The Duchess of Cambridge has been officially part of the royal family for just about eight full years. While she’s done events with Queen Elizabeth II in the past, today marks the first time ever that the Queen and Kate had a one-on-one event together in public. Just as I’m writing that, I realized that shortly after the Cambridges’ wedding, Kate and the Queen did a one-on-one event together at Buckingham Palace, when they previewed the exhibition at the Palace featuring Kate’s wedding gown. But all other occasions, Kate and the Queen have been buffered by other royals, whether it be Prince William or the Duchess of Cornwall or whatever. Keep in mind, the Duchess of Sussex was only in duchessing for a matter of weeks when she got a one-on-one day of activities with the Queen last year.
So today was an interesting moment. The Queen and Kate visited Kings College in London. The event was announced last week – it’s basically an event to reopen a newly refurbished and renovated building, Bush House, on the Kings College campus. They’ll go inside Bush House and see what students and robotics scientists are doing within the facilities.
For this event, Kate debuted a new dress by Catherine Walker, one of her favorites (and one of Diana’s favorites too). Note the suspicious lack of buttons! How do we even know this is Kate without 30 buttons parceled out across the dress? As for the dress… it’s okay. I would have wanted Kate to go brighter since she’s doing an event with the Queen, but maybe that’s some sort of unwritten rule – the Queen must wear the brightest color! So Kate went for her version of a professional look in grey and black. The Queen got all of the noticeable buttons!!
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I love this look on her-it’s polished and “princess-y.”
Cute outfit, terrible posture. Duchess of Hunch. She looks like she’s ashamed of her height and that’s very un-royal of her.
My trainer calls her posture “crunch curl.” She over works her abs and doesn’t balance it with back and shoulder work.
I think part of it here is that she’s with the Queen, who’s considerably shorter than she is-there’s a visible effort not to overshadow her or walk too fast.
The flared skirt is too twee, esp. with the collar. A straighter skirt would’ve balanced it more and looked more professional.
Also, she’s not just “tagging along with TQ on an outing”, as it states in the article, Kate was made Patron, so it’s her gig, too.
@Jan90067-
I agree. Though I do think the silhouette could be improved on if the skirt were maybe 3″ longer.
Notsosocialbutterfly, a poster below (I think it’s JadedBrit, forgive me OP if I misremembered) mentioned Kate’s giving off “Vera Lynn vibes”, and damned if it didn’t make me think of the scene in “White Christmas” where VL is wearing a black sweater/white turtleneck tucked into a very flared skirt (midi length popular in the 40s/50s). And it made me think that yes! this skirt, if it was midi length, it’d be great!
Operative word = cute. She’s a grown woman; she can dress like an adult.
I think it’s poor nutrition. If she were “ashamed” of her height, or didn’t want to tower over the shorter Queen, she wouldn’t choose to wear those very high heels. But, people have always made excuses for her (“she was always thin”; “she doesn’t want to appear tall”; etc.).
I’m always complaining about her posture.
…and every time I see the avatar of your sweet little giggling bebop, I sit up a little straighter. I hope you’re happy:)
It could be worse, it could be bright red lipstick triggering me to spring upright.
I think @MaryContrary is right about Kate trying not to tower over the Queen. I mean, she doesn’t have the best posture in general, but the stooping is much worse than usual here.
Why thanks Lady D! That’s my daughter 18 years ago after she found a tube of lipstick.
Uhm, Kate isn’t wearing very high heels to this engagement. What on earth are people seeing?! She is wearing low block heels. Different from the usual high heels the Royal ladies sport. Is there a Royal Heel Protocol Police? Didn’t think so. Meghan wears lovely high heels.
I like the coat dress. I like the shoes. They look comfortable. Not crazy about her hair with the look though. Maybe wear it back for this look?
Is Kate’s posture getting worse each year?
In one video a robotics student was describing how the robotics were made, Kate’s reply ,after this very proud young man explained the effort gone into these robotic creations , was Wow! .. It made me laugh for some reason, like her ,can you smell the smell comment years ago.
The Queen looks fantastic.
I would have expected her to go with a below the knee hemline on a one-on-one with TQ.
How disappointing to be that student. Too bad he didn’t get to explain it to the Queen, instead.
The chunky block heels combined with her unique frame, overly high waistband and hair down culminate in an awkward school girl look. Viewed from behind, sadly, I have seen herons walk with greater grace.
