Here are some brand new photos of the Duchess of Cambridge actually making a charity visit. It’s sort of amazing how much she’s been working the past three weeks or so. We get next to nothing for months – like, two “fun” outings in three months’ time – and then BAM, she actually starts scheduling stuff back-to-back. For Kate (and William), “back-to-back” engagements mean “one appearance for an hour” once a day. But Kate has been doing so many events, it’s like someone (Poor Jason) put the fear of God into her. Did someone put their foot down about the much-anticipated Mustique vacation next month?
Anyway, Kate traveled to a Chance UK program in London to “meet children and mentors” from the program that aims to improve the lives of kids in danger of falling through the cracks, or kids at an increased risk for developing criminal behavior. Kate and William recently did a joint appearance at another program similar to Chance UK.
Kate finally wore a repeat – this dress is by Orla Kiely and we saw it on her for the first time in 2012, during an appearance with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. I kind of thought it was too fussy back then, but after three years, I like it a little bit more. Maybe that’s because she wore it today with a jaunty ponytail and it reads as “cute.” She looks like a cute school teacher here, which is appropriate for the outing.
Kate’s also due to appear at the 100 Women In Hedge Funds dinner tonight. Back to back events for the second day in a row! SHOCKING! Seriously, I’m very surprised. Let’s give Kate a slow clap (before she heads off for a three-week vacation in Mustique!).
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Beautiful
I love that dress.
Agreed. I love this dress.
She looks great. Love the dress, love the hair. I’m still hoping for a pant suit one of these days, but this looks great too.
I don’t think we’ll ever see a pant suit on her. But do other Brit royal women wear them? I don’t think I’ve ever seen Camilla, Sophie, Beatrice, Eugenie or Liz in a pant suit.
She’s wearing stockings, right? It almost looks like bare legs.
This is a good look for her, and very occasion appropriate. Has hell frozen over then? Poor Jason must be working over time, I am sure he will need a holiday soon.
Maybe they should send him to Mustique while they stay at home and work. That woud be the best PR move ever!
The bangs look good when she pulls her hair back. Not my favorite dress of hers but I like it better with her hair up. Did someone finally say something to her? She’s been wearing it up more lately and it’s nice to actually see her face for a change!
This is a great look on her. The hair is perfect and the dress is completely appropriate for the venue.
Looks very pretty, could have used some color on the lip though.
Who is this woman with the triffid hair and what has #poorjason done with Katie Bucket?
I say there was an intervention. Someone was DONE with the curtain of doom and last night’s weird and dowdy pulled back insult to hair everywhere. Perhaps it was Harry. He’s the only one I trust to say the words. “Sis, I love you but you’re the only one here with decent hair. Pull yourself together.” And the she did and it was magical.
HA.
Then #poorjason fainted, was carted away for a nice rest, and everybody lived happily ever after.
Until George ripped out mummy’s weave. But that’s the sequel.
It’s a nice look but it wouldn’t kill to spice it up with something… you don’t have to repeat the thing in exact same way.
A touch of red would have been nice IMO. Shoes and/or purse?
Her hair looks the best here. The dress is flattering and pretty. But I’m not into those same black pumps we keep seeing on repeat. I think an ankle strap black shoe or a brand new pointy black pump (not suede, it’s severely dark and more night time) would be better. Maybe even a pump in charcoal wool. Anything but those same black shoes.
I guess the bad press was starting to make waves in Buckingham Palace…there’s no other explanation for such an uptick in appearances from this crew.
A vacation coming up followed by the holidays which are a down time for the royals. There is your explanation.
Looks pretty to me.
She’s on to us. Clearly she (or more likely Jason) is reading the comments on Celebitchy! Still, if it gets her out of the house and off her @$$, so much the better.
Now if someone would just take me on an all-expenses-paid holiday to Mustique…
I looooves the pony tail on some it would look to cutesy but with the frock its perfection. So glad she’s pulling her back and it’s also proof she could go with a shorter do!!
I like this dress.
Really. And I like her hair too.
Just from looking at these pictures it looks like she also maybe used brown or grey eyeliner instead of that coal black she always wears, looks so much better.
I was going to say the same thing! The makeup is lighter, less caked on. Kudos Kate and Jason!?!
I noticed the makeup, too. She looks beautiful here, I’m so proud of her! You can do it, Katie! Keep up the good work!
The pony is cute! And it looks like she’s taken out some of her extensions/is clearly not wearing her wiglet? It’s still thick, but the length definitely seems shorter.
I think this girl needs some lip color, even just a hint more of it. I can’t believe how different she looks now from when she originally wore this dress. Granted, she was super tan, and the old photo set could be photoshopped to oblivion, but she had a really healthy glow about her: http://www.celebitchy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/royal_visit_dulwich_1_wenn3780938.jpg
I think she looks better now.
I’m warming up to her. Before she came across as lazy and spoiled, but the more I read about her, the more she seems like a very insecure person , somewhat shy even. And it William seems like such a wrong husband for that kind of a person. I feel sorry for her. With proper guidance, she could be a decent royal.
I watch the video of their visit to the children movie and she seems more personable and warm than both William AND Harry. And much better with kids.
Wow working it to the bone
She looks so good without the security blanket hair. The eyeliner is very strong in these pictures though
She got highlights in her hair?
Very good look. Her makeup looks less trowel applied as well.
Not a fan of the stuff at the neckline but without it the dress would be too boring. Everything looks pretty good.
