Here are some new photos of the Duchess of Cambridge in London last night. She wore a “a double-breasted, 1950s-style dress by the high street clothing label Jesire” for her first solo public appearance as a royal – I like the outfit. She looks good in grey, and I think it was suitable for the occasion and the season. While she still needs to STOP with the eyeliner, her salon-fresh hair did seem more subdued, right? It’s not so “college girl sausage curls”. Or maybe I’m just getting used to it.
Anyway, the occasion was a preview of the Lucian Freud exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. You might remember, the National Portrait Gallery is one of Kate’s five patronages (which took her more than a year to organize). The tour of Freud’s work took an hour, and I’m happy to report that Kate handled herself with grace. She didn’t mess up, she didn’t trip or scratch one of the Freuds. Incidentally, did anyone else read that fantastic article about Freud in Vanity Fair last month? Go here to read it – it’s a great piece about one of the great artists of the modern age.
Us Weekly has an article this week about how depressed Kate is now that William has left her for his Falklands military training. Here are some highlights from the piece:
William left on February 1, and “Kate misses him,” says a Kate source. “It’s difficult for any officer’s wife to have her husband away on duty.”
William’s absence comes as Kate, 30, begins an intensive round of princess boot camp. “Kate’s a working royal, and her first work will happen while William isn’t around,” says the Kate pal. “It’s the toughest time for her to be alone.”
While William is away, the Queen is advising Kate. A palace aide says, “They’ve become close. Her Majesty has done it all. There isn’t anyone who can give better advice. Her Majesty has helped Catherine learn the importance of engagements, and what’s expected of her when she starts to go out and meet the public by herself.”
“While William is away, Kate plans to do nothing but work,” says a palace source.
[From Us Weekly, print edition]
Sure. I’m sure she “plans to do nothing but work” especially considering the palace has been trying to convince us she’s actually been working “hard” this whole time. In between shopping and hair appointments, of course. And sitting around, waiting for William to come home. And I really, really hope the whole “this is the toughest thing EVER” part of these stories is just editorial BS, made up out of whole cloth, and Kate isn’t really sitting around thinking about how tough she has it.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
She looks good, love the dress.
Ditto on the dress.
Is it me or does she look like she gained some (much needed) weight? She always looks healthy albeit underweight but here she looks like she’s finally had a crumpet or two.
I have to agree. She look’s great and I also thought that she has gained some weight. Her legs and face look don’t look as gaunt anymore.
I was thinking the same thing. She looks less like a snappable twig than usual.
yep, she looks healthy. don´t think is wills being away because he´s been away for just a week but she looks good for the first time in month. or maybe it´s the dress?
Lovely dress
I will say it again – why is The Queen being dragged into this now??
Or is that a hint that she ORDERED Duchess dolittle to do some work or else!!!
What 30year old needs a kick up the backside from an 85year old in order to go do some work??!!!
Weren’t they rumored to do a couple of engagements these next few weeks? I say it’s good PR by the Palace. The public will be able to see that the Queen has looked after Kate by taking her along to these engagements and showing her the ropes- by showing that the most senior Royal was there to guide her and didn’t leave her on her own to handle the royal life. That way, in case something happens in the future (i.e divorce) then Kate wouldn’t be able to pull the victim card-like Diana and Sarah did-and say that she wasn’t supported by the other royals and was thrown into the deep end of the pool and left to sink or swim.
It’s really amusing that the press is pushing this ‘Lonely Duchess on her own without her husband for six weeks’ as Valentines’ Day draws near. Expect cheesy, mushy articles about how our golden couple will have to celebrate Hearts Day a thousand miles apart. You just know the Kate worshippers will fall for it hook, line and sinker.
Absolutely.
HOwever, on the flipside, it’s really insidious how ‘sources’ AKA Kate’s pr have started letting it be known that The Queen is taking a special interest in Kate not just by doing joint appearances but also having cosy one on one chats about what is expected of her.
