Duchess Kate wears Catherine Walker for Canadian goodbye: lovely or meh?

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Here are the photos from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s final moments in Canada, following their successful week-long Canadian tour. Prince William, Kate, George and Charlotte said their goodbyes and did their final waves at Victoria Harbour Airport. George and Charlotte even waved to the crowd after being prompted by their parents.

For the final viewing, Kate wore this new Catherine Walker coat in what I think it a pale petal pink, although it reads as off-white in some photos. She paired the coat with a pair of her favorite LK Bennett nude pumps and the Queen’s diamond maple-leaf brooch. I’m fine with the coat – it’s a really pretty coat in general, and I’m happy that there aren’t 10 million buttons on it. I also like that fact that it isn’t a full-skirted coatdress. Kate’s been experimenting with straight skirts and a more tailored, less-flouncy hem for this tour, and I approve. Kate’s also broken the bank for this tour – her week-long tour wardrobe was her most expensive ever, costing £61,852 by the Daily Mail’s estimates, although I bet it’s more than that considering all of the tailoring and customization she has done on those pieces.

As they were saying goodbye, a young kid – maybe 9 or 10 years old? – brought flowers to Kate and then leaned down to give Prince George a high-five. This kid did not get the memo about George and high-fives: Prince George did not come to Canada to “high-five” like a peasant.

Enjoy this, Canada! Because Will and Kate have been telling their people that this will likely be the last time for a while that they bring the kids on tour. They intended this tour to be a “one-off,” a one-time thing, because they want their kids to “enjoy a normal childhood.” Can’t the kids do both? Enjoy a normal childhood and go on a few tours a year? It’s not the kids are adverse to traveling, nor is that Will and Kate are adverse to traveling with their kids, because you know the kids will be going on ski holidays and trips to Mustique. But that’s “normal,” right?

And finally, the Daily Mail has this sugary piece about how William has come into his own as a father, considering he’s “an awkward and rather wooden figure when dealing with children.” The DM basically says that we shouldn’t criticize Normal Bill the Normal Husband and Normal Father because look, his kids call him “dada.” The DM also says William now wants a third child and it will probably happen “sooner rather than later.”

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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101 Responses to “Duchess Kate wears Catherine Walker for Canadian goodbye: lovely or meh?”

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  1. AlleyCat says:

    I think she looks really pretty in that coat. Also, George is goals.

  2. LittleTeaPot says:

    Little Charlotte is the real Star!! She looks just like her Great Grandmother, the Queen.

    • Lahdidahbaby says:

      She does!

    • Kate says:

      Thank you! Charlotte seems like an absolute doll!

    • Donna says:

      I have been thinking the same seeing the photos of Princess Charlotte this tour, she looks just like the Queen! ( And I see a lot of Prince Harry in Prince George! >in looks and actions lol)

    • Nikki says:

      I agree!!! And I must say. I LOVE her burgundy shoes matching her sweater: cute attack!

      • Original T.C. says:

        Charlotte really stole the show on this trip! Never have seen her so animated before in Kate’s boring family pictures.

        Nice to see they finally got some sense and put some stockings on the poor baby’s legs. Guess one day George will be allowed to wear some pants, perhaps when he is 16. Sorry George, no warm legs for you!

    • Coco says:

      First thing I thought when looking at these pics is that the Queen genes are strong in Charlotte!

      • betsyh says:

        Now I think she looks like Kate’s mom and George like Kate’s dad.

      • jane says:

        the tour was a waste of money. Kate likes coatdresses because they hide her boney skeletal emaciated body and here face looked horrendous. Charlotte is a clone of Carole. very unattractive. poor George in those stupid shorts!!!

    • Esmom says:

      Agreed on her resemblance to the queen. She is a an absolute doll. George is pretty darn cute, too.

    • notasugarhere says:

      I only see Carole and Pippa, particularly the eyes. HM’s face shape is completely different, especially the jaw and chin. If you look at baby pictures of Kate and James Middleton, you’ll see C looks like the Middleton side of the family.

    • Suzanne says:

      I agree…just like the Queen.

  3. Betti says:

    Colour co-ordinating the children – boring! The kids are more popular than their entourage aka parents. As for the clothes budget – not surprised as how big it is just at how much was paid for the bland and invisible jewellery. The cost goes up for every tour – even thou this one was shorter than the India/Bhutan trip.

    As for the third child – she’ll be pregnant for Pippa’s wedding.

  4. Nicole says:

    Kate looks good. Charlotte is a doll. George continues to crack me up.

    • Anett says:

      I second that. Though it is sad to see how limited contact George has in his everyday life. High five is not a big deal for a kid right? He rather turns away. I wonder if this overprotection of the kids and their private life where will lead.

      • OrigialTessa says:

        Some kids just get shy around complete strangers… especially at his age.

      • Aoife says:

        Also high-fiving is more of an American thing, maybe he’s just not used to it.

      • L84Tea says:

        My 3 year old son who is normally a ham and a half around us buries his face into my side when around strangers right now. The shyness is completely normal for this age.

      • aaa says:

        Excerpts from a BBCAmerica.com article entitled, 5 Ways Americans Celebrate That British People Find Awkward, http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2014/01/5-ways-americans-celebrate-british-people-find-awkward:

        Americans are a fairly friendly bunch, but they have some celebrations that Brits find just too public and OTT, especially when they’re initiated by strangers and your drawing back like a startled deer makes you look like a snob/killjoy/buzz kill.

        Despite high fives spreading across the world, as a Brit, it’s desperately hard not to leave someone “hanging” when they raise their palm to the heavens in a kind of disco gesture, then freeze it in place, an expectant look on their face and shouting “woooooooooo!” or, if you’re still not getting it, issuing the near-command “High Five!”

  5. Chaine says:

    Very bland. I could not wear that color for more than two minutes without getting some a big smudge on it. Bet once she gets on the plane it goes immediately into the wardrobe in favor of jeggings and a stripey top.

  6. Kitty says:

    Of she needs to stop using Catherine Walker. That will always be for Diana. Also, it’s true the kids are more popular than the parents. I can’t believe she spent $80,000 on this tour. She didn’t even look great half of the time.

    • bluhare says:

      To be fair that number includes everything she wore, and a couple were repeats (like the boots, jeans and green coat) and they counted in jewellery that she also owned prior. And the tanzanite earrings and Asprey necklace were a huge part of that total, so I think you can drop the new clothes cost in half. Of course, $40K for a week is still an eye watering number!!

      • msthang says:

        That doesn’t include the clothes she didn’t wear, remember she brought like 50 outfits, but this is pure speculation, but probably well over a couple hundred thousand dollars!! EEK!!

      • AmyLue says:

        Bluhare,

        I thought your point was well made. I did a bit of mental math and I actually think she brought 40,000 pounds of clothes/jewelry that she had before the trip. Of course 20,000 pounds is still a large sum but I think we should be fair.

      • bluhare says:

        Thank you, AmyLue. msthang has a point too. There were probably more clothes we didn’t see, but I do think the £62K the Daily Mail is reporting is too high and your number is probably closer to it. That Asprey necklace and tanzanite earrings were about £30K, maybe more, of the total they reported. And I have such a hard time believing that small Asprey cost £26K!!! I’ve got something very similar that was way less than a tenth of that!

    • Sharon Lea says:

      I can’t believe her wardrobe cost that much too. Especially with that super plain white jacket and shirt, with black leggings and 70s shoes – it seemed thrown together, like a normal working woman looking in her closet to go to work, not a planned trip. And then that sweater over black leggings and brown cowboy boots?

      • MinnFinn says:

        Thrown together as if looking in the closet for work… That is a perfect description. I didn’t mind the brown cowboy boots with black leggings. But I did mind the cowboy boots because they were so costumey-cliche’.

    • MinnFinn says:

      Daily Mail shows how to replicate her tour wardrobe for a fraction of the original prices. They did a good job. They had a stuffable jacket from ASOS as a stand-in for Kate’s safari jacket that I liked a lot. I’ve never shopped ASOS but I will be checking them out soon.

      http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3813195/How-dress-like-Kate-fraction-price.html

      • Betti says:

        Be careful of the quality of ASOS own brand, the material can be thin and unflattering but i guess you get what you pay for sometimes. I used to shop with them years ago but a lot of the better brands have deserted them, too much competition from other outlets and the high st stores.

      • MinnFinn says:

        Thanks Betti.

  7. lala says:

    since Kate became mother, and especially after the second child was born, she kind of got off the leash when it comes to her wardrobe. I mean by saying it less repeats and less price – tag – appropriate clothes. By now this was the most expensive trip when it comes to the budget for Kate´s outfits. She has dozens of red coats in her wardrobe jet she brought another one for the trip to Canada, and it is just one example out of many. No wonder it is all about what she wears and not what she does or thinks or says. The latter happens way to seldom, we hardly hear her speaking.

    • Kitty says:

      That’s my problem with her. Why isn’t she a great humanitarian like Diana was and influence good in the world?

      • lala says:

        For me Kate´s interests are limited by her own appearance, by Will and satisfying him and his needs, and of course her children. She has no other interests behind those and it actually explains why she is no humanitarian.

      • msthang says:

        Kitty, there in lies the rub, these 2 have been so spoiled, they cannot see past their own noses.

      • Kitty says:

        @lala and @msthang, well isn’t that sad. Why can’t anyone see through them? Also Kate doesn’t want to be a humanitarian? Isn’t that sad?

      • Sarah says:

        She’s never worked and I doubt she wants to. Kids are a great excuse for that. If she wants a third, she needs to gain some weight. Ok Coatdress. She’s just spectacularly unaccomplished and vacuous. What a shame.

      • Mae says:

        Why would she be like Diana? They’re not even related. Now why isn’t William a humanitarian like Diana is a good question. He was raised to the job, wasn’t he? Kate wasn’t, so she takes her cues from William, and he doesn’t seem all that interested in the job.

  8. Abby says:

    super cute outfits, all. I love that coat dress. Charlotte really is the mini-Queen!

  9. sushi says:

    Need new glasses. I can not see even tiny bit of resemblance between Charlotte and the Queen.

    • JustBitchy says:

      Sushi, do you think she looks like Momma M or Pips? I see HM, but it could be the round face of Momma M/Pips that we r seeing. IMO Georgie looks like Michael M

    • L84Tea says:

      I never realized the resemblance till this trip. It’s the eyes! When I compared their faces side by side, I was floored by how similar they look.

    • notasugarhere says:

      Sushi, me either. She’s Carole and Pippa. The Queen has a strong jaw and chin which are completely different from W&K’s daughter.

  10. LAK says:

    That child is the perfect blend of Carole Middleton and Lady Sarah Chatto, Princess Margaret’s daughter.

  11. vava says:

    In my view, the children where the stars of this vacation. They seemed to enjoy it, too. I think their parents are making a mistake hiding them away in the country.

  12. ShinyGrenade says:

    As a canadian, I would really like to know how much that silly visit cost us.

    • Caitlin says:

      Ditto especially when you read about some of the ridiculous and excessive “requirements” (ahem, demands) they had

    • Linda says:

      Our dimwitted PM will try to hide the cost until someone manages to get a hold of what it cost and make it public. I really don’t know why we have to pay for these Doolittles trip. We can’t afford them or our so called PM or the liberals.

    • Mae says:

      Ya, how many Canadians are still into the monarchy, is what I’m wondering. Getting a different royal (like the preferred Harry) wouldn’t change my opinion.

  13. Seraphina says:

    She looks boring as always. Rarely does she dazzle or surprise. And I’m over the matchey matchey with them.

  14. Lainey says:

    It’s a nice coat- one which she already has in blue by McQueen. The amount spent on her clothes is obscene and it’s probably a good bit more seeing as nearly everything is custom.

  15. MostlyMegan says:

    Love her coat! She really did so well, fashion wise on this tour. A bit boring, okay – but still elegant and pretty. She isn’t a fashion plate, as she refuses to take any risks, so I think we might do well to stop expecting that of her.

  16. Cool Character says:

    Kate fashion was bad. She just picked random items.

    Also posters mentioned this before: she really hides behind the kids to not interact with people.

    What will she do when they grow up?

  17. NOLA says:

    So I have a few observations.
    1) I finally see what so many of you have been commenting – Charlotte is the Queen’s mini-me!!

    2. I coordinate my kids’ clothes for special occasions and for things like pictures. So that doesn’t bother me at all. It makes sense in this instance because all eyes are on them and it solidifies a strong family image.

    3. The coatdress is fine, but boring. I don’t understand coatdresses. (I didn’t know coatdresses were a thing until Kate started wearing them.) Are they just fancy coats? Or are you supposed to wear it all day, even inside? She comes across as so stuffy that I have a hard time picturing her walking into sandringham and whipping off the coat dress to whatever monstrosity she’s wearing underneath it. But it seems so uncomfortable to sit in a dress and a coatdress all day long too.

    • Cookiejar says:

      MY mom also did matching outfits or color variants of the same outfit for me and my sis. I rebelled against it as I grew up 😛

    • Carrie says:

      I have the same questions regarding coat dresses, and am anxiously awaiting an explanation! 🙂

      • NOLA says:

        Me too, @carrie! I must know. I’ve been dying to know this for months. I mean – they’re just coats, right? Surely you don’t sit around in a wool coat all darn day long. That sounds so itchy and uncomfortable.

  18. tracking says:

    Her stylist did extremely well for this tour. The clothes were streamlined and elegant, and her sausage curls and heavy liner were kept under control. Well done!

  19. Cerys says:

    It is a nice but bland coat. It is much like all her others and is nothing special. She has looked nice during this tour and has had no wardrobe malfunctions so I suppose that makes it a success. To be honest, I don’t see the point in them having gone on this tour at all. They just seemed to go round the tourist spots and did very little to publicise worthy causes. Very much like they always do.
    The children are adorable. Poor little Charlotte keeps getting likened to the Queen. I can’t see it myself. i wouldn’t wish the Windsor genes on anyone so I hope she takes after the Middletons.
    This is supposed to be the children’s last tour. Maybe because they eclipsed their dull parents? However I imagine if the Dolittles need more good PR then the children will be paraded abroad again sometime in the future.

  20. mellie says:

    I thought all her outfits were great, and considering the heat she has taken for her past wardrobe choices, it’s probably time that she (or whoever foots the bill) started spending some considerable money on quality clothing. The other royals do so. I thought she looked great this entire trip. I loved everything and thought her hair was very pretty. As for not taking trips with the kids, that is ridiculous. What does it hurt to take a trip once a year with the kids? Honestly, it will get them accustomed to being in the public eye…harmless in my opinion. It doesn’t have to be a weekly event, but once a year…c’mon. If you’re in that position, that’s just the way it is, you wanted that life so live it!

  21. Zardi123 says:

    This tour was anything but a Royal Tour its been a glamourised photo shoot of designer wear costing £62,000 pounds for 8 days… Actually its so disgusting at how this holiday farce with children staying at government house for 8 days whilst dull and fuller trip around tourist spots enjoying tbemselves ..
    This is never happened on other Royal Tours that Prince Charles and Camilla do they engage with people and do speeches at different events with dignitaries. . When or in fact where did Waity do a speech on this tour … She can only converse in baby talk with children and to ignore dignitaries waiting in a line when they arrived in Canada was Disgusting and Disgraceful. ..
    these two drones are an embarrassment to our country.. Princess Charlotte is a real cutie and acts differently to George who acts very spoilt and wants all the attention on him
    We are disgusted with this expensive holiday tour which has cerysinly shown how they are both over indulged and just want the luxury life without doing Royal Etiquette correctly

    • Kitty says:

      I am telling you that Harry will be the saviour of the monarchy after The Queen passes.

    • Deedee says:

      When Charles and Cam landed in our city, they did something like six stops in one day. They attended a morning event together and then split up so they could cover more ground. It amazes me how little the Lazy Duo do in a day and then get fawned over.

      • notasugarhere says:

        Yes, Charles and Camilla’s 2014 Canada trip totaled 41 engagements in four days.

    • LaMaitresse says:

      Agree 100%! I love hosting Prince Charles and Camilla, Harry, have no problem with the Wessex’s but these two and Waity’s ridiculous spending (DM’s estimates are low since many pieces are bespoke) are beyond the pale. If they actually did something of merit and sincerity, I might change my mind.

  22. Mel M says:

    Has anyone seen the video Kensington Palace posted in twitter? It is the creepiest weirdest thing. Not sure how anyone thought it was a good idea or who put it together.

    • MinnFinn says:

      Saw it and it is so incongruous with the typical BP PR that I actually wondered if KP Twitter had been hacked.

    • Hazel says:

      Yes! I commented on it below. Didn’t occur to me it the account might have been hacked. Maybe that’s it, because it’s so bizarre.

  23. Millarca says:

    William wants a third child? So it will happen? Has anyone thought to ask what his wife thinks about that? Do they care, or is she just his broodmare? Actually I think the answer to that is…yes!

  24. MinnFinn says:

    Announcing kids won’t be on tour for a long time is reverse psychology. Set that false expectation, then double the positive PR after they announce kids will come along afterall. Setting that expectation also allows them to categorically refuse to bring kids on tours but also occasionally bring them according to the Cambridge capricious whim.

  25. mazzie says:

    The only good thing about this was the First Nations chief who refused to meet with them. I hope it embarrassed the government. A little, “Our record with the First Nations people continues to be terrible.” (But hey, the British weren’t great either.)

  26. manda says:

    I don’t understand wearing a heavy coat while your child is in shorts

    • kaiko says:

      this exactly!! their kingdom for a pair of pants for that child! sheesh, we get it, you’re ‘posh’ and he’s a ‘prince’, now put some trousers on your kid!

  27. NeoCleo says:

    I really like photos of Kate with her children. She clearly takes so much pleasure in being with them.

  28. Timbuktu says:

    Does George own any pants? I think that shorts and knee-highs is an adorable, very vintage look, but NOT FOR EVERY APPEARANCE! Come on, they are in Canada in October, not in Bermuda in July. Kate’s wearing a freaking coat, Will is wearing a long-sleeved shirt and a suit, Charlotte has tights and a cardigan on, so it’s clearly not that hot there. Then why is George still in shorts?

  29. Hazel says:

    I thought I’d see a piece on that creepy ‘thank you’ video put out by KP. It’s a slow-mo of the two kids at the party set to rather lugubrious music. Very bizarre.

  30. Kori says:

    Video showed George doing a two handed wave that went on and on. It was really cute–he was definitely into it and didn’t stop until they were literally walking to the plane. And, once out of the car, Charlotte was waving from her mother’s arm.

  31. Starlight says:

    George seems to be very unspontaneous as kids go where as Charlotte seems to dive in –

  32. Bliss51 says:

    How many pairs of nude shoes and coats are in Kate’s closet? I’m assume it takes up an entire floor. Do they just hang there forever or discreetly consigned to a very posh shop favored by the royals?

    • Betti says:

      I have always thought that Kate ‘shares’ her clothes with her mother and sister. During the GF years many of the outfits Kate was seen in were either hired from those online sites where you can rent designer clothes, high street or borrowed from her sister or mother. Her spending habits (and the fact that they are paid for by other people and that she generally wears something only once in public) reflect that.

  33. Sarah says:

    And let’s be honest, all
    children are sweet and I adore them, charlotte is a doll, but George got the good looks in this family.

  34. Roller74 says:

    As a Canadian tax payer, I sure hope they enjoyed the trip that I and the people of Canada paid for. What a waste. And her wardrobe, ya, we paid for that too.

  35. Anare says:

    I too think Charlotte looks like her great grandma the queen, and George looks like his grandpa Middleton. So maybe George will luck out and get his grandpa’s hair too. The kids are dolls and Kate looked better than usual. Still I would love to see an end to the black eyeliner and the skinny jeans. Her legs are so thin I laughed at some of the pics. A nice pair of trousers would look so chic.