Didn’t like this the first time she wore it and don’t like it now. I DO like this gray suiting material, I guess a gabardine of some sort, which was worn to great effect by Kate Moss back when Johnny Depp was still something to faint over.
It’s a Narciso Rodriguez piece and one of my favorite fashion moments:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/306737424592224271/
DoCam’s dress is somehow both matronly and a little girly. But she looks happy, and I like the ponytail, and good on her for highlighting this charity. It’s one worthy of our attention.
Agree. This thing is dull as dishwater – and it’s not the fabric… although that tacky Kraft Barn DIY neckline appliqué looks incredibly cheap. Of course she wore black pumps and a matchy black clutch. Yawn.
Don’t know what it is about her – probably a combination of factors – but she often somehow manages to make boring, prissy, unimaginative clothes even duller than they might be on a hanger. Some kind of serious fashion anti-mojo going on there.
Her hair and make-up look a lot better, less harsh, more natural & easy than usual. What a pretty, chic ponytail.
“Fashion anti-mojo” ha ha yes! It’s a curious trait. When I think of all the fashion fun she could be having I shake my fists at the sky! (well not really, but, you know)
I hate the floral appliqué too. It looks tacked on like an afterthought.
I like this dress, I would wear it. It looks more professional. She did good.
She looks great! And it’s great to see her upping her work engagements. Maybe Poor Jason finally go through to her/William!
Kate might be going for a personal best in consecutive days of work. In her 4+ years married to Willy, except for overseas tours, I’m pretty sure she has never worked more than 3 days in a row.
Still I don’t read what exactly Kate is supporting here. I don’t blame celebitchy but Kate: she doesn’t advertise the charity she merely advertises herself.
Bar’s been set low, so Yay! for Kate for not wearing anything that would flash kids and the press and Yay! that she isn’t wearing her hair over her face.
Lets move the discussion up a level and reflect on her appearances over the past 6 weeks since she came back from “maternity leave”. Here are my thoughts…
1. Her handlers are making significant efforts to re-brand the duchess. The are sending us the message that Kate is rising to the next level of duchessing. Since having her second child, she is more sophisticated, graceful, and stylish. From her clothing (new expensive outfits, bespoke and high end), her hair/extensions/wiglets, veneers, botox/fillers, we are seeing a new look from Kate. Working Kate. Not clutching her crotch Kate. Pulling her hair back Kate. Not grinning like a crazy person Kate. Like her style or not–doesn’t matter. She has been rebranded. Of the last 9 outfits she has worn, 7 of them have been new. Several bespoke. Not to mention a State Dinner thrown in there. They want us to see that Kate is growing into her role and is now a legitimate royal in her own right. She has clearly been given a message and has been told to course correct. She has so much help from many many people who are holding her up and making her successful. She will persevere beyond any criticism people can throw at her.
2. IMO the thing that Kate is the best at after being a duchess for 4.5 years is provoking a discussion among others about her looks. All of the wardrobe malfunctions, hair/extensions/wiglets, gobs of make up, bespoke/high-end/recycled clothing, like it or don’t like it — that’s what she brings to the table. A clothes horse. She has shown us that, above ALL, her looks and appearance take first priority in her life, followed by her personal privacy/family a close second. She will continue to lack substance and won’t be treated seriously until she has a voice and makes intelligent comments/speeches, actually rolls up her sleeves and does some real work, and sustains that work over time. Well, many peasants get veneers, wear extensions, and on occasion have access to high end clothing or bespoke clothing. There are many women who are smarter, prettier, and better styled than her. If that’s all she brings to the table its a shame.
3. She is more at ease when doing engagements with William, and most at ease with Harry. The fact that she has not received an Order and has limited access to jewels suggests that she is not as embraced by TQ as they want us to perceive.
4. Their focus on mental health issues won’t be taken seriously until they do more than meet people, shake hands, tour a facility, have a discussion and then go back to the palace. They need to address specific mental health issues instead of using the Mental Health catch phrase. It is too generic and makes it seem like they get points just for using the term.
5. Will and Kate are able to write the story they want to tell because of the power and wealth of the royal family. What about being a SAHM, what about William’s EAAA job? What about living full time at Anmer? Are all these things out the window? Or part of a master plan to allow them to take the summers off and/or work when it suits them? Also, why no staged papped photos of Kate walking Charlotte in the park, or at all? We only ever see Kate out with George. Never with both. It gives the feeling that Kate has never had to give up her lavish personal routine to care for her children as a top priority. She just gets to take George to the playground or museum when it suits her schedule.
I could go on, but I’ve made my point. Lets talk! What do you think?
These are good points, Switch, and I don’t want to discourage anyone from expounding on them or giving their take on the State of Kate, but it’s hard for me to see the point of her PR team trying to push forward a new image and re-brand her style and focus. Yes, there are those of us on blogs, celebrity websites, and the DM who think she’s pretty much a natural-born slacker unless supervised, but I believe the majority (worldwide) don’t care. They like gazing at royalty, imagining their lifestyles, copying their fashion, and see nothing wrong with a royal who does little or nothing of consequence to help mankind or the environment. So, I wonder who the PR team is really trying to impress or sway? The masses, the media, or TQ?
All thre to sustain the relevance of the royal family. Good or bad the more people talk about her and look at her pictures the more relevant she will be – an asset to the royal family.
Now that is a great style on her. It fits her very well and accents all of her assets. Just ditch the bangs and it is all good.
The Cambridges have a vacation followed by holiday down time coming up so I’m not believing the uptick in work is sincere change.
India Andrews, you always wait for the other shoe to drop with these 2!