when it was decided women should be recognized in the same way as their male peers – with a sword.”

RAF Centenary19 Daily Mail/PA

RAF Centenary20
FromHerMajestysJewelVault

Continuing the theme for opulent accessories, the Duchess donned a pair of huge diamond drop earrings on loan from the Queen who first wore them in public at the State Opening of Parliament in 2012. They look to be a cluster of diamonds from which is suspended a line of four diamonds that swings within a frame of more diamonds.

RAF Centenary21 Daily Mail/Alamy Live News

This post wouldn’t be complete without a snap of Charlotte and George watching the fly over from Buckingham Palace.

Kate Looks Beautiful in Blue at This Years’ Trooping the Colour

Trooping the Colour 2018
Zimbio/Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Europe

The year, the Duchess of Cambridge, once again joined the Royal Family for their annual Trooping The Colour ceremony in London. The ceremony is the official celebration of the Queen’s 92nd birthday.

Trooping the Colour 20182 Daily Mail/Reuters

Trooping the Colour 201812
HH Cavalry Museum (@HCavMuseum) on Twitter

The televised military spectacle is held every year at Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, London.

Trooping the Colour 20183
Zimbio/Chris Jackson/Getty Images Europe

Trooping the Colour 20184
Daily Mail/Wire Image

Kate took her place in the the Queen’s carriage procession alongside the Duchess of Cornwall. Both smiled and waved to the crowds lining the route.

Trooping the Colour 20185
Zimbio/Chris Jackson/Getty Images Europe

Trooping the Colour 20186
Zimbio/Chris Jackson/Getty Images Europe

Later, the Duchess of Cambridge joined the rest of the royals on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch the traditional RAF fly-past.

Trooping the Colour 20187 Cosmopolitan/Getty Images

Trooping the Colour 20188 Daily Mail/AP

Kate looked flawless and showcased a new frock, in powder blue by one of her go to designers, Alexander McQueen. The pastel blue ensemble matched Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall’s.

Trooping the Colour 20189 Harper Bazaar/Getty Images

The McQueen dress featured three-quarter sleeves, gorgeous shoulder details, a square neckline and a fitted waistband.

Trooping the Colour 201810 Marie Claire/ Getty Images

Trooping the Colour 201811
Daily Mail/PA

She completed her sophisticated look with a matching statement fascinator by Juliet Botterill.

Kiki McDonough Blue Topaz and Diamond Kiki McDonough kiki.co.uk

Eden Blue Topaz and 18ct White Gold Flower Necklance Kiki McDonough

And now for my favorite part, Kate’s glittering jewels…she wore her Blue Topaz and Diamond Drop Earrings in White Gold (£2,916.67) and her Eden Blue Topaz and 18ct White Gold Flower Necklace (£1,166.67), both by Kiki McDonough.

Trooping the Colour 201815
BBC

In closing, here is a sweet shot of Princess Charlotte, Savannah Philips, Prince George, and Isla Phillips watching the fly over on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Kate Shops Her Closet for Harry & Meghan’s Wedding

Meghans Wedding Kate Dail Mail/PA

Yesterday, the Duchess of Cambridge attended the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. She arrived just ahead of the bride, with the adorable bridesmaids and pageboys, helping to usher and coax them into position.

Meghans Wedding Kate2 Daily Mail

During the ceremony, she took her seat alongside Prince Charles and Camilla, watching as Prince William took his place next to the groom.

Meghans Wedding Kate3 Daily Mail/PA

Meghans Wedding Kate4 Daily Mail/AFP/Getty Images

Charlotte Christening54 Charlotte’s Christening July 2015 (Photo credit: Daily Mail/Getty Images)

Kate shopped her closet and wore her ivory Alexander McQueen coat dress which was first seen at the christening of Princess Charlotte back in July 2015. The bespoke knee-length, designer piece featured structured shoulders, wide lapels, a fitted waist, and a flared skirt.

Meghans Wedding Kate5 Daily Mail/PA

Adding to her ensemble, the Duchess wore a new, oversized Philip Treacy hat (only ID’d as OC 458 by the designer) and a pair of Jimmy Choo ‘Romy 100’ patent leather pumps ($650).

Meghans Wedding Kate6
philiptreacy.co.uk

Jimmy Choo Romy 100 mytheresa.com

The Duchess of Cambridge added new pieces of jewelry to her wardrobe! She wore a new pair of Lemon Quartz Pear and Oval Drop Earrings from the Kiki McDonough Classics Collection (£3,750) and showed off a new ring on her right hand (could possibly be citrine or lemon quartz to match her earrings – pictures are not clear enough. I have messaged Kiki McDonough to see if it is one of their pieces). This may have been a gift from Prince William after the birth of their third child, Prince Louis.

