Today William and Catherine spent the day in Scotland where they go by the titles of the Earl and Countess of Strathearn. It was their first joint engagement since returning from their tour of Australia and New Zealand last month. For today's visit, Kate wore a vibrant red stripe wool jacquard coat by Scottish-born designer Jonathan Saunders. The Jonathan Saunders 'Athena' coat is from his A/W 2013 collection and retailed for US$2555. The coat features a single breasted button front, single breast pocket, full-length sleeves, flap front pockets, and single vent at back. It is made from a blend of wool and mohair. The Palace revealed that the dress Kate wore under the coat is by Goat Fashion. Goat has a couple of sheath styles available in the Geranium hue; the 'Scarlett' dress and the 'Thea' dress. However, Goat (via Twitter) have suggested that the frock may be their 'Thea' dress. 'Thea' is a fitted wool crepe dress with front pockets and flared angle sleeve. It is fully lined with concealed centre back zip. It currently retails for £420. The Countess opted for neutral accessories, wearing her trusty LK Bennett 'Sledge' pumps in patent taupe which coordinated perfectly with her LK Bennett 'Avona' clutch. For jewellery, Kate wore her Kiki McDonough Citrine Drop earrings and also sported a new silver brooch with a Celtic knot design. According to the Palace, the brooch is a private wedding gift. My Small Obsessions has further details on the brooch. The Earl and Countess began the day with a visit to Strathearn Community Campus in Crieff where they met young carers, Scouts, Cadets and Brownies. They also met representatives of the Scottish Air Ambulance. They then visited the newly restored MacRosty Park and unveiled a plaque to mark the dedication of the park as a Field in Trust. On their third stop, the royal couple visited the Famous Grouse Distillery, the country's oldest distillery in Perthshire. They enjoyed a shot of whisky and bottled their own Glenturret malt. On their final stop, the Earl and Countess of Strathearn attended a village fete in Forteviot and meet community representatives. You can read more details about today's events on the official website of the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge. The next engagement for William and Catherine will be on Friday, 6th June where they will attend a veterans' tea party in the town of Arromanches and participate in the Commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Normandy Landings at Gold Beach.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge flew into Adelaide this morning looking refreshed from their overnight stay in Uluru. Catherine looked stunning in a blush pink ensemble from Alexander McQueen. The outfit appears to be separates featuring a knit peplum top with cropped sleeves and a matching skirt with fluid pleats. Below are similar ready-to-wear pieces from a previous seasonal collection by Alexander McQueen. A close-up of the top in sunlight shows fine woollen type fibres. This is most likely a bespoke outfit with the details yet to be confirmed. Today, we saw the return of Kate's favourite accessories combination; the 'Sledge' patent pumps and 'Natalie' straw clutch both from LK Bennett. Kate's jewellery included her Annoushka pearl drops with Kiki hoop earrings, Asprey 'Woodland' charm necklace and Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. SHOP KATE'S MCQUEEN STYLE FOR LESS ... Today's events were based in the working-class suburb of Elizabeth, named after Queen Elizabeth II, who visited the area in 1963. The Duke and Duchess spent time engaging with the disadvantaged youth in the area. Their first stop was a visit to the Northern Sound System, a community-run music workshop that gives young people the chance to rehearse, record and perform their own music. The royal couple then moved outside where Prince William added a blue sky to an aerosol art display. This was followed by a an exhibition of BMX and scooter stunts by the local teens. It was then on to the Playford Civic Centre where William and Kate unveiled a plaque to commemorate the naming of the new Prince George Plaza. This was followed by a short walkabout, and then a civic reception co-hosted by the Governor of South Australia and Acting Premier of South Australia. It was also attended by 200 guests, all under the age of 30. Later that afternoon, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge returned to their home base in Canberra to be reunited with baby Prince George. You can read full details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. 16th July 2014 - UPDATE It has emerged that Catherine's Alexander McQueen ensemble is a dress, not a separate skirt and top as we originally thought. It is from the Pre-Fall 2014 collection. The dress features a peplum waist with an asymmetrical hem. It is fabricated from a blend of 90% wool and 10% cashmere. It was recently made available for purchase from mytheresa.com for £ 1,985.