The look in general is like a throwback to 2011/2012.
i agree. it appears to me as if she wanted to present herself as a very young women in this outing with the qeen.
I don’t think she was walking ungracefully but I don’t like the shoes at all. The dress is ok but a bit boring.
+1
It’s not one of her best looks. Her hair should have been pulled back a bit as it doesn’t look right with the hat. The dress is more of a miss than a hit.
I do not understand the collar on the dress.
Kate has the unique ability to look old and immature at the same time.
oh my…you nailed it! I was noticing it’s a little longer than most of her full skirted outfits, so was giving her props for the added inch in length. Mrs.Krabapple…you nailed it. Old and immature…at the same time…LOL
The Queen looks healthy and happy. Pink is a nice color on her.
I love the pink with the black, she looks fabulous!
Some of my work colleagues attended the event (we worked on the refurbishment project) and got to meet the Queen. They were all impressed at how lovely she is, very gracious and chatty. I’m going to be hearing about it for a long time! 😉
Cute outfit on Kate. The Queen is always on point.
I think they look lovely together here. The soft grey and pale pink look stunning together. It’s nice to finally read a nice comment after the endless negativity above. I can’t imagine being in her position and having everything about myself being ripped to shreds constantly: hair, walk, posture, clothing, style, face…
On that note I also don’t get this whole: “Meghan got this first and way quicker!!!” tone of the article. I don’t think they need to constantly be thrown up against each other and made to compete. Kate had a one-on-one event, it was just inside, not outside.
Oh yes! They do blend nicely, don’t they?
I just don’t like constant negativity lol. I like both women and not everything needs to be a competition or comparison.
She looks great! Well put together. It reminds me of 2011-2012 when she looked her best!!
she looks like she borrowed an outfit from the Queen herself but shortened it before wearing it. lovely hat though.
she almost always looks like she’s cosplaying the Queen in the 50’s or 60’s.
Kate has the same posture as the Queen. With the significant age difference that is worrisome.
Kate needs to work on her posture. She looks ok, just that issue.
They attended a fashion show in Leicester on their own in 2012. I don’t think this is a case of the Queen preferring Meghan (I think she probably likes both for different for different reasons).
I think they both look fabulous.
The day visit to Leicester was with Phillip
He indeed came to Leicester but did not attend some events (like the fashion show)
Goodness, I never knew! (It appears Phillip was left almost entirely out of most media coverage of that event. IT COUNTS!)
I hate that she wears Catherine Walker. It reads to me like the the choice of an insecure woman who is imitating her late mother-in-law.
Something nice: She does appear much more relaxed since the birth of her third child. More likeable (imo), too.
xo it is creepy, especially as Catherine Walker is dead. Her widower is using old patterns, like ones made for Diana, to make copies.
It’s definately one for the history books that Kate was invited on a day out with just the Queen & Prince Philip. I don’t think even Diana managed that! We all know how unaccommodating Philip can be especially to the female in-laws so good on Kate for getting that rare treat! That day was an experience which unfortunately will never be replicated now that Philip has retired.
@Nota is this another “custom” piece? There are no prices given anywhere for this coat. How convenient for Kate.
Well I bet it wasn’t anywhere near 100,000 like that tent your gal wore in Morocco.
Kate’s trip to Leicester in 2012 with the Queen & Philip should count as her first public solo engagement with the monarch. We need to remember that the situation was different 8 years ago. Philip was still an active member of the royal family so he would normally accompany the Queen everywhere. Philip is now retired hence why other members of the family are now carrying out more solo engagements with the queen.
exactly!
But….if Philip was there, then it WASNT her first public solo engagement with the queen.
It does count as a solo engagement because Philip did not go to all of the events in Leicester such as the fashion show. And if he hadn’t retired chances are he probably would have tagged along to the event the queen had with Meghan.
Personally I find this particular comparison to be silly. Is this just an attempt to prove that the queen loves/respect one woman more? It’s already been established that Kate has attended solo engagements with the Queen before. Whether it is an event at Buckingham Palace or one outdoors where Philip was also present what does it matter. If the queen did not like/respect Kate she would not have invited her to all these events.
This isn’t Kaiser saying that its her “First public solo engagement” with the Queen. It’s basically the first line of every story about the engagement.
@REDBