Duchess Kate debuted a new pair of $3500 blue topaz earrings in Luxembourg

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits Luxembourg

Here are some more photos of the Duchess of Cambridge out and about in Luxembourg yesterday. I wanted to do another fashion post because A) these photos came in later in the day and B) I found out more stuff about her outfit. For someone who reportedly could not care less about high fashion and expensive clothes, it sure costs a lot to bribe the Duchess of Cambridge into doing anything these days, right? While I enjoy it when Kate wears something new, I also wonder if people are ever going to call her out on her lopsided shopping-to-work ratio. The trip to Luxembourg on Thursday was Kate’s third event in three weeks’ time and I guess for such a big, important, solo trip, she wanted to wear something new and really, really nice.

As I said yesterday, I liked her Emilia Wickstead coatdress for the most part. She looked professional enough, her skirt didn’t fly up and the coatdress’s tailoring wasn’t too sh-tty. But that was before I realized that this is actually a bespoke piece. Kate literally has this same Wickstead coatdress in at least two other colors, not to mention she has about a dozen pale blue coats and coatdresses already. And she just keeps on going back to Wickstead and ordering more! Since it’s bespoke, we have no idea how much this cost. But you can bet it was easily $2000 to $3000, if not more. Kate paired the dress with a pair of LK Bennett nude heels at a cost of $345, which, to be fair, is fine because she re-wears the same LK Bennett shoes constantly. She gets good value out of those nude heels.

But here’s what I really wanted to discuss: Kate’s new earrings. The British government and/or Prince Charles totally had to BRIBE HER WITH JEWELRY to get her to Luxembourg. She wore a new pair of Kiki McDonough earrings with blue topazes and diamonds. The earrings cost $3500. The reason I say that the British government might have had to pick up the tab is because it’s true! Kate was in Luxembourg on government business because she’s the de facto Brexit ambassador. This visit was organized by the Foreign Office, and with most of Will and Kate’s state visits, the British government likely picked up the tab. Congrats, British people! You just bought Kate a new pair of earrings. PS… Kate’s pendant necklace is a repeat, it’s her “Mappin & Webb Empress pendant.”

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits Luxembourg

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits Luxembourg

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits Luxembourg

Photos courtesy of WENN.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

160 Responses to “Duchess Kate debuted a new pair of $3500 blue topaz earrings in Luxembourg”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. Sensible says:

    So completely average in every way.

    • Seraphina says:

      Oh so agree

    • Dolittle says:

      I totally agree!

      And no need squandering other people/taxpayers Duchy millions for same coat and unroyal average jewelry when TQ could loan.

      This is just grasping waity carol taking from Duchy funds royal funding for middelton chest. Nothing special except a bribe.

    • Jenni says:

      She is young and has almost endless resources but for some reason she looks very old in my opinion.

    • Egla says:

      The funny thing is that although she can’t change much how she looks she can change everything else. She can choose the finest of the jewelery from the vault. After all she is on a state visit and she can loan state jewelery (I think it’s like that right?). She doesn’t have to buy this cheap looking stuff. Also IF she wants to buy maybe as a form of investment, she at least can go all in. A few expensive but light and versatile pieces that she can wear time to time. I have jewelery that look just like hers and cost me 20-30 $.
      She can hire someone to help her with her looks; clohes, shoes, posture, maybe makeup a little. She can hire someone to help her with her public speaking and interacting. We may call her lazy BUT she worked hard for a long period of time to change her accent so it’s not like she can’t do long term things (not mentioning the waiting). And again how many pale blue coat dresses does she have? Buy some separate pieces and combine for God sakes. Look at Queen Raina and Queen Letizia. Hell look at QE to

    • Nn says:

      There goes our tax payers money. That $3000 earrings could have helped and fed children who are suffering. This is wickedness

  2. Sarah L says:

    Here in the UK I’m reading this as I’m about to start a 12 hour shift as an A&E Doctor. I’m glad my taxes have gone towards Kate’s new earrings. After all that £2722.30 couldn’t have paid the salary of a nurse this month, or gone towards equipment that is much needed in all hospitals. Kate’s needs are much more important (please notice the snark)

    • littlemissnaughty says:

      Oof. I have to say, I enjoy the monarchy and everything around it but I’m no UK taxpayer. It must be so effin’ frustrating to watch her and that husband play prince and princess a few days a month. I hope your shift goes as smoothly as possible.

      What I don’t understand is why do they buy jewelry at all? Don’t the royals have tons and tons of jewelry already lying around? I get that sometimes you buy a new outfit but this seems completely unnecessary. Select a few versatile pieces and run with it for a few years.

      • MinnFinn says:

        And the kicker is that Kate buys that terribly banal Kiki McDonough stuff. It would hate her spending money on jewelry less if she were to actually buy nice things.

      • Megan says:

        She access to some of the most exquisite jewels on earth. Why buy such pedestrian pieces when she can visit th royal vault for something truly memorable? I don’t get her at all.

      • msthang says:

        May-be Hm won’t loan them to her, until she proves herself worthy of the job!!

    • kaiko says:

      republic? anyone? anyone?

    • Sarah says:

      And I make jewelry and know that this is a huge amount of money for topazes!!! I got ones like them, good quality, for a few hundred bucks and diamonds are pretty cheap, too.

      • wolfpup says:

        I ran a jewelry store for 5 years and the trade magazines are amazing!! Kate is so dull – there are no words. I was lucky to grow up watching Diana in this role. A ten-minute comparison is all one needs to see the failure of the Duchess of C. Perhaps we should merely compare her to Camilla, yet still, we only see that she is basic, and simply doesn’t care. Are we to admire her for this? She is not like us – because if we were in her position we would be dazzling!

      • Sarah says:

        Wolfpup, at least Camilla works!!! And seems to really enjoy it and meeting the people.
        Kate has an anxiety disorder, I think. She seems like a wreck most of the time, except sporting events.

  3. Babs says:

    I hate this kind of jewellery. So grandma-looking.

  4. littlemissnaughty says:

    They’re beautiful but a bit much for daytime. And why do they look like Swarovskis on her??? Something nice: The coatdress is beautiful and appropriate.

    • Seraphina says:

      I agree in the earrings. But she can’t carry anything. Was looking at Latizia and Maxima and how well they carry what they wear. Maybe if and when she is Queen Consort she will be able to do the same (here’s hoping).

      I was going to write about how frustrating it is that the Brits don’t call her out on her lack of work but here we are in the US and we haven’t called out our president (that still doesn’t feel right calling trump that).

      • kaiko says:

        I think it’s the simple fact that big jewel earrings look ridiculous and pointless if you’re just going to wear your hair undone and flouncy. Too casual a hairstyle. Pin the sides back, half updo, or just put it all up elegantly to let the jewelry stand out if you insist of wearing big profanely expensive baubles. This was either tasteless stupidity or she just wore them cause she just got them and she can…after all she’s la Duchess/Princess of the United Kingdom, and don’t you peasants forget it.

      • FLORC says:

        Kate can carry items. She can! I swear! When casual like a vneck sweater, collar shirt and pants. She looks comfortable and natural. In a few dresses like her uni style she’s pulls it off.

        As a duchess she always looks forced into a role and clothes she’s doesn’t understand.

        Simple jewelry like boxchain necklaces with simple pendants. Wrist watches. Studs. She nails it.

        P.s. her wrinkles, flyaways, and blemishes are more visible. And as a result that header photo makes her seem more natural.

    • PennyLane says:

      There’s something about some people…no matter the actual price of what they wear, it just looks cheap.

      • Dolittle says:

        +100
        Princess Henry in waiting would wear this so regal – it would appear as if they came from HM jewels.

      • kaiko says:

        Dolittle–Hopefully MM will Duchess a bit wiser than KM and not spend taxpayer money like it’s going out of style on frivolous luxury items?

      • graymatters says:

        I think the problem is that those earrings are clearly evening wear and the necklace is daywear. She might have pulled off the earrings if she skipped the necklace and added a nice broach or bracelet instead. If she wears the earrings in the evening, I hope the necklace she chooses has a stone larger than that in the earring. The dainty necklace just looks so unbalanced.

      • G says:

        @graymatters I think this might be it, makes the earrings look more like costume jewellery. They were overkill for this kind of event.

      • wolfpup says:

        We will all love looking at Megan! I abandoned royal threads because of the boring duchess, although I’m sure she’s a nice enough girl –

        I can’t wait for Megan Sparkle!