On Sunday evening, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and baby Prince George flew into Australia's capital Canberra. The Royal trio disembarked from the plane, all wearing shades of blue. Kate wore her Stella McCartney sheath dress which she first wore in July 2012 to an event at the National Portrait Gallery. The ultra-blue 'Ridley Stretch Cady' dress is form fitting and made from heavy jersey. It features pleats on the front and back. Kate wore her bespoke Alexander McQueen navy suede pumps. She also had on the same jewellery she wore to today's outing at Taronga Zoo. Kate's earrings are the Kiki McDonough Citrine Drop earrings, and her necklace is a piece by Asprey of London, from the jeweler’s Woodland collection. SHOP REPLIKATE'S OF THE STELLA MCCARTNEY DRESS ... Government House in the nation's Capital will be the home base for the young Royal family for the remainder of the tour.
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge commenced their Easter Sunday with a traditional church service at St. Andrews Cathedral in Sydney.
The coat silhouette is comparable to this rose Funnel Neck Coat from an earlier Alexander McQueen collection. The tailored coat has a funnel neck, concealed front fastening, structured shoulders, cropped sleeves, inset pockets to the sides, a rear vent and a straight hem. It is made from a acetate/rayon blend and originally retailed for about US$2,800.
The coat also shares a resemblance to Kate's aubergine wool coat, reportedly tailored by an independent dressmaker, whose identity remains unknown.
The Duchess colour coordinated her outfit with a new hat by Jane Taylor.
It is the ‘Lupin’ velour felt teardrop beret.
Kate styled her outfit with sand toned accessories. She carried her modified Alexander McQueen suede clutch, first seen in September 2012. The original clutch has a signature McQueen skull clasp, but Kate had hers customised with something a little more demure.
Kate wore her L.K. Bennett 'Harper' suede pumps, also first seen in 2012. This closed court shoe has a 4.5 inch heel with a concealed platform. It is currently only available in black suede for US$345
Seen for the first time this tour were her unidentified blue topaz and diamond earrings, initially worn during the Southeast Asia Royal Tour of 2012. She also had on her Mappin & Webb 'Fortune' necklace and Cartier Ballon Bleu watch.
Following the service, William and Catherine signed the First Fleet Bible, brought to Australia by the First Fleet Chaplain in 1788. They also signed the 1788 First Fleet Book of Common Prayer.
Over the past century, it has been signed by several members of the Royal Family, including the Queen in 1954 and William’s parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1983. The royal couple returned to their home base at Admiralty House for lunch before heading across Sydney Harbour for an afternoon at Taronga Zoo with Prince George. During the visit, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge officially opened The Prince George Bilby Exhibit at the zoo. The baby prince was fascinated by bilby George, who has been named after him in honour of his birth. The Duchess wore a primrose yellow eyelet frock, again from her 2012 wardrobe archive. Kate first wore it in Tuvalu during the Jubilee Tour of Southeast Asia. The dress was designed by the Duchess with the assistance of the Queen's tailors. It features a boat neckline, short flared sleeves and a self belted waistline, although the belt appears to have been removed for today’s wearing. As she did in 2012, Kate paired the broderie anglaise dress with her Stuart Weitzman 'Minx' tan wedges.
Kate wore her beloved Kiki McDonough Citrine Drop earrings.