It’s a very subtle but good move to align Kate with The Queen so we can all say she’s doing what The Queen wants her to do and also to cover herself with The Queen’s public goodwill.
The other point to note is that no one knows what The Queen really thinks of alot of things especially members of her own family and their spouses. We can hazard a guess based on her activities eg She rides out with Sophie Wessex on numerous occasions, but truly no one knows. It’s considered faux pas to leak or even talk on her behalf unless she’s officially sanctioned it.
She’s also very hands off where the rest of her family is concerned. It’s actually Philip who interferes or ‘advises’ the family so all this cosy-one to one business with Kate is BS. She only interferes when she is forced to as she has demonstrated on a couple of occasions.
I really wish she would experiment with different hair styles and let someone else do her make up. The heavy black eye liner is so middle school. I do love this dress, though!
The Princess of wales used eyeliner with a very heavy hand, too, but you never heard anyone complain about it. A lot of it was BLUE, too. Ah, the 80s…
As you said, it was the 80’s and 90’s so everyone was doing it. The trend right now is natural, and Kate thinks its time to be a WAG.
She was lovely and interesting, now she’s just boring.
How could she even wear that? It is freezing here right now. That said, I love, love, love the National Portrait Gallery!
Her make up looks weird here. Eyeliner does seem very popular in London. Like the dress, but can’t believe she doesn’t even have a coat on. Snow expected again tomorrow here.
We missed out on coat porn! Damn you, Kate!
She looks lovely. Has she put on weight? She looks different.
I know, right? Something’s *different*; I think there IS some weight gain.
That outfit is to die for!!! 😀
You’re right, the outfit is definately to die for!
I agree – check the forearms; they look downright healthy! She looks lovely.
That dress is gorgeous! Too bad the wearer can’t be bothered to do her job.
I think she looks great – hair, dress, and deameanor. I really like the more subdued hair. Maybe it’s me, I’m not a big bouncy curls type of person. And she can wear any color. She is very lucky that way.
But the best bit of this for me is Lucien Freud! My favorite artist. Off to read the link now.
She’s lovely. I think she’s handled herself perfectly and with alot of grace. I LOVE the outfit- very princess like.
I think Kate has impressed the heck out the Queen which is why she has taken to her so much. And it takes a lot to endear the queen to you. Keep up the good work Kate!
cute dress
The dress looks vintage and I love it on her!
I love it too and for the same reason!
I don’t have a lot of positive things to say about the Duchess, but I really like the dress. It is something that I’d wear to an event like this. I won’t use this post to go into the typical Duchess Dolittle rant. There is nothing about this particular occasion to bitch about.
Yes, it is tough work, walking around in designer clothes, looking at art and getting fawned over. The rest of us don’t know how easy we have it…
word.
The rest of us also don’t have most of the internet judging us every single time we leave the house. Ever had somebody in another country talk about your weight or whether you waited too long for your husband or whether you’re any good in bed?
LOL. Actually, yes I have. I think most people have been gossiped about by someone at some point in their lives.
That being said, I don’t have any objection to Kate persay. I find the way the media/pr teams represent her to be not very flattering, despite their attempts to make her seem deep and important. Time will tell if it’s an accurate picture.
Yes, you being gossiped about by a few people privately is exactly the same as being on magazine covers and Internet gossip sites the world over.
The question was had I ever been gossiped about “by someone in another country” not whether I had ever been gossiped about on the internet or on magazine covers. While I did understand the implication was the latter, I was comically responding to the former.
I am not gossiped about on magazine covers. But, I am not world famous.
And, this is a gossip site for those who are world famous, right? Ironically, we are all totally clueless about the actual truth and just voicing opinions about figures created by the media.
persay?
I was looking at these pictures over on hello-and no one else who was outside greeting her had a coat on either. Or looked cold. Maybe they had heat lamps or something?
I also think her hair is shorter, although it’s hard to tell with the curls.