  5. astrid says:

    Why can’t she do anything with her hair!

    • minx says:

      Just a few inches off would make such a difference, and better styling.

      • Giddy says:

        But wait! Let me casually hold it back so you can see my new earrings. I made that old poop Charles give me a pretty if he wanted me to work so hard.

  6. Canadian Becks says:

    I suck at wiglet-spotting….but is that what the high bump is at the back of her head? What is so obvious to others eludes me.

    So is that a wiglet, or did she watch late-night TV and succumb to ordering the “Bump-Its”?

    • amalia says:

      Kate loves her wiglets.

    • Deedee says:

      The bump on the back of her head is where the hair is teased to hide the area where most of the wefts are attached. Sometimes you’ll see the wefts separating themselves from the rest of the hair (curling a different direction) and they may photograph differently, because they have a different texture and reflect light differently. Hope that helps.

      • Canadian Becks says:

        It’s just really, really obvious.
        It’s a little bit Peg Bundy-lite.

  7. StartupSpouse says:

    My husband works in the jewelry business. $3500 for blue topaz earrings is criminal. Those stones are literally like $10 per carat and, contrary to public perception, the diamond melee is also very cheap. I’ve seen similar earrings go for about a few hundred bucks or less on jeweler-to-jeweler forums.

    • Zaratustra says:

      Perhaps she bought them from some jeweller-to-the-aristos who has criminal increases in his prices. The feeling of belonging to the aristos is part of the bargain, I suppose. Whereas all aristos do probably negotiate down those prices, I bet.

      I have witnessed the sale of some very expensive luxury items and there is always room to negotiate down the price. The salesmen expect this. If you don’t negotiate they won’t haven nor respect for you.

    • Jan says:

      Well it is Kiki McDonough. Everything she designs looks like wayyy over-priced costume jewelry. Like these tacky, inappropriate-for-daytime earrings. Such a waste of money!

    • teacakes says:

      I feel like a lot of that is literally just the jeweller’s brand name.

      I might need to clarify this with my mother, but I can’t imagine any jeweller in India selling blue topaz earrings for that much in our currency.

      • StartupSpouse says:

        It’s definitely all branding. There was a Tiffany necklace that I was admiring online that cost $400. My husband said it cost them $25 in materials and labor. To get it delivered in the store, and then accounting for rent, employee salaries and other overhead, it cost them $100. They are selling it for $400, so $300 is just for the brand. It’s crazy.

      • wolfpup says:

        x3 – that is the standard markup. Although one might call a price merely for the label itself, it is similar to garments. There is a difference in quality even though it is all called 14k. We expect a certain standard when garments are sewn by a label.
        It’s the same with jewelry. There is such a thing as quality manufacturing. This will determine whether your necklace breaks or not. However, education wil always inform your best purchases.

        Now I have to go away! and stop with these threads. I only came back because there is such a wonderful show, Netflix Original, “Anne spelled with an e – (of Green Gables)”. We needn’t wait for Charles III. It’s good tonight! Blessings!

    • Deedee says:

      They look like something you could get for 10 bucks at Claires in the mall.

    • PunkyMomma says:

      Most topaz is mined clear. (The rare natural peach colors are sourced in one mine in Brazil, and are called Imperial Topaz. They are very expensive.) For the great majority of colored topaz, the colors are achieved by heat treatments, and therein lies a bit of cost. But clear topaz – it’s as cheap and available as quartz. That price is outrageous. That the taxpayers are footing the bill is obscene.

      • ArtHistorian says:

        At this rate (her clothing bill is already astronomical this year) it will be cheaper to let her avoid working. Keep her at home where she doesn’t need bespoke couture.

      • notasugarhere says:

        She needs her own Angela Kelly. A trained staff person (not the ones she has) to catalog her massive wardrobe and make it a working wardrobe. Purchase 3 professional trouser-and-skirt suits for flexibility, take away the Duchy credit card, and forbid any new purchases for at least three years.

    • Sarah says:

      I just said the same up above. I make jewelry and I get topazes for really cheap – these would have been, tops, a couple of hundred for the pair.
      What a ripoff!! $3500 for middle of the road jewelry.

      • wolfpup says:

        The markup for fine jewelry is usually x3. After my grandparent’s store, I worked for several months at a Fred Myers, that marketed their gold jewelry with a 1/2 price sale, yet, by the computer and real cost, it was still a 3-time markup, after their fake sale.

        Why doesn’t the duchess take the stones at her disposal and create? That would be the way to go for UK citizens. The duchess will never be anything, but boring.

        I believe in jewelry – it raises the profile and beauty of every vintage. I am poor, but people think that I am rich. Stones last nearly forever.

    • Felicia says:

      Well, there is probably about 25ct total of blue topaz. Melee might be inexpensive, but I’d be surprised to find similar earrings in 18k gold for a few hundred bucks anywhere, unless they are selling at cost. And that’s the problem with earrings…there are two of them!
      I don’t know where this person has her jewellery manufactured, but if it’s in the UK and not China or India, labour isn’t cheap either.
      I hate blue topaz, it’s a cheap irradiated stone. But widely used, along with amethyst and citrine by those who need to use materials that are easy to find in large sizes, clean, colour matched and readily available because they mass produce “series” and not one-off pieces. Pommellato and Bulgari come to mind.
      Of the options in the matchy-matchy world of Kate, it was that, aquamarine, blue zircon or pale blue sapphire. This was probably the cheapest option of boring. I personally think she does this on purpose, Diana completely overshadowed Charles from a glamour point of view. Kate has the face and figure to look spectacular and seems to deliberately choose to look meh, all the time.

      • teacakes says:

        I wouldn’t be surprised if the manufacturing was done in India – it has some of the world’s best jewellery workshops, and a long tradition of making fine jewellery/working with stones.

  8. guest says:

    Sorry but close up photos don’t do her any favors.

    • Zaratustra says:

      Good point.
      She lost too much weight so that her facial features look odd when she does a full-on smile.

      I am surprised the media didn’t do any photoshop?
      They do often photoshop German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s second chin and her circles around her eyes. 😉

      • Jan says:

        At least Mrs. Merkel owns her wrinkles and bags under her eyes. She works hard and, as Leader of the Free World, has earned her gravitas and her being air-brushed.
        Waity Katie McLamebridge – not so much. She doesn’t deserve the consideration.

      • wolfpup says:

        Geez – at least Angela Merkel has character – the world trusts her word – that is far better than an empty pretty face. My aunt’s taught me that pretty is, what pretty does. The duchess is vacuous and boring.

    • Va Va Kaboom says:

      Only some of that is due to weight loss. In reality she’s been basically the same size (expect during pregnancy) for years now. why she seemed to age within a day a few years back is because people stopped photoshopping every picture before publishing them. This is roughly what she’s always looked like, even before the wedding, but the bloom was still on the rose for the media. They took pains to ensure the bloom appeared to still be on her too. Now… yeah not so much.

      • sarri says:

        Sounds like payback time by the press.

      • Dolittle says:

        Google waity years and uni – She has totally change, facial/ size since having access to royals and Duchy millions.

      • Va Va Kaboom says:

        Sorry, I meant before the wedding, but during the engagement. She’s maintained that size and facial shape since then and it’s been more than 5 years now.

    • FLORC says:

      Where is soothie!?
      A prime example of how Photoshop changes an image.
      Same occasion. Same everything. 1 set of pics smoothed out the skin. Another less so, but still touched up lightly.

    • Polly says:

      With all the talk about how bad she looks without photoshop I was surprised to see that her skin actually looks pretty good close up. She looks mid 30s and there’s nothing wrong with looking your age. Her makeup is too harsh for a day look, she needs to lay off the harsh blush and clumpy mascara.

    • Sarah says:

      I dont think she has good skin. Diana had beautiful skin. William has good skin, except when sweaty and flushed. Kate has rough skin. I think it is really hard to be photographed all of the time when your skin is bad. (Aside, I saw a pic of Heidi Klum with no makeup on, and she has good skin, but looked like any other woman walking down the street.)
      I went to a conference with a coworker who, without her makeup/foundation, didnt even resemble herself. It was startling. Reason? She had bad skin. If this schooltEacher I worked with could transform herself with Mary Kay foundation, Kate surely could. She needs to always, always wear a good foundation. It looks like she doesnt have foundation on in these pics. Maybe thats why she looks os much better in formal wear – her makeup is done well.
      (Now i feel badly saying a woman has to make her skin look good. Harry has HORRID skin, sweaty and blotchy red, and no one tells him to put foundation on it.)