The Duchess was spotted wearing a new gold charm necklace. The incredible investigative work of My Small Obsessions has identified it as a piece by Asprey of London, from the jeweler’s Woodland collection. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also viewed tree kangaroos and feed giraffes, before moving to the birds of prey and animal display. They also got to pat a koala with the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge as the backdrop. Tonight, the Cambridges leave Sydney for Canberra. Easter Monday will be a rest day for the couple and their entourage. You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. This morning, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge started their Good Friday with a visit to the Royal Easter Show at Sydney's Olympic Park. The Show is an annual event, set up to bring the bush to the city. It has a carnival atmosphere with agricultural competitions, animal experiences, fair rides and shopping. On this warm sunny Autumn day, Catherine wore a white broderie anglaise dress by Australian designer Zimmermann. The Roamer Day Dress is from the upcoming Summer Swim 2014 range and will retail for AU$495. According to the Herald Sun newspaper the frock was due to arrive instore worldwide this June but the release date has reportedly been moved forward in response to overwhelming demand. Australian actress Naomi Watts modeled the eyelet dress in Zimmermann’s upcoming campaign. SHOP REPLIKATES OF THE ZIMMERMANN ROAMER DAY DRESS ... For the first time on this Royal Tour, Kate wore her Stuart Weitzman tan 'Minx' cork wedges, initially worn by the Duchess during the Royal Tour of South East Asia in 2012. The wedges were reissued this season and retail for US$395. Kate colour coordinated her shoes with the LK Bennett 'Natalie' clutch which dates back to 2011. She again wore her Annoushka pearl drops with Kiki hoop earrings and Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. After a quick stop at Admiralty House to see Prince George the Royal couple made a visit to Bear Cottage, in the seaside suburb of Manly. It is the only children’s hospice in the state of New South Wales. The Duchess made a heartfelt speech paying tribute to the hospice and also participated in a music session with the children. Following their emotional hospice visit, William and Kate made a short trip to Manly beach where they met with junior lifesavers in an event to highlight Australia’s surf life-saving clubs. The Royal couple were presented with a custom-made surfboard for Prince George. You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Tomorrow, the Duke and Duchess travel to Brisbane, Queensland where they will visit the largest operational base of the Royal Australian Air Force at Amberley. That afternoon they will attend a reception in the city centre hosted by Queensland’s Governor and Premier. Royal Tour Day 10: Duchess, a ray of sunshine in Roksanda Ilincic for first day in Australia16/4/2014
This afternoon, the royal trio emerged from their flight from Wellington to commence the Australian leg of their royal tour in Sydney.
Kate wore a sunshine yellow sheath dress by London-based designer Roksanda Ilincic. No doubt the Duchess selected this colour to reflect the gold of Australia's national colours - green and gold. The dress is a modified version of the Roksanda Ilincic 'Ryedale' wool-crepe dress. The ready-to-wear dress from the spring/summer 2014 collection features bell sleeves and has an exposed back zipper. It currently retails for £941.
Kate's bespoke version has the block colours reversed, with the yellow being the dominant hue. The sleeves have also been fitted and the neckline modified from round to square.
Kate paired the dress with her favourite accessories from LK Bennett; the 'Sledge' pumps and 'Natalia' straw clutch.
LK Bennett 'Sledge' Taupe Patent Pumps (in stock)
LK Bennett 'Natalie' Straw Clutch (sold out)
Kate also donned three pieces of jewellery she has worn consistently throughout the tour; the Mappin & Webb 'Fortune' necklace, Cartier Ballon Bleu watch, and Annoushka pearl drops with Kiki hoop earrings.
Mappin & Webb 'Fortune' necklace (in stock)
Cartier Ballon Bleu watch (in stock)
Annoushka pearl drops with Kiki diamond hoop earrings (in stock)
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge headed straight to a reception at the iconic Opera House situated on the famous Sydney Harbour.