The high has been about freezing with the lows dropping into the 25F levels. It’s cold for my Californian blood. Even with 3 cold winters under my belt (Montreal, Amsterdam/London and London again) I can’t get used to it.
Must have had heat lamps.
It’s snowing in London! See, it’s really cold, second time in a week. Brrr. CA in 10 days.
That dress is gorgeous & oh so flattering on Kate. The fabric looks so rich & she looks lovely. I don’t get the hate for this girl.
I’m with you! She looks nice- Why the hate????
Barbie is back…and her hair is fluffier than ever!
“Staff at NPG taken aback when Duchess of Cambridge asked what time Lucien Freud would be joining them.”
😀
And yes this was a joke, but it also sweetly mocks Kate’s apparent lack of knowledge about art, something that she supposedly majored in at Uni. (See her Faberge egg comment)
Her Faberge Egg comment was entirely reasonable, she asked if they still made them and the answer is YES, not on the grand scale of the Imperial Eggs but after the company passed through several hands outside the family they are once again being produced and designed by the great granddaughters of Carl Faberge. The original and most popular ‘Eggs’ were always small (1″)enamel or carved semi-precious stone pendants highlighted with diamonds and given as Easter gifts by lesser mortals. They still also produce the occasional larger commemorative eggs. Granted she could have researched this herself before the event buy still it was not the question of an ignoramus. That said I don’t think she knows very much about anything but hairdressing products , party balloons and shopping with a credit card, despite her grand education.
Oh, yeah. She looks soooooo miserable. Us commoners just need to realize how HARD it is for Katie. Now that William’s gone she won’t have anything to do besides shopping and getting pampered. Oh, the horror…
I actually really dislike her hair here. It looks like it was sloppily done with a curling iron, instead of rollar like I assume she usually does. God, wouldn’t that be a funny picture to see? Kate in her rollers.
LOVE that dress. So stylish and well-tailored. It looks like one of those great dresses you’d see on Mad Men.
And she looks less emaciated in it, which is a good thing. I dont know if it’s the tailoring & fabric or she has gained a little weight, but she looks great.
And yeah, co-sign with everybody else she needs to cut down on the eyeliner. On a really thin, very tan woman it just looks way too severe.
I don’t know why, but I just don’t care for that dress. It’s not exactly ugly, but I’ve seen pictures of her in dresses that I like better. Her hair looks kind of icky to, really flat and messy. She does look like she must of learned what food is, the weight looks good on her.
I agree with you, and I think we’re the only ones here that dislike the dress.
It’s too old of a dress for her unless you carry the vintage ook all the way with long wavy hair, sexy long bang a la Veronica Lake of the 1940’s. Shoes too high and ugly too I think. Why can’t she dress younger looking, she is under 30.
I absolutely LOVE the dress – the colour, the fit. Her legs look really great in it.
I doubt she’s depressed. She probably just doesn’t enjoy making public appearances without William.
She looks fabulous,too. I don’t know if she’s gained weight or if the extra fabric added a few pounds to her frame.
Nice dress, but the collar begs for an up do.
I LOVE that dress. I think it’s beautiful. Now if only she would do something different with that hair…
I call pregnancy on the weight gain.
That is a lovely dress. She also looks healthier, I hope that continues.
I loooove that dress. If the skirt were a little less flouncy I’d want to buy it. Her hair, her makeup….same old, same old. Lose the curls, lose the eyeliner, blah, blah, blah.
Love,love,love that dress! I think she looks beautiful. But I think she would have looked even better with her hair pulled back. And not as much eyeliner of course. ;0)
OMG!
Husband and wives are separated by work ALL THE TIME… Welcome to life Kate. Now, take your separation martyr medal and get back to shopping. ugh.
You do understand that she never actually said what you’re judging her for, right? That this is a made-up story by the tabloids to make money and you’re judging her based on it like it’s the Washington Post?