  9. JustME says:

    This trip was so pointless and a waste of money.

    • seesittellsit says:

      Well, in this particular instance, blame the government – I doubt she wanted to go and was doing what she was ordered to do.

    • Sharon Lea says:

      I don’t get the point either, think Jason must have had to come up with some easy types of visits to get her going. This could have been done in her first year of marriage, not as someone who has been around (William) for nearly 15 years. Someone on twitter thought she spent a total of 4.5 hours for the visit/day. Not exactly jam packed.

  10. HadToChangeMyName says:

    I don’t believe in the monarchy, so stuff like this just irks me. If you’re on the public dime, you have a duty to be more circumspect in how the public funds are spent.

    • G says:

      Whatever you think of the monarchy it just seems outrageously tone deaf. She and her team are aware of public perception, surely. Do they believe that seeing the work-shy duchess in thousands of pounds of new goodies boosts the mood of the peasants?

      • wolfpup says:

        In all my travels, I’ve never wanted to go to England – because their structure is based on having peasants on demand. I refused to go the Southern states for the very same reason. My ancestors are Welsh aristocracy. Perhaps I will be lucky enough to touch down someday, and make peace in my heart, though I doubt it because the Queen is on the side of all robber barons. The Revolutionary war is major to our family. The most important thing is that my ancestor, John Lewis, had a marking on his grave, not only delineating his ancestry, but two other charges – One was, “I bear no ill”. Isn’t that great to die with clean hands and a pure heart? The other saying left on his grave in Virginia, whose gravesite the English Queen visited (calling us her American ancestors), was “Every land is home to a brave man”.

  11. Zaratustra says:

    I think Kate looks desparate and scared in the 2nd pic. Like a little girl playing with mommy’s jewelry.

  12. BearcatLawyer says:

    WHY must she wear the same styles of earring over and over again? Has she never heard of studs or delicate hoops for daytime? Or does she just have to swing her dangly earrings around like she flips her hair? Is it another sign of her anxiety?

  13. MinnFinn says:

    I am offering the British taxpayers a deal on 5 coatdresses for Kate. I took sewing in middle and high school and I know I can make a similar beautifully tailored coatdress for Kate using this 1956 McCall’s pattern. https://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m7478

    I’ll make that coatdress for her in 5 colors she chooses for $5000. My price includes wool challis fabric and silk lining. Emilia Wickstead charges at least $3000 for just one of her coatdresses.

    How about it taxpayers? The pattern is on sale right bow $2.49. I’ll throw that in for free.

    • Canadian Becks says:

      Interesting…. but how much more to hike that waistline up to just under the armpits?!?

      • MinnFinn says:

        LOL Alterations are included, so free hike ups!

      • MinnFinn says:

        Since she likes her coatdresses and they are all the same silhouette, she really needs to start buying in bulk. Here’s a better offer. I’ll do 10 coat dresses for $9000.

    • Jan says:

      MinnFinn, would you throw in oodles of buttons and a proper lining for the same price?

      • MinnFinn says:

        Lining and 4 buttons as shown on the 1956 McCalls pattern are part of the price.

        But extra buttons and/or bigger buttons = change order so that means a per button upcharge.

        How much more depends on button size and quantity because everyone knows when it comes to buttons, more and bigger = better = more money.

    • notasugarhere says:

      Only if you include attached non-removable matching pencil skirts under each one of them, with non-removable hem weights in both the outer and inner skirts.

      I saw a vintage style like this on 1st dibs a few years ago. It actually had both the pencil skirt and outer skirt attached together as part of the overall dress, made out of the same material. Just in case the full 1950s skirt blew up, otherwise you’d never know the pencil skirt was under there. If she insists on dressing like a wealthy 1950s housewife, the built-in modesty skirts should be included on any flowing skirt or dress she has.

    • Sharon Lea says:

      hahaha

  14. Digital Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

    Its the same routine with her – there just HAS to be something new for every public appearance, something that is usually very expensive.

    She literally buys the same thing over and over again. Each time its more expensive than that last.

    • Canadian Becks says:

      And how do we even know she “re-wears” her LKK Bennet nude heels? For all we know, she buys new ones every 4th appearance. Since she’s known to stick with the same tried-and-true, she could have a running order of identical new shoes every month, with the public none the wiser.