Meghans Wedding Kate7 Daily Mail

Kiki McDonough Lemon Quartz Pear and Oval Drop Earrings kiki.co.uk

Citrine Ring Meghans Wedding
Twitter/The Cambridge Family

In closing, I leave you with these adorable snaps of Princess Charlotte.

Meghans Wedding Charlotte Daily Mail/Max Mumby

Meghans Wedding Charlotte2 Daily Mail/Getty Images

Update 5/21/2018

I have confirmed with Kiki McDonough that Kate was not wearing one of their baubles on her finger at the wedding.

What Kate Wore on FB has shared a collage of older pictures of the Duchess wearing the citrine ring on prior occasions. If the designer is ID’d, I will be sure to update, for now it is UFO.

There is now also discussion that Kate’s dress is, in fact, new. Thanks to MF Stylist Perth (@PerthsFashion on Twitter) we have some evidence to prove this.

Outfit worn to Meghan's wedding

Outfit worn to Meghan's wedding2

Outfit worn to Meghan's wedding3

Also, in the official photos released from The Royal Family on FB, Kate’s dress seems to have a yellowish tinge in comparison to Charlotte’s white dress.

Meghan Wedding Formal The Royal Family on FB/Alexi Lubomirski

We have also been alerted to the fact that Meghan gave six of her best friends and the Duchess of Cambridge a touching gift to remember her big day after they supported her through the nuptials.

Zofia Day Bracelet zofiaday.myshopify.com

The new Duchess of Sussex, commissioned California-based jeweler Lisette Polny, founder of Zofia Day, to make the bespoke Solid Gold Disc Bracelet as a memento for her loved ones.

Meghans Wedding Kate8 Daily Mail/AFP/Getty Images

Meghan herself approved the design for the delicate yellow gold trinket, appropriately titled The Kensington Bracelet, which is now available to buy for $450. The bracelet is also available in white and rose gold.

Additional details:

Solid Gold Disc Bracelet
14k
Disc 6.25mm diameter
Length 6.5” with adjustable rings to smaller size

Update 5/28/2018

I found some clearer pictures of Kate’s ring courtesy of Elle Magazine.

Citrine Ring Meghans Wedding3 Elle.com/Getty Images

Citrine Ring Meghans Wedding4
Elle.com/Getty Images

A Rare Fashion Misstep for The Duchess as she Hosts Place2Be Reception

Daily Mail/Reuters

Last night, Kate hosted the first annual Wellbeing in Schools Awards for her children’s mental health charity Place2Be at Kensington Palace in the State Apartments next to her private residence.

@QueenVicMirror on Twitter

Zimbio

She invited 170 school staff, volunteers, pupils and supporters for a reception and awards ceremony. Parents, grandparents and teachers were asked to nominate school leaders, staff, and children for the range of accolades.

Daily Mail/Reuters

Place2Be on FB

Daily Mail/Reuters

Place2Be on FB

The awards ceremony began at 7pm in the King’s Gallery where The Duchess of Cambridge presented the Child Champion Award to 11-year-old Bailey Dunne, from Highfield Community Primary School in Sunderland. He has overcome his own struggles and gone on to help others.

Place2Be on FB

Place2Be works with more than 90,000 children in 230 primary and secondary schools, often in some of the most deprived areas of the UK, helping them deal with issues such as bullying, bereavement and family breakdown.

Place2Be on FB

Hobbs.com

Kate mixed up black and navy, wearing a Hobbs Invitation Emilia black top with a corset bodice, sheer polka dot underlay and sleeves. The top is a purse friendly £89 – but before you race off to your nearest Hobbs it has long since sold out.

Style.com

The Duchess paired it with a midnight blue, knee-length silk skirt from designer Jenny Packham’s Autumn Winter 2013 collection.

Zimbio

Individually, the pieces are beautiful and items that I would wear, but paired together, they looked mismatched. The black, matt textured crepe of the blouse clashes with the sheen of the silk skirt.

Net-a-porter

Daily Mail/Reuters

Mulberry

The separates were tied together with her black Alexander McQueen belt with gold clasp and her black, suede ‘Bayswater’ clutch by Mulberry.

Zimbio

Cassandra Goad

Lyst

Completing her outfit, Kate accessorized with her gold Cassandra Goad Temple of Heaven earrings and some classic black ‘Aimee’ Suede ($675) Platform Pumps by Jimmy Choo.