Following the reception, the royal couple greeted eager fans waiting around the perimeter of the Sydney Opera House. They concluded the day by taking a police escorted ferry across the beautiful Sydney Harbour to Admiralty House where they will be staying. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a sombre visit to Christchurch today. The city was impacted by a devastating 6.1 magnitude earthquake in February 2011, killing 185 people. The Royal Couple visited the CTV Building memorial site meeting families who sadly lost loved ones in the earthquake. In a nod to Canterbury's official colours, the region in which Christchurch is located, Kate wore her Luisa Spagnoli red dress suit, accented with black buttons and a black velour bow belt. Kate Middleton first wore this 2-piece suit when she and Price William visited St Andrews University on 25th February 2011. Incidentally that was only 3 days after the tragic earthquake. For the St Andrews visit, Kate elected to wear a turtleneck over the top of the dress. On that same day, Kate and William visited the New Zealand High Commission in London to sign the condolence book. For this occasion, Kate wore the red dress but swapped the matching peplum jacket for a black overcoat. Thanks to the brilliant detective work of Ayvee Elliot, she first noted on WhatKateWore, that the Duchess may have converted the dress into a skirt. This would account for the longer hemline, which many observed as the main difference between the suit she wore in 2011 and the one she wore today. Kate completed the outfit with familiar pieces; the black suede Episode 'Angel' pumps, black suede Mulberry 'Baywater' clutch, Annoushka pearl drops with Kiki hoop earrings, and the Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. SHOP KATE'S 'CANTERBURY' STYLE FOR LESS ... The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also officially opened the visitors centre of the Botanic Gardens. In the aftermath of the earthquake, the gardens became a place of reflection for the people of Christchurch. Following the opening, William & Kate visited the city's Latimer Square to endorse the upcoming Cricket World Cup. The pair participated in a light-hearted game of cricket with the local kids. Despite both being dressed in suits, the royal couple weren't afraid to show off their competitive side. You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
After an action packed week in New Zealand, the Duke and Duchess will spend tomorrow resting in private. On Wednesday, the royal couple will fly out of Wellington Airport and head to Sydney for their first Australian engagement at the Opera House. Today, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge landed in Dunedin for their Otago visit which started with a church service and ended with a white-knuckle jet-boat ride! Kate turned to New Zealand born designer Emilia Wickstead to outfit her for the Palm Sunday church service. The dress is the same style as the pink pleated Wickstead coat dress Kate wore twice in 2012. The double crepe wool frock is a bespoke piece, and this teal colour appears to be from Wickstead's Autumn/Winter 2013/14 collection. Kate donned a matching teal hat by Jane Taylor Millinery. It is a modified version of the 'Dolly' cocktail hat. The hat is made from velour felt and features a handcut felt feather and crystal detail. The Duchess contrasted the teal outfit with her Emmy 'Natasha' clutch and 'Valerie' pumps in carbon suede, last worn to the St Patrick's day parade in March this year. Kate again wore the diamond Silver Fern brooch, on loan from the Queen, and completed the outfit with her Kiki McDonough green amethyst drop earrings. SHOP KATE'S STYLE FOR LESS ... Following the church service, the Royal couple changed out of their Sunday-best and into some comfy casual clothes to participate in the Rippa Rugby tournament at Forsyth Barr stadium. Kate wore a chic waffle-knit sweater by Jonathan Saunders. The 'Deborah' jumper is a mix of blush, white and aqua. It has a solid white ribbed crewneck, cuffs and hem. It is made from 100% cotton and retailed for about US$555. Kate teamed the sweater with her navy Zara skinny jeans and Mint Velvet taupe suede plimsolls. Both styles have been discontinued. SHOP KATE'S 'RUGBY' STYLE FOR LESS ... Following the rugby match, the Duke and Duchess took a short flight to Queenstown and made another wardrobe change for their visit to Amisfield Winery. Kate repeated most of the pieces she wore on Day 5 of the tour in Auckland; Zara blazer; Zara skinny jeans and Stuart Weitzman Corkswoon wedges. However, she changed up the outfit with a preppy navy/white gingham shirt. We think the shirt is by GAP. The Duchess was spotted in GAP only a week before the royal tour commenced, so there's a good chance she picked this up during her shopping spree. We also got a glimpse of Kate's Mappin & Webb 'Fortune' necklace. GET KATE'S 'WINERY' STYLE FOR LESS ... After the tour of the winery, William and Kate had high-speed tour of the Shotover River aboard a jet boat. The 'Shotover Jet' is capable of speeds of 85 kps in just 10cm of water and can do numerous 360 degree turns. Kate changed back into her Mint Velvet plimsolls and swapped her blazer for her waterproof Musto BR1 Channel jacket. She also donned her folding Ray-Ban wayfarer sunglasses. You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
For the first time since the tour began, the sun came out to greet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they disembarked from the grey Royal New Zealand Air Force plane at Whenuapai Air Base near Auckland. Their first stop was a meet & greet with Royal New Zealand Air Force families at the military base. Kate wore a nautical inspired outfit, and added a touch of military chic with a new Zara navy blazer. The double-breasted jacket with goldtone buttons is from the current Zara collection and retails for US$139. Under the blazer, she wore a new Breton top from London based label ME+EM. The top features cobalt blue and white stripes, a scoop neckline, ¾ length sleeves and ruched detailing to the bottom hem. It retails for £48. Her ensemble included some familiar pieces; the Zara skinny jeans and Stuart Weitzman Corkswoon wedges in navy suede. Kate wore her Kiki Grace earrings and Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. Shortly after, William & Kate made their way to Waitemata Harbour where they raced each other in Emirates Team New Zealand America's Cup yachts. Kate made a quick wardrobe change, exchanging the Zara blazer for a sailing jacket, and her 5" wedges for her comfy Sebago 'Bala' deck shoes. The sailing jackets worn by the Duke & Duchess are by Musto. It is the BR1 Channel jacket described by the manufacturer as "ideal for coastal sailors who want a high level of protection from the elements but are conscious of weight and bulk of the garment." The company was established by Keith Musto, a British Olympic sailor, and in 2010 the company was granted two Royal Warrants from The Queen and The Duke of Edinburg. There was some healthy rivalry between the royal couple, but the Duchess triumphed! I initially thought Kate wore a classic pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers in tortious, however some astute observers on WhatKateWore, noted they could be the foldable Ray-Ban Wayfarers. The eagle-eyes of Trisha Snyder spotted this photo of Kate wearing a braided brown belt. One possibility is the Mulberry Unisex Plaited belt. To wrap up their fifth day, the royal couple had an impromptu meet and greet with crowds after travelling on a Sealegs craft, an amphibious boat, to Westpark Marina in Auckland. GET KATE'S NAUTICAL LOOK FOR LESS ... You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The royal motorcade was spotted leaving Wellington on Monday after the traditional welcome ceremony at Government House. It is believed the Cambridge's retreated to the Wharekauhau Country Estate Lodge to relax and rejuvenate after their long-haul flight from London. The sprawling luxury estate resort has a grand lodge and 15 guest cottages on the private grounds with plenty of privacy for the royal family to enjoy. Day 2 of the tour was a rest day for the royals and their entourage. No doubt they made the most of this day to regroup and gear up for the next three weeks. On Day 3, the Royal trio returned to Government House in Wellington to meet with the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, an organization that provides health care to children and new families. Their Royal Highnesses arrived ahead of schedule, and Kate was spotted wearing the same grey MaxMara wrap dress she wore when landing in Sydney earlier this week. After a quick wardrobe change, Kate emerged wearing a black and white patterned knit dress named 'Paulina' by American designer Tory Burch. The Tory Burch 'Paulina' dress is from her Resort 2014 collection. The dress has an alternating white open-knit and solid black knit pattern. The fit-and-flare silhouette is defined by a cinched-in waist and a pleated skirt. The short sleeve cuffs and hem are finished with tactile fringing. At time of posting, the dress is still in stock in limited sizes, retailing for about US$450. Today's event marked Prince George's first official royal engagement, which included meeting with a preselected group of families for some baby playtime. The heir to the British crown was just a regular little bub this afternoon as he played with ten other 8-month-old babies in the grand Blundell room of Government house. This is the only event that George is scheduled to attend during his time in New Zealand and Australia. Kate wore a new pair of black suede court shoes. The shoes were identified as the Jimmy Choo 'Aimee'. The Italian made pumps have a black suede upper and feature an almond toe with a platform. Kate's kept her jewellery to a minimum today, wearing her Mappin & Webb Fortune necklace, Annoushka pearl drops with Kiki hoop earrings and Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge. Prince George will retire from the spotlight for the remainder of the New Zealand leg of the tour, while his parents continue with their jam packed itinerary. Tomorrow, the Duke and Duchess will travel to Blenheim to attend a wreath laying ceremony, followed by a visit to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Center where film director Sir Peter Jackson will give the royals a personal tour of his private plane collection. Later that evening (local time), they will head back to Wellington to attend a State Reception at Government House hosted by the Governor General. |
I have retired the "Bits and Bobs" section of the website and started a new segment title "Outfit Chronicle".
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