Duchess Kate wore J-Brand jeans & a hoodie, chilled out with some Beaver Scouts

As we previewed yesterday, Duchess Kate stepped out last night to support a (no joke) Beaver Scout Colony. That’s what it’s called!! I think the American equivalent would be a Girl Scout troop? Probably. Anyway, for the occasion, Kate went super-casual in black J-Brand jeans, boots and a UK Scouting hoodie! Is this the first time we’ve ever seen Kate in a hoodie since she became a duchess? Did she even wear hoodies before she got hitched?! Anyway, it’s an occasion-appropriate look, so I’m not complaining. The jeans don’t even look painted-on. You can see more photos here, and here’s some information about the outing:

The Duchess of Cambridge exchanged high end fashion for a hoodie as she helped out a Beaver Scout colony tonight. Kate, who is five months pregnant, wore a black UK Scouting hooded top with black skinny J Brand jeans and boots as she helped eager youngsters to ice a cake blindfold.

Kate worked as a volunteer for the Scout Association when she and Prince William lived in Anglesey, North Wales, and looked delighted to be helping children at the 23rd Poplar Beaver Scout Colony win a new badge. It promised to be a messy evening as the Duchess helped the Beavers, aged between five and eight, learn about life with disabilities.

As well as teaching the children to ice a cake, Kate cut up a chocolate bar with boxing gloves, learned the Scout Promise in sign language, and helped children put a wet suit on blindfolded, supported by two-times world para triathlon champion Steve Judge. In return, the children earned a disability awareness badge. The Duchess went to the meeting at Old Ford Primary School in Bow in the East End to highlight the Scout Association’s new campaign, Better Prepared, designed to bring Scouting to 200 of the most deprived parts of the country.

[From The Daily Mail]

Good for her for doing something with one of her patronages. I’d have to check the records, but I think last night’s appearance was either her fourth or fifth activity/event on behalf of the Scout Association in more than three years’ time. So… I mean, she cares about it, sort of. She cares about the Scouts about once every ten months or so. She rather famously went “camping” with some Scouts when she was knocked up with Prince George last year too. Although that “camping” excursion lasted just a few hours, and it came in the midst of criticism that she spends too much time shopping (sound familiar?).

Clarence House released a video of Kate helping out some blindfolded children last night.

More photos:

Photos courtesy of Getty, Clarence House’s Instagram & Twitter.

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92 Responses to “Duchess Kate wore J-Brand jeans & a hoodie, chilled out with some Beaver Scouts”

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  1. Dorothy#1 says:

    She looks way better in casual clothes.

  2. Someonestolemyname says:

    I really like it, I think she looks cute in these photos.
    Really engaged with the kids.
    She looks good in sporty gear.

    ..and no wedge shoes YAY! 🙂

    • HH says:

      Apparently her new fashion team told her to ditch the wedges. So next spring/summer, let’s see of that’s true. She’s been wearing longer hemlines and pulled-back hairstyles, so it’s clear someone’s advice (or scolding) worked. Kate had the two mistakes in Australia (plane and helicopter incidents) and she’s shaped up since. I have no reason to believe she finally got embarrassed enough to change now; it feels like someone put their foot down.

  3. EC says:

    Good for her. Seems like a fun, low stress evening which produced good PR and cute photos. Buuuut they would have been 1000% more adorable were Prince Harry involved!

  4. Sixer says:

    For you guys across the Pond:

    Beaver Scouts: 6-8 years old.
    Cub Scouts: 8-10 years old.
    Scouts: 10 years old and over.

    Scouts are unisex now but there are still Girl Guide groups. Their age groups are Rainbow, Brownie, and Guide.

    (PS: my username here is a scouting term. Although I didn’t choose it as such. I’m named after Six of Blossom and Six!)

    • LadyMTL says:

      We have the same thing here in Canada too, I was a Brownie and then a Girl Guide. 🙂 I like the fact that Kate has done a lot of work with them, they’re great.

      • Please no lipservice please! says:

        Kate did do hardly any work at all and she had done hardly any work for the scouts nor has she done any work with the scouts.
        Kate pretends to work for and with the scouts by appearing at some scouts’ event once a year or once every two years.
        Last scout pictures with Kate were around a campfire and the poor scouts had to sit there while the snow fell on them just because Waity Katie Dolittle needed some f**ki*g pics of herself pretending to do scout charity work stuff.
        No scouts with half their wits intact would voluntarily sit outside while its snowing or raining down on them. As a scout you learn to look for cover. That is what being a scout is about.

        Me = Former girl scout.

      • LNG says:

        You’re seriously saying that children would not voluntarily sit outside while its snowing?? So children haven’t been building snowmen and sledding and making snow angels etc etc etc since the beginning of time? I think its safe to say that most children LOVE being outside in the snow.

      • Please no lipservice please! says:

        @ LNG
        Not when the snow is FALLING on them. Go google the pictures.

      • FLORC says:

        I wasn’t a girl scout, but I was in a more hardcore style camping group under an umbrella of boyscouts insurance.
        We camped in the snow. Built snow quinzhees. It was freezing and the snow was falling, but fun! So, it does happen.

        That said I remember this incident. It was not scheduled for Kate and not for the scouts to spend overnight. It was given a big side eye to have been thrown together so Kate could bump up her numbers. Even though that scout event shouldn’t have contributed to her work numbers. That was a time when she was seen shopping and blowing off commitments. They needed good pr.

      • LNG says:

        Ok, I’m sorry but this comment made me snort. Not when the snow is FALLING on them? Like snow falling from the sky is this terribly tragic thing that no one wants to experience?? Snow falling makes it even better.

        I don’t know anything about the reasons the visit was set up, or any of the other speculation that is thrown about for every one of Kate’s events. I do know that she seems most comfortable and relaxed when hanging out with kids and I hope she does more events like this one in the future.

      • Please no lipservice please! says:

        Huuhhh huh
        The tough toughies are coming out.
        Of course you don’t sit outside when the snow is falling down on you. You get wet. And if you don’t move you get cold. And that is not something you do to children.

        In other words: b*llsh*t.

      • LNG says:

        OR, you wear a winter jacket and a hat – just like all the children involved in that visit were wearing.

      • Megan says:

        Please no lip … Ummm … ever been camping in the winter? You sure as hell sit by the fire, snow or no snow. Otherwise you are going to be miserably cold.

    • deezee says:

      In Canada it’s Sparks, Brownies, and Girl Guides. Technically boys can join but I think that’s exceptionally rare. The Scout system is unisex but mostly boys.

  5. MrsBPitt says:

    She hardly looks pregnant. Jessica Biel’s baby bump is bigger than Kate’s!

  6. scout says:

    There is a normal, relaxed Duchess for you! She does look better here rather than in stiff formal clothes. Have fun.

  7. Vava says:

    For once I have to say, well done, Duchess.

  8. Birdie says:

    Her makeup is awful lately. Especially in New York, I mean her eyeliner situation was always there, but now it has gotten worse.

    • Olenna says:

      When I saw these pics in the DM, I couldn’t believe how unretouched they were. Sadly, I think she is so self-conscious of her skin flaws, that she believes the heavy makeup conceals them. IMO, the makeup is so OTT that it almost wills my eyes to focus on them. It also exaggerates her facial expressions. As mentioned by other commenters, no one close to her seems to have the courage to tell her she needs to lighten up on the stuff. Her casual dress style here really suits her and it’s too bad she couldn’t have finished the look with a lighter, fresher makeup.

    • Please no lipservice please! says:

      All-black clothes to visit children? No red / colorful hoodie in the royal wardrobes?

      Using the scout’s scarf as a headband strikes me as not very polite. I guess she forgot to tie her hair together so if she wore the scarf around her neck nobody would see it as her hair would fall all over it.

      The light doesn’t do her any favours either. It is neon/artificial light and that is notoriously difficult for any makeup situation.
      I still don’t get why children don’t get natural light through windows in many British schools and youth clubs. It is so unhealthy. Instead it is all artificial light and saving money by building in no windows.

      Can somebody explain to me why her eyes look so deep sunk-in? She has no eyebags under her eyes but rather sunken in skin there! And my she has dark circles under her eyes: you can see them through the makeup. Was there plastic surgery involved?

      • kristina says:

        She wasn’t using it as a headband – they were putting scarves over their eyes to simulate blindness.

      • Feeshalori says:

        Yes, Kate wore the scarf as a blindfold for one of the exercises and just pushed it up on her head. She should have worn a ponytail for this occasion to keep her hair out of her face, and with the selection of red and green hoodies she opts again for black for another children’s visit. But she looks great in casual/sporty wear, and looks like she’s having fun with the kids and is very engaged with them.

      • FLORC says:

        Lipservice
        Dark circles or sunken eye looks aren’t uncommon. People naturally have them with no plastic surgery. Usually photoshop cleans up her eyes, but not as much here.
        It’s rumored she did have some small lipo to reduce the double bag under her eyes, but that’s not the cause of what you’re seeing. And when someone is tired the appearance can be even greater. My husband looks like he has black sunken eyes when really tired, but normal day to day.

      • ElleRob says:

        I have really dark circles naturally, and one thing I’ve learned is that I have to hit a middle ground with eye make up, especially liner. None washes me out, but an amount on the level of what Kate wears calls attention to them.

      • Please no lipservice please! says:

        @ Florc

        That is not normal. Especially not at Kate’s age. And your hubby looks similar sometimes? Perhaps showing a bit more concern for your husband would be appropriate.

      • bluhare says:

        Well, lipservice, that remark to FLORC was a bit over the top. People have eye bags and dark circles at any age. Ever heard of concealer? That’s what people use it for.

        FLORC, I know you take care of Mr. FLORC!! 🙂

      • FLORC says:

        Haha I do Bluhare! He’s well cared for.

        And lip service. Wow! I don’t think you understand what you’re talking about. There are creams over the counter on commericials for dark circles. That’s how common it is. It’s advertised with anti wrinkle creams and acne creams.

        Links won’t go, but before you respond I highly suggest you search dark circle around eyes or sunken eyes and read up on it. It’s common and can happen to anyone for no serious reason. There is nothing wrong with having dark circles. I look forward to hearing from you after you’ve educated yourself on this.

      • Hazel says:

        Kate had dark circles under her eyes as a kid. For some, it’s just their normal. As for the Scout outing–looked like it was fun for all (& educational). I was just wondering why Kate did that long walk by herself. I know she was photographed walking from her car into the venue, and we’re only seeing the middle part, but where are her assistants? Her RPOs? Couldn’t she have been accompanied by one of the Scouting people?

  9. Suze says:

    Great outing for her!

  10. Karen says:

    Per their twitter she was there just under an hour. I like the causal clothes: I’ll forgive jeggings in this case for playing with kids. But bare minimum is what kate and wills do. And they expect great press fawning for doing great works of charity for 1-2 hour apperances every few weeks. It’s hard to give a loud applause for barely being present.

    • The Original Mia says:

      I detect no lies. Bare minimum indeed.

    • Someonestolemyname says:

      She does look great here, sporty suits her here.

      The British press may be fawning with pictures, coverage, but brewing behind the scenes, the first flushes of major dislike or rather ,growing tired of these two and their attitudes, is going down in vatious press rooms.

  11. Talie says:

    That’s how her face looked in college and after… a little more round. She definitely puts work into keeping the weight off, but she looks fine this way.

  12. Anaya says:

    I like seeing Kate like this. She did great!

  13. bettyrose says:

    *checks closet to make sure my hoodie/jeans/boots still there* If we wore anything close to the same size I’d be worried she was stealing my look here.

  14. notasugarhere says:

    Bringing over from the other thread. Technically, this doesn’t count as a royal engagement and she is not the BRF scouting patron (either HM or Sophie is). Her scouting “work” is done on personal time. She’s so committed to her volunteer work with scouting, she hasn’t done anything with them in almost 2 years, right?

    • RobN says:

      Seriously, nobody cares if it “technically counts”. Regular people, and by that I mean normal people, don’t sit there with a list in their hand checking off what was done on private time versus royal time. She went out and had a good time with some little kids, she looked happy, they looked happy, the organization got some publicity, why the need to bring it down?

      • Please no lipservice please! says:

        Because she visits “her scouts” twice a year but expects the credits for visiting all the time.

      • RobN says:

        When has she claimed she visits “all the time”? I don’t remember her ever claiming that she is there constantly. She goes a couple of times a year. The whole point of going is to draw attention to a cause, so it wouldn’t make much sense to show up without the attending publicity. This need to constantly catch her out on something borders on the pathological.

      • LNG says:

        I agree with both of your comments RobN – based on the logic of all of those who constantly say that she doesn’t do enough (and I don’t disagree that she could be doing more events), shouldn’t she get extra credit for this? She is doing something nice, not a “gown” event, interacting with kids, and apparently not getting any official credit for it.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Yes, it does matter that this “doesn’t count” as an official royal engagement. When the year end tally is done, the “arriving at the airport on tour” counting as an official engagement are the kinds of things that are tallied for W&K. Their numbers end up looking better than Harry’s — because so much of the work that Harry does for things like WWTW and Invictus do not count in the court circular. Beatrice has more charity patronages than Kate Middleton — and Beatrice is not a working royal. All of B’s charity work is done on her own time, outside of her full-time job at Sony.

        Let’s say you have a part-time job, so part-time you only work a few hours a month. In exchange for that part-time job you are given a 57 room mansion (free), a 10 bedroom mansion (free), a $150,000/year clothing budget (free) and 3 dozen staff (paid by someone else) to take care of your child, cook, clean, and do all of your correspondence. When you are not “working” those few hours a month you manage to volunteer. One hour. Once every 20 months. That is the equivalent of what Middleton does for the scouts.

      • Megan says:

        Princess Beatrice is an intern at Sony who earns $30,000 a year, yet she turns up at many a charity gala in dresses that costs thousands of dollars. She recently accompanied her father on a state visit to Dubai (and wore a mini skirt to an official function – demonstrating absolutely no understanding of the culture). She is entirely funded by the British tax payer and yet there is no expectation of offical work in her part. You can get twisted up about the Cambridges, but William will soon be the crown prince whereas the Yorks will just be living off the largess of their father.

      • bluhare says:

        I agree with you as far as it goes, Megan. I don’t know why the York women are lauded as shining examples to us all. But they aren’t 2nd in line to the throne either. I think NAS’ point about the perks Kate gets vs. the time she puts in is a valid one. I wouldn’t necessarily throw Beatrice out there as someone to emulate; not that long ago she was getting crap about all the vacations she takes.

      • notasugarhere says:

        I don’t think B&E are great examples. I think they’re trying something they weren’t prepared to do. The news that they wouldn’t be working royals – I think that surprised them. Andrew may have led them astray or Charles may not have made his decision until recently. Andrew is still pushing against this decision, hence things like Dubai, but I doubt Charles will change his mind.

        Zara and Peter were raised to “support themselves” (while still living on their mother’s property). I think B&E were raised with the idea that they’d be like Edward and Sophie — full-time working royals. Now that “working royal” is off the table for them, they have to figure out new futures without guidance (Andrew and Sarah are lousy guides in this area). Like a lot of 20-somethings with trust funds, they’re slow at getting their act together, but I think they’re getting there.

        Megan, B&E aren’t funded by the taxpayers. They both have trust funds ($5 million or so).

    • The Original Mia says:

      Yep. I love how busy they’ve been this last month after being downright lazy for the previous 10.

      I wonder why they would publicize this visit knowing she isn’t the Scouts’ patron. They wouldn’t do this for publicity. Would they?

      • LNG says:

        Its clear that the scouts want publicity. They are trying to recruit new leaders that they desperately need. Kate gives them the publicity that they need. I’m going to try to post the video that the scouts released – if it doesn’t get through the filters, just google “Better prepared with the duchess” and there is a you tube video.

      • The Original Mia says:

        @LNG, I meant the Cambridges, but thanks for the video.

      • Megan says:

        Original – do you know when most people do their charitable giving? During the holidays, you know, the season of giving. If you are a charity that leverages a royal patronage for fundraising purposes, then putting the royals on display when people are most generous is just being smart.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Megan, isn’t it around 80% of donations come in during this winter holiday season? A lot is riding on those holiday donation campaigns.

      • LNG says:

        Original – I know that you meant the Cambridges. My point is that the Scouts don’t give a crap whether she is the official patron – they want the publicity. And Kate is going to give them a lot more of it than Sophie or even the Queen. So my answer to your question “I wonder why they would publicize this visit knowing she isn’t the Scouts’ patron” is that the scouts wanted them to.

        Kate is giving them publicity despite the fact that she apparently won’t get any “credit” with the numbers. If she was just doing this visit for publicity why wouldn’t she just arrange a visit with EACH so she could get both credit and publicity?

  15. vylette says:

    She does look spontaneous and involved. I think she works well with children cuz she does not need to make any intelligent conversations. She is looking good with a little weight on her face. I wish she had gone a little lighter on the liner though.

  16. MinnFinn says:

    I bet these new JCrew pants are her new uniform for casual appearances. Hopefully she has permanently retired the jean jeggings.

  17. Luciana says:

    She looks great but no pregnant at all. How long is she now? Six months?

  18. Pippa Mids says:

    Another selective end of year PR appearance.
    Notasug
    +1000

    Dpolittle only shows when she pregnant about the end of year with bump, them disappear for year/s. She will be off next Christtime on luzury vacation and maternity time off

    • Please no lipservice please! says:

      Well said!

      One could point out she wears all-black to visit children.
      Silly way to wear the scout’s scarf. Is she ridiculising the scouts or did she just forget to tie her hair together with proper hair jewelry?

      • FLORC says:

        Please
        No one looks all that great with a scarf tied around their eyes. The hair always suffers a bit.
        And she’s wearing black because that hoodie is from the scouts. Should she have asked for a different color?