Additional Pictures

@ClarenceHouse on Twitter

Daily Mail/Reuters

Additional Info on Kate’s Invitation Emilia Top

‘Sheer elegance sums up the stunning Emilia top from our Invitation range.

Black textured crepe forms a figure-flattering shape and the embroidered polka dot design lends this a little alluring appeal, making it perfect for that special occasion.
Length: 52.5cm

Sleeve: Three quarter sleeve

Color: Black

Fabric composition: 99% polyester 1% elastane

Trim:100% polyester mesh 100% polyester binding

Washing instructions: Dry clean

Style code: 6346′

Hobbs

July Updates!

July started out as a relatively quiet month with few updates, but as we blaze into August things are starting to pick up…

New Details on Kate’s McQueen Outfit in Adelaide

Daily Mail/Splash News

You may recall the pretty pink Alexander McQueen outfit that Kate wore during her New Zealand/Australia Tour earlier this year. It was thought that this was a two piece skirt suit and with thanks to Duchess Kate blog and WKW, we have some additional info.

mytheresa.com

We now know that it is, in fact, a wool and cashmere-blend dress. The frock is available from mytheresa.com for a steep $3,395.

mytheresa.com

Additional Info:

Alexander McQueen lends a vintage theme to this pretty dress.

Light pink fabric, reworked for a figure-sculpting silhouette, is given a feminine boost with a peplum waistband and draped detailing.

•Zipped back, hook fastening

•Partially lined
•90% Wool, 10% Cashmere
•Lining: 75% Polyamide, 25% Elastane
•Dry clean
•Designer color name: Powder

mytheresa.com

If pink isn’t your color, it’s also available in ‘poppy red’ at Lane Crawford (www.lanecrawford.com) for $3,235.

Lane Crawford

The Duchess’ Sneakers are ID’ed!

News.com.au/News Corp Australia

When the Duchess was photographed on her own time she was often seen wearing white sneakers with red soles, however they had not been ID’ed.

Amazon.com

Thanks to Tatiana’s Delights on FB, they have now been ID’ed! They are Asics ‘Oberon 8’ running shoes for women in pink/white/orange and still available at Amazon.com for $78.73.

Amazon.com

Photo Released to Commemorate Prince George’s First Birthday

Clarence House on Twitter/Press Association

Clarence House, on behalf of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, have released a new photo to commemorate Prince George’s 1st birthday.

@Em_Rickard on Twitter

The picture shows the prince enjoying a visit to the Sensational Butterflies exhibition at the Natural History Museum on July 02, 2014 in London.

John Stillwell/PA Wire/WGW

Two more pictures are due to be released tonight at 10.30 GMT. Stay tuned!

Petit Bateau

For those that are interested, the little prince wore the ‘Baby boy short cotton cloth overalls with Oshkosh stripes’ by Petit Bateau ($45.60 and currently sold out).

Petit Bateau

Prince George could also possibly be wearing the ‘Baby boy short-sleeved cotton bodysuit with polo shirt neck’ by Petit Bateau ($26.60).

HRH George Pieces on FB

Completing his ensemble, he wore his white socks with his soft ‘Alex Pre-Walkers’ in navy (£27.99).

William & Kate Enjoy the Beauty of Uluru

Daily Mail/Stephen Lock/i-Images

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge flew from Canberra on a three and a half hour flight to Uluru, touching down just after 1pm local time.

Zimbio

They were greeted by dignitaries including the Administrator of the Northern Territory, Sally Thomas, her husband Duncan McNeill, Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles and his wife Tamara, and traditional owners Daisy Walkabout and Vincent Nipper who are from one of the most respected Aboriginal families in the local Anangu community.

Daily Mail/AP

The Anangu are the traditional owners of the land that includes Uluru. They jointly manage the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park with Australia’s federal parks agency. Aborigines have looked after the land for 10,000 years but only won back the title to it in 1985.

Daily Mail/AP

Zimbio

Daily Mail/AFP/Getty Images

First on the agenda was a visit to the National Indigenous Training Academy which trains local people to work in the tourism industry. The couple presented students with graduation certificates. Each of the 100 people who graduate each year are guaranteed work at the Ayers Rock Resort or other hotel complexes.

Daily Mail/AFP/Getty Images

Zimbio

After the certificate presentation, the couple mingled with the crowd and then met Northern Territory school students at an afternoon tea.

Zimbio

lyst.com

Kate chose a bespoke, taupe cap-sleeved, double-crepe dress by Roksanda Ilincic, with a pale grey belt. It features a ruched neckline and front detail. The frock is similar to the off-the-rack Roksanda Ilincic ‘Lovina’ dress.