      When it isn’t your own hard-earned cash you’re spending, there isn’t that agonizing we all do to ask ourselves if a purchase is justifiable.

      I know that I certainly wouldn’t pay for multiple almost-identical coats since I’m footing my own bills.

      • ABC says:

        I’m now visioning Kate doing a high-end version of Amazon’s Subscribe & Save like I do with my dog food every month. No need to order, they’ll just keep coming until the credit card says stop!

      • lara says:

        I bet she has stacks of these boring nude shoes and they are thrown away after one wear. I get that they are supposed to elongate legs but I’m just not a fan. Even more dull with that nude hose. And yet another coatdress. Everything is so matchy. Who is her terrible stylist?

  15. seesittellsit says:

    Um, long time jewelry obsessional here, and the earrings are beautiful, but they look like they belong with an evening dress, not a daytime coat dress, however elegant. What’s the matter there aren’t enough large pearl earrings floating around the BRF? But hey, that’s just me.

    • Canadian Becks says:

      I think Kate wears it proudly as a badge of the kept woman. She so likes the notion of being “taken care of”.

      Buying new jewelry is concrete evidence that William values her, maybe?

      • Dolittle says:

        … and a badge to show she is whiny wife and around other royals (who don’t seem to need the same materials at such event to proof their status); and bill wife has nothing else about her that owns or offer the status of wife of…. The expensive average person jewelry is her badge of aristo instead of royal connection.

      • wolfpup says:

        Jewelry is a good buy – you will wear it forever, though garments fade. Kate fails on every point when it comes to jewelry.

      • Digital Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

        Being ‘kept’ is what the 3 Middleton siblings aspire to be, even James with his failed businesses – he wants a wife who has the money and connections to fund his half baked business ideas. Neither of them are particularly bright but Carole raised them to marry well and nothing more.

    • minx says:

      That’s my feeling–they look out of place with the coat.

    • bluhare says:

      If I were Kate I would have a pair of signature earrings and they wouldn’t be Kiki McDonough. Nothing wrong with her designs; I’d wear some of them. But if I were Kate I would have a staple earring. The queen has her pearl with diamond studs. I’d do something similar or a diamond stud on a drop earring. A nice 1.5 to 2 carats per ear. And I’d wear them everywhere except very informal and very formal events.

      • wolfpup says:

        That is a very nice combo, bluhare. I wear half carat studs, with drops that equal a whole on each ear. I look very nice, with no trouble at all.

        One investment – simple and gorgeous!

      • teacakes says:

        @wolfpup @bluhare – my mother actually has diamond studs, and she gets a ton of use out of them. I can’t wear them because my ear holes are closed (hate earrings) but I’m seriously considering the prospect of pearl clip-ons someday.

  16. PettyRiperton says:

    gawdy ugly NEXT! Kate has all tools to look fabulous at her disposal but she just look meh. She has a 5 good fashion moments since she been with Will which is sad. I would want them gone too if my tax money went to her buying tacky jewelry at least put their money to good use by hiring a stylist.

    • Canadian Becks says:

      .

      • wolfpup says:

        Why doesn’t she hire stylists? – Diana did – her look was always fabulous – becoming more so as she became ultra sophisticated! Kate appears as nothing more than her mother’s daughter. nothing wrong with that – but her look is so unremarkable.

  17. What Was That? says:

    Watched King Charles III last night on the BBC..it is a play adapted now for TV…with the late Tim Piggot-Smith as Charles..and Charlotte Riley as Duchess Doolittle….I loved it..
    It paints her as Machilliavian Schemer..if you get it on PBS or BBC American please take a look!

  18. Beth says:

    She’s another rich and famous person who wears expensive jewelry that looks like cheap junk jewelry from Claire’s

    • wolfpup says:

      Invest! You will wear your jewels for a lifetime. Really! No reason to copy DoC.

  19. Becks says:

    Commenters on another site speculated that the earrings were an anniversary gift from William, which would make sense considering the timing.

    • notasugarhere says:

      1) William is a known cheapskate 2) shop owners have admitted that she purchases the jewelry herself including the diamond eternity band

      • Erica says:

        So Kate buys her own jewelry for her anniversary and then tells people William buys it so crazy.The shop owner burst her bubble of being taken care of and doted on by William.

      • FLORC says:

        Erica,
        The press runs the stories of Kate’s jewels. She doesn’t claim anything. It’s speculation on timing.

        And yes. It’s well supported William doesn’t spend his personal funds on his wife. It is known his in-laws and father by majority pay his lifestyle that isn’t cared for by the taxpayers. So… blah.

      • Kitty says:

        FLORC, well that’s sad. I can just imagine Harry showering and spoiling his wife with amazing jewels.

      • Erica says:

        FLORC, okay I thought that she told someone but as always the press and their stories.

    • bluhare says:

      Becks, it does make sense given the timing. I don’t know if he did or didn’t, but if he is the notorious cheapskate nas describes, which I don’t doubt, actually, he probably got a giant discount as Kate will wear them in public as she just did.

  20. Secret squirrel says:

    I’m going to go ahead and assume that Kate has a wardrobe full of identical light blue coats because like me, she is clumsy and has those annoying grease marks on her lapels from a dropped piece of buttery toast. If I had a dollar for every top I ruined this way, I could afford those earrings!

    • bluhare says:

      Substitute coffee and/or pasta and you’ve got me!

    • wolfpup says:

      Jewelry is an investment for a lifetime and well worth the trouble of making every outfit shine. Perhaps that is why the Queen makes such a big deal of wearing so much of it. I would even argue that is how Elizabeth creates her “queenliness”. Kate is a neophyte.

      • Lady D says:

        She’s been my queen for 56 years and for 50 of them, I have been admiring her jewelry. Her jewelry game is on point.

  21. Lucy says:

    When was the last time she flashed? I think it was in India.

  22. Citresse says:

    She wanted the job. She got it, but not the it factor. The light blue suit is nice though.
    Looks like William cancelled the up -do hairstyles. Her hair is still a mess.

  23. JaneDoesWork says:

    I think Princess Stephanie’s outfit is WAY more interesting, frankly. That said, for something bespoke, these sleeves are pretty jankey. That’s not necessarily on Kate, but if I were her, I would have insisted on proper tailoring on them.

  24. KiddVicious says:

    If the government did pay for those earrings, does that mean she technically doesn’t own them and they go into the Royal collection when she dies or divorces?

    I like the coat, it reminds me of a Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress, only in coat form. She needs the shoes of the woman in red, those are gorgeous and would look much better than her too pale nude shoes.

    • LAK says:

      The answer to your first question is yes. Unless she buys them from the govt. Ie reimburses the FO for those items coz whilst Charles might be laissez faire about her public/ private clothing, the FO’s accountants will have a proper list, with receipts, of govt bought clothing because in some cases they try to get the host country to pay for it.

  25. carolind says:

    I thought she had those earrings before but obviously not?

    • Deedee says:

      She has 19 pairs of Kiki earrings now, so I can see why you would be confused.

      • teacakes says:

        19?! of the kind of earrings seen on the brand’s website?!

        jfc what’s wrong with just getting some pearls…..idiots spend this much money on blue topaz!

  26. Justine says:

    I read somewhere that these were maybe an anniversary gift from William. I think some of the royal Reporters we’re claiming that.

    • ABC says:

      William is much more likely to get her something from Claire’s Accessories – if he got her anything at all. Short arms, deep pockets as we say here in Scotland.

    • LAK says:

      That would be a first. William is a known skinflint. His proven gifts tend to be on the cheap side.

      • Digital Unicorn (aka Betti) says:

        Or freebie wedding favours. I recall reading about the gift he gave her after visiting Kenya (was it for Jecca’s wedding?) where it was a bracelet that turned out to be a party favour.

      • JustBitchy says:

        Work shy Willie didn’t even get the engagement ring re set. Would have been snice much more modern and elegant with 2-3 carat triangle bugs in each side. I saw ring up close its very 80’s and we all know that it was purchased for Diana (not a family stone)

  27. Meow says:

    Teeth baring grins, hair fiddling, nude heels… this is the most basic branding EVER

    Oh Waity step up your damn game!!!

  28. Bridget says:

    I will never understand why a woman who has access to some of the most beautiful jewelry in the world wears such small and boring pieces.

  29. loveotterly says:

    Maybe Willy bought them as a “sorry for banging those girls on the ski trip” gift?

  30. FLORC says:

    So, more just about image. Less about substance.
    Even her supporters. More defending image. Not defending she has a lot to offer.
    I’ve always found that so bothersome. Sure, she as a person and private citizen can look however she pleases. On the same token, she as a British senior member accepting payment/perks of a workhorse can’t pull it together for an hour.

    What she wanted. What she got. What is expected of her. There is no effort or preparation it seems.

  31. abbie normal says:

    Marie Antoinette comes to mind so often when I read these posts about Kate.

  32. PrincessK says:

    Can’t wait to see what jewellery from the royal collection the Queen will give Meghan to wear on state occasions, she will have to tread carefully to avoid upsetting Kate who, outranking Meghan, I suppose will be entitled to wear the more prestigious pieces.

    • LAK says:

      There is no such thing as prestige pieces in the royal collection. Some pieces are loved more than others, but that doesn’t mean they are more prestigious than the next.

      An argument can be made for the prestige of their provenance, but that has never been a consideration as far as the present royal family since they continually give away the really important jewels owned by earlier generations.

      • Kitty says:

        True LAK, If The Queen wants to give Harry’s future wife more jewels and bigger pieces than Kate, so be it!

  33. Twinkle says:

    The most generic jewelry and clothes. She’s so boring.

  34. Dorky says:

    Those earrings are beautiful; I think they look great. So does the coat dress.

  35. Redgrl says:

    Leaving aside the jewellery for a moment, that close up picture of her face frightens me.
    It looks like she has fillers or something bulging right under her skin – creepy.. Maybe it’s just the way she’s smiling but something doesn’t look right…

    • FLORC says:

      It’s just her less touched up.
      No secret she’s had some procedures. I like there’s less botox now. But, her skin has always been not great. Smoking, sun, dehydration. Genetics too. Carole and pulls both have the same sort of texture.

  36. Kaz says:

    Wouldn’t pearl studs or some sort of less sparkly earrings look nice for daytime with this coat?

    Still ‘waiting’ to see what she is passionate about – I just can’t detect enthusiasm for anything!

  37. Joannie says:

    Not a jewellery lover but those earrings look really pretty. She’s very well put together as always.

    • Darling says:

      Joannie, I know you admire Kate greatly.  I’m just curious if you’ve ever searched “kate middleton dress fly up” and counted the number of times her dress has flown up and yet she still refuses to wear a slip.

  38. MoochieMom says:

    Admit I didn’t read all comments but you can buy those at Wal-Mart for $7.99.

  39. wolfpup says:

    The queen of England jut shut down the kids. – William and Harry’s best efforts. She could have interfered with the duchess showing off her underpants, but no – don’t talk about your feelings, (that is your mother, Diana – and Charlie’s greatest rival even in death). and concentrate on constitutional efforts of royals, because their effort apparently means nothing to her. These young people, whose best efforts to “work” have been shut down by the Queen.

    She is so flawed, denying her sister the love of her life with her constitution. What a bag of shit and a ridiculous story line.

    • wolfpup says:

      My heart hurts – QE has completely disrespected her grandsons, and the journey they have made thru greatest love and loss. I think that Charles is a little bItch, whatever that means. I never allowed my sons to call women bitches – female dogs are holy too, and men are so disgusting to disrespect us, as female. They are just jealous we can bring new life between our legs. In my mind, a male bitch is a traitor of females. I do not have the descriptor of a woman who denies the happiness of her kin, for tradition.’ I don’t believe that QE has ever been truly happy or carefree since denying Margaret her passion – claiming the rights only a transcendent being could have – and we all know QE shits in the woods. Still, after all these years we notice the continuing resentment toward the princess, Diana, who made all of our worlds a better place – (including the uppity highnesses.) Charles has no sense at all – does he have the ability to even love his children?! QE is well aware she has nothing to contribute as a religious figure. She never has a thing to say, and then when she says one thing in 10 years it is to publically cut these children’s best efforts. Really stupid when one considers that a great deal of the public share the feelings of Diana’s sons. However Queenly, no one needs to worry about dying anymore if they don’t share what she declares.

  40. AmoyLily says:

    Anyway, some people do like to copy her fashion style. She is elegant and not arrogant in public.