To me, she is perfection. Graceful, well dressed, conservative yet not boring, and she knows how to carry herself without looking snooty. Jennifer Lopez and all of America’s stars look like a bunch of pigs next to her
Really? Is it truly necessary to call other women pigs simply to compliment one? We can build a woman up without putting others down, ladies. To do otherwise might be considered, dare I say it: classless.
My opinion is she is better dressed then most of the desperate fame whores out there- and on a gossip website my comment was not harassing anyone in the conversation so what is your problem?
Also- don’t go on a gossip website especially hence the name of this one and start calling people classless – you have a lot of nerve –
http://i40.tinypic.com/dwq33m.jpg
http://tinyurl.com/85rlo8f
Yes you are right, she is incredibly graceful, well dressed and other laughable adjectives you used to describe your perfect Catherine.
I bet that you’ve never even heard of her or her countless boo-boos prior to marrying Prince William. You’re just one of the thousand other people who jumped onto the royal wedding bandwagon and being unable to think for yourselves, preferred to follow what media dictates and declared her as this ‘perfection’ when she is VERY CLEARLY far from it.
THIS.
Exactly most of these fangirls probably only knew of her after the engagement, or at least that’s my hope. I mean who would actually fawn over the Waity we all know from the 9 years prior to the engagement? This girl is a useless layabout, the fact that any woman idolizes her makes me weep for soceity. It’s like the girls who think Jordan and WAGs are the thing to aspire to. Get some better role models.
I *love* that dress.
@Kaiser – “did anyone else read that fantastic article about Freud in Vanity Fair last month”
Yes me! My husband’s passion is painting and Lucian Freud is one of his absolute favorite artists. When he saw his first Freud in person years ago, it was really transformational and has influenced his art since. We are really hoping to catch this exhibit when it comes stateside to Fort Worth later this year.
P.S. I really love that dress! She looks fabulous.
Maybe it’s the flashlight glare, but her hair looks darker to me.
Yep that’s some straight outta the salon hair. The sausage curls are gone (not as dominant) because she trimmed a few inches off. Looks slightly layered too. *snort & eyeroll @ US Weekly*
I love this outfit! Whole thing!
She makes such a lovely princess 🙂 Perfect dress for a little gallery visit. So chic!
I could live without the sausage curls but she is young so its ok. She has also dyed it darker yes?
I just think she puts TO much effort into what she is wearing to every event and soon it will start to detract from the good works she wants to do. She should be put together and sure she can be fashionable but it shouldnt be her entire image which i fear its starting to be.
She hit the mark this time for sure! Love that dress and she wears it beautifully!
It’s weird, but she looks healthier and happier now that William isn’t around.
Seriously, very few people who marry into a royal family seem happier for it. I really do think it’s stressful, and the sense of superiority that royal members have simply by virtue of their birth must be off-putting for a modern non-royal. But they’re rich, so I guess that makes it all worth while for some people.
Gorgeous. I think the heavier material and pleats gives her the illusion of some curves as she is very slim hipped and thin.
Like the dress quite a bit. But what’s with wearing black suede pumps again? And blah on the hair. Still has some funky curl thing going. I say she should wear it straight sometime to shake things up or go with an updo. Or cut it shorter and layer it.
Just stunning. I think Duchess Kate just got upgraded to Princess Kate.
I think this is the best I’ve seen her since that pink Jenny Packham she wore just after her wedding.
It is too bad that the only thing to write about is what she wears. She still hasn’t said or done anything of significance.
One more thing, I have never thought of tweed as an evening fabric. I would have worn this for a daytime event and ditched the diamond bracelet…people are struggling, Duchess, you do know that. Right?
I don’t really care what she wears I just wish she would do something charitable
I really like the dress and I want her shoes! And is it just me, or is she actually not wearing pantyhose for a change?
All Praise Waity! Poor thing will need a week to recover performing such a hard task. The fan girl drooling over this lazy woman is truly astounding.