Getty

2011 (left) and 2012 (right)

We have seen Kate wear a similar Roksanda frock before – first on the royal tour in 2011 and then later at the UK’s Creative Industries Reception in July 2012.

LK Bennett

Zimbio

Daily Mail/Getty Images

Catherine Zoraida

Completing her outfit, the Duchess wore her LK Bennett nude sledges, her Alexander McQueen bespoke clutch, her Catherine Zoraida ‘Double Leaf’ earrings and her three-charm ‘Woodland’ necklace from Asprey London.

Daily Mail/Jeremy Piper

Daily Mail/Stephen Lock/i-Images

Michael Dunlea/Barcroft Media

Following afternoon tea, they visited the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre to learn about Uluru and neighboring Kata Tjuta, the major geological features in the national park, both of which are sacred sites to the indigenous people.

Telegraph/Getty

Daily Mail/Reuters

Daily Mail/Getty Images

Next, the Duke and Duchess visited Uluru itself. They walked up to it along one of the marked out routes for tourists that avoided the most sacred parts of the rock.

Daily Mail/Time Rooke/REX

Hobbs

July 2012

Getty Images

Kate made a quick change into her, previously seen 50s-inspired white and grey Hobbs ‘Check Wessex’ dress. She previously wore it to an event at Bacon’s College which she attended with both William and Harry in July 2012.

Zimbio

Pied a Terre

To complete her look, Kate added a white woven Hobbs ‘Neston’ belt and low beige Pied-a-Terre sling back wedges.

Daily Mail/PA

Tim Graham/Getty Images

On a side note, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were photographed in almost the identical spot to the one chosen by Prince Charles and Princess Diana 31 years earlier – when William was roughly the age his son George is now.

Additional Pictures

middletonroyalty, via hrhkatethegreat

Daily Mail/AFP/Getty Images

Zimbio

Daily Mail/AP

Daily Mail/James Whatling/Splash News

Zimbio

The Duchess Dazzles in Temperley as She Meets Sports Stars of the Future

Daily Mail/Weir Photos/Splash News

Last night, Kate met some of Britain’s most promising Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls at the SportsAid fundraising dinner in London.

Daily Mail/Andrew Parsons/i-Images

Zimbio

Daily Mail/AP

The glittering ball, sponsored by Tiffany & Co and Laurent-Perrier champagne, was held at swanky pop-up venue Supernova in Embankment Gardens.

Daily Mail/Tim Rooke/REX

Daily Mail/AP

The event raised money to help fund Britain’s next generation of elite athletes aiming to emulate the success of Team GB at London 2012.

Mirror/Philip Coburn

Zimbio

The Duchess was greeted by a group of athletes at the door before settling down for a three-course meal that included chicken and cranberry Wellington, slow-cooked shoulder of lamb, and a chocolate pudding.

Zimbio

After dinner, Kate presented the One-to-Watch Award for the most impressive up-and-coming young athlete to Amber Hill, 16, who already competes with the senior British shooting team and is ranked fifth in the world.

Daily Mail/James Whatling/Splash News

Daily Mail

Daily Mail/Stephen Lock/i-Images

The Duchess walked down the red carpet in a black, intricate laser-cut design cocktail dress with a nude under slip. The ‘Templeton’ dress is by Temperley London and from the designers 2012 autumn/winter collection. It retailed for £995 and was then marked down to £398. It sold out within minutes.

Lyst.com

The knee length frock was inspired by Renaissance stained glass and featured three quarter length sleeves and a black bodice with nipped in waist.

Additional Info:

Made of a taffeta style fabric

Plain body with a detailed neck yoke

Sleeve and skirt finished with a feminine scallop

Demure and slightly Audrey Hepburn in feel.

It has a nipped in waist

Slightly exaggerated shoulder

Full skirt

Available in solid black or with a contrast lining that accentuates the laser cut design

Fabric Composition: 100% Polyester Lining: 94% Silk, 6% Elastane

True to size.

Standard dress length, hem on knee

Daily Mail/WeirPhotos/Splash News

Splash News/WKW

Kate finished her look with black suede, five-inch ‘Cosmic’ pumps (£450) by Jimmy Choo, her red Alexander McQueen bow clutch (last seen at the Thames for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations), and her sparkling diamond bracelet.

Daily Mail/Reuters

Zimbio

The Duchess appeared to have had her hair darkened and trimmed in preparation for the event as well as an inch or so cut from the length.

Daily Mail/James Whatling/Splash News