      • Jen says:

        I’m a Cub Scout Leader and have been for 10 years. I wear the exact same hoodie and black trousers there is nothing wrong with it! Admittingly our shirts underneath are beige so it isn’t all black. Anyway any publicity for Scouts is fine by me….but I would prefer to meet Bear Grylls than Kate!

    • FLORC says:

      Not well said. She can and did do well here. Dressed appropriately and was engaged with the children.

      • ElleRob says:

        Agreed FLORC. I like seeing this Kate. I just wish we saw it more often. I honestly think if she did events like this more regularly, the majority of the bad PR would stop. She and Will don’t need a spin doctor: they just need to be more engaged with their future subjects, as it were.

  19. kibbles says:

    That American spin doctor they’ve just hired has been doing a pretty decent job so far.

    • Pippa Mids says:

      Wasn’t able to edit previous.

      With all respect – the future heir hires American celeb type PR for a regal traditional British Royal family – very curious, since P Will*W are not celebs (contrary to what they want) , they have a duty to HM UK GB and CW the people/taxpayers.

      • bluhare says:

        PR is PR, pippamids. Who cares whether he’s worked for celebrities or not? The Cambridges need a gravitas upgrade and if he can spearhead that he’ll earn his keep.

  20. Jenny says:

    I like how when she’s just chilling and hanging with kids there are only 30 comments. But god forbid she wears suede shoes!!!!!!! Then we must have 300 nasty comments about it.

    • Suze says:

      It’s early in the day yet.

      I have actually gotten more positive in my Kate comments lately. I’ve come to realize that she’s going to be who she is, so I take what I can get with her.

      I do think that this is a great outing for her. She does well with a sporty style and a more low key event. Heck, I’d do better with them, too, they’re probably more fun.

      • LNG says:

        I had the same thought about the comments, haha.

        I agree Suze that she does much better with these events – she’s definitely more natural when dealing with children, even more so since she had George. I’d love to see her do more of this.

    • RobN says:

      +1000.

    • Someonestolemyname says:

      She looked great and did well at this outing, she looked genuinely happy to be with the children.

  21. maddelina says:

    She really seems to shine when she’s interacting with children. I think she’s lovely!

    • FLORC says:

      She shines when being active and dressing more sporty. Although she appears less awkward around kids she’s not really there yet. Improving! But has room to improve more.

    • Kori says:

      I don’t think she’s bad with children personally. I do think she does well with sporty events overall. She played sports as a girl and young woman and I think it shows. (I was a bookish nerd in comparison and would look very awkward at some of the events she’s done well in and perhaps vice versa). I like the casual look on her and while I’m not a diehard opponent of The Wedges, I think she looks much better here without them.

  22. Lama Bean says:

    The person that wrote this tweet for Clarence House should be fired! And don’t try to tell me that’s just the way the British spells things.
    Ok, spelling loon is going away now.

  23. HoustonGrl says:

    I don’t know…to me these visits always seem so staged and inauthentic. Do people realize she spends less than an hour at these events?

    • ElleRob says:

      Well, it is all about the image and raising awareness, which they got, so I’d say they got exactly what they want.

    • The Original Mia says:

      No, they don’t realize that the kids were there for hours either before or after Kate’s visit. She swoops in for an hour and everyone is falling over themselves to praise even the tiniest bit of effort on her part. It’s ridiculous, but there’s a low standard for the Duchess.

      • RobN says:

        It’s the same amount of time that all royals spend at all events. People are constantly praising Anne and Sophie for how hard working they are, and how they do multiple events a day, but they aren’t doing multiple events if they’re spending 4 or 5 hours in each place. It’s shake some hands, have some pictures taken, and move on. It’s always been that way and they all do the same thing.

      • The Original Mia says:

        @RobN, no one said they were spending 4-5 hours at multiple events. They definitely spend more than 45-60 mins at one location and then go off to shop for 3 hours. Kate could and should do more. She doesn’t. There’s no defense.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Again, this wasn’t a royal engagement. If Kate were really a volunteer with scouts, she would be required to be there for the whole 3-4 hour meeting. Instead, she rushes in and rushes out.

    • Megan says:

      Houston – were you ever a scout? Meetings are an hour. Hence, the hour visit.

      • London Girl says:

        Come on. They’re aged between 6 and 8. It’s after school. It only takes an hour (My son is a Beaver Scout).

  24. Stephanie says:

    She looks really pretty in these pictures!

  25. phlyfiremama says:

    Wow, that headline for this article (*washes dirty mind, giggles some more)