This morning, the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge visited Ground Zero and paid their respects at the September 11 Memorial & Museum.
Kate laid white roses at one of the two reflecting pools, the state flower of New York.
The bouquet included a handwritten note from the royal couple.
Kate and William where then given a tour the museum including the In Memoriam room, where photographs of nearly all of the victims line the walls. Joe Daniels, the museums’s chief executive and president, said of the couple: “Just looking at the faces – of the old, the young, every race, every color – [William and Kate] were struck by the breadth and the scale of the loss we suffered that day.”
Following the sober tour of the September 11 Memorial, Prince William and Kate made a visit to a youth development program, The Door and watched a performance from CityKids Foundation, which supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
For this morning's engagements, Kate wore Mulberry’s Double Breasted Coat in cerise, which provided a lovely contrast to the bleak New York weather. The wool crepe coat features a double-breasted front with 6 horn buttons and flap front pockets. It retails for £1,500.
Kate recycled her accessories, wearing her Episode 'Angle' black suede pumps, Mulberry 'Bayswater' clutch and Cornelia James Imogen gloves.
The Duchess completed the look with her Kiki Classic Green Amethyst and Diamond Cushion Drop Earrings (£1,300).
SHOP KATE'S STYLE FOR LESS ...
The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge had a busy evening on their second night in New York. They first attended a reception for their charity, United for Wildlife, before heading to a NBA game at the Barclay Center to launch the partnership between the Royal Foundation, United for Wildlife, and the NBA.
The conservation reception was held at British Consul General’s residence on behalf of the Tusk Trust and United for Wildlife, where Prince William, Hillary Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton all spoke about fighting the illegal wildlife trade.
This evening, Kate wore a new tweed coat from American fashion brand Tory Burch. The 'Bettina' tweed coat ($595) is a cotton-blend jacket woven with bouclé, slubbed and metallic yarns. It has slit pockets and a hidden snap button placket. It is finished with a belted collar.
Her accessories included the Mulberry 'Bayswater' clutch (£495) in bespoke black suede leather and Stuart Weitzman 'Power' black suede pumps (US$335).
Kate paired the coat with black skinny jeans, most likely Topshop Maternity Moto Leigh jeans (£38). Kate has been spotted wearing the Topshop maternity Moto Leigh Jeans following her pregnancy with Prince George.
The style she wore tonight does not have the rolled cuff, but the new season Moto Leigh jeans shows them with an unrolled leg opening.
The Duchess added some bling to her ensemble with a pair of statement earrings, wearing the Patric Mavros Crocodile Stud Earrings Large (£160). Kate has worn earrings from this jeweler before who is an avid supporter of wildlife conservation, and hence a good fit for tonight's theme.
At the NBA game, the Duchess unbuttoned her coat to reveal a black high-neck sweater.
I'll leave you with some photos of Kate and William at tonight's NBA game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets.
09/12/2014 - UPDATE
Following today's meeting between Kate and J.Crew creative director Jenna Lyons at the GREAT reception, it was reported that Kate wore J. Crew denim to last night's Conservation reception and NBA game. Royal correspondent Rebecca English received confirmation from Ms. Lyons, quoting: “I was told she wore J. Crew jeans last night to the game. I was so excited. You couldn’t tell, but that’s okay. At least I know that fact.”
It’s possible Kate was wearing the maternity 'Toothpick' jeans, or the maternity 'Minnie' pants.
This morning, the Duchess of Cambridge visited the Northside Center for Child Development in Harlem on the first official engagement of her three-day trip to New York. The Center provides education and mental health services to 3,300 New York City children and families each year. Upon arrival, Her Royal Highness was greeted by the First Lady of New York, Chirlane McCray. Once inside, Kate attended a briefing with the directors of the center, wrapped Christmas presents with volunteers, and attended an art class with the children. Kate wore a new coat from British designer Goat Fashion. The mod style 'Washington' coat (£680) is made from heavy-weight black wool crepe. It has a classic swing coat shape and contrast nude tabs on the cuffs and back and decorative contrast enamel buttons. The Duchess accessorized with her Mulberry 'Bayswater' black suede clutch and wore her trusty Episode 'Angel' black suede pumps. She kept her jewellery subtle, wearing her Annoushka Pearl Drops and Kiki Diamond Hoop earrings and Cartier Ballon Bleu de Cartier Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch. The Duchess finished the look with her Cornelia James merino jersey wool gloves with the side bow. Tonight, Kate will join her husband, Prince William at a NBA basketball match in Brooklyn, where they will watch local team the Brooklyn Nets take on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Within an hour of arriving in New York, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge headed out to attend a private Royal Foundation reception dinner at the plush Manhattan apartment of English businessman Martin Sorrell. Kate stepped out from The Carlyle Hotel, where they are staying during their 3 day trip, wearing a new black fit and flare lace cocktail dress from Beulah London. The style is called 'Amara' and is from the Spring Summer 2015 collection. The dress has an embroidered organza which overlays a silk crepe de chine lining. It is currently available for pre-order and will set you back £650. Kate also donned a new pair of statement earrings. As yet, no details have emerged regarding the designer. 16/12/2014 UPDATE: The amazing Facebook community of My Small Obsessions have identified Kate's stunning earrings as the Kenneth Jay Lane Silvertone Crystal Earrings (€262). It was refreshing to see the Duchess wear jewellery from an American costume jewelry designer, and a fitting choice for her first night in New York. She accessorized with familiar pieces, carrying her Mulberry 'Bayswater' black suede clutch (£495) and wearing her Stuart Weistzman 'Power' pumps (US$335), also rendered in black suede. Tomorrow the Duke and Duchess will have separate agendas. Prince William will travel to Washington to meet US president Barack Obama, while Kate will visit a Harlem-based organisation for child development. They will reunited in the evening and attend a NBA basketball match in Brooklyn, where they will watch local team the Brooklyn Nets take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. SHOP KATE'S STYLE ...
The Duchess of Cambridge, Royal Patron of the children's mental health charity Place2Be, attended their first-ever Place2Be Wellbeing in Schools Awards tonight.
Place2Be is the leading UK provider of school-based mental health services, providing early therapeutic intervention to help children and young people cope with issues such as bullying, bereavement, domestic violence, family breakdown, neglect and trauma. The Duchess has supported the program since April 2013.
The reception was held at Kensington Palace and the Duchess had the opportunity to meet the young 20 awards finalists.
Her Royal Highness presented Bailey Dunne with the Child Champion award, which acknowledges a child's contribution to the mental health and emotional wellbeing of their peers within the school community.
This evening, Kate debuted a new ensemble, pairing a Hobbs London black illusion dot top with a Jenny Packham peacock blue silk full skirt.
She accessorized her new look with previously worn pieces:
The next engagement for the Duchess of Cambridge will be on November 25th where she will attend the EACH_Norfolk £10 million capital appeal launch for a new hospice in Norwich.
REPLIKATE THE LOOK FOR LESS ...
This afternoon, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended two events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France. The Royal couple attended a tea party in the town of Arromanches where they spent the afternoon chatting with WWII British veterans and listening to their emotional recollections of the landings. For today's events, the Duchess opted to repeat pieces she has previously worn. No doubt this was to ensure the focus stayed on the commemorations. Catherine wore her bespoke Alexander McQueen cornflower blue coat first seen on the New Zealand tour. Other familiar pieces included the 'Salsa' black straw hat by Sylvia Fletcher for Lock & co, her sapphire and diamond earrings, and Mulberry Bayswater black suede clutch. Kate did however wear a new pair of black suede heeled shoes. My Small Obsessions has identified them as the Stuart Weitzman 'Power' pumps. These pointed-toe court shoes feature a covered 3 ¾ inches thin stiletto heel and leather sole. SHOP THE LOOK FOR LESS ... Following the tea party, William and Kate visited the D-Day museum on Gold Beach (Arronmanches). 70 years ago, over 400 British troops lost their lives in the assault on Arronmanches. There was a ceremony to remember the brave men who paid the ultimate price. The Duke gave a heartfelt speech where he described the pivotal operation which began the downfall of the Nazis during the Second World War as a "great and terrible day." To read an historical account of the D-Day landings click here.
This morning the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge commenced the final leg of their royal tour Down Under in the nation's capital city of Canberra. First on the itinerary was a visit to the National Arboretum perched high on the hills overlooking Lake Burley Griffin. The arboretum was recently opened in the wake of the bushfires that ravaged the area over a decade ago. The royal couple planted an English Oak tree to make a contribution to the efforts of the arboretum. The Duchess wore a vivid grass green coat dress by Catherine Walker. This is a bespoke piece that fuses design elements of the Catherine Walker 'Evelyn' coatdress and the 'Lara' coat from the current collection. Both are fabricated from Venetian wool and it is evident that Kate combined the zip scuba collar of the 'Lara' with the full skirt of the 'Evelyn' including the hand pick stitching and belt. We got a glimpse of the Suzannah Green Budding Heart silk tea dress under her coat. Kate also wore this dress under her green Erdem coat when she recently visited the Waikato region of New Zealand. On her feet were the infamous LK Bennett 'Sledge' taupe patent pumps. Kate wore her emerald and diamond earrings and Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. The Duke and Duchess then attended a reception hosted by Prime Minister Tony Abbott in the Great Hall of Parliament House. Prince William made a short speech and told the audience of 600 how much he and his family had enjoyed their visit to Australia. He also made a comical remark about Prince George's affection for his plush toy wombat. Immediately following the reception, William and Kate headed to the National Portrait Gallery where they viewed some of its prized paintings, including one of Australian native, Princess Mary of Denmark. SHOP KATE'S 'ARBORETUM' STYLE FOR LESS ... On their final evening of the Royal Tour, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a cocktail reception at Government House hosted by the Governor General, Sir Peter Cosgrove. The royal couple mingled with 100 carefully selected guests from the arts, sport, business and charity. Kate looked elegant in a monochromatic outfit and with her hair in a loose chignon. She wore an ivory fitted peplum dress from American designer Lela Rose. This is the first occasion we have seen the Duchess wear this label. The linen-blend sheath dress is from the Spring 2012 collection. It features circular lace short sleeves and peplum waist. It originally retailed for US$1295. Kate contrasted the dress with her black suede Mulberry 'Bayswater' clutch and Jimmy Choo 'Cosmic' platform pumps. The Duchess completed the ensemble with her dazzling diamond earrings and bracelet set which she tends to favour for formal events. She also wore her Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. Tomorrow is the last day of the three-week royal tour. The Duke and Duchess will attend an ANZAC Day service at the Australian War Memorial before boarding a Royal Australian Air Force plane bound for London at around 2pm. SHOP REPLIKATE'S OF THE LELA ROSE DRESS ... You can read full details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
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. On Day 6 of the Royal Tour, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Waikato region of New Zealand, covering the towns of Hamilton and Cambridge. Upon arriving at Hamilton airport, the royal couple went separate ways. William visited the Pacific Aerospace Centre at the airport, while Kate attended a tea party at the Rainbow Place Children’s Hospice. Kate wore a bright grass-green coat by Erdem, featuring a zipped front and Peter Pan collar. The sleeves have matching zipped cuffs. The US$2500 coat is fabricated from 100% wool-crepe and is detailed with a tab waist and front pockets. We managed to get a glimpse of the dress Kate wore under the coat. It was a tea-length frock by London-based designer Suzannah, called the 'Budding Heart Silk Tea Dress'. The dress is tailor made in England and features a beautiful white budding heart print onto green Italian silk crepe de chine. The smocking detailing at the shoulder and under the bust add a wonderful vintage charm, with the bias line of the skirt skimming to below the knee. It is currently in stock and retails for £475. She accessorized with her black suede Episode 'Angel' pumps and her Mulberry 'Bayswater' clutch, also on black suede. Kate coordinated her green ensemble with her emerald and diamond drop earrings, first worn in November 2011 when she attended the opening of the Natural History Museum Treasures Gallery. We also see her wearing the Cartier Ballon Bleu watch. The royal couple reunited in the afternoon to officially open the Hamilton Avantidrome velodrome, a state-of-the-art cycling arena. The organisers presented them with a gift for Prince George, a bespoke Avanti Lil Ripper bike. You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
This evening, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a lavish state dinner hosted by the Governor General at Government House in Wellington. During the reception, William and Kate unveiled a new portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by New Zealand artist Nick Cuthell. The painting was commissioned for the New Zealand Portrait Gallery. For the reception, Kate wore a bespoke black crepe Jenny Packham gown with embellished crystal ferns on the shoulder, representing New Zealand's national emblem. Kate accessorised with her trusty black suede Jimmy Choo Cosmic Pumps which she favours for formal events. The shoes are available from Net-A-Porter for US$695. She carried her black suede Mulberry 'Bayswater' clutch, first seen at last year's Remembrance Sunday service. The clutch is no longer available in black suede, but is currently available in soft grain leather for £495. She completed her dazzling look with her art-deco inspired diamond earrings and bracelet set which were a wedding gift from her father-in-law, Prince Charles. SHOP KATE'S STATE RECEPTION STYLE ... You can read further details of today's events on the official website of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
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I have retired the "Bits and Bobs" section of the website and started a new segment title "Outfit Chronicle".
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December 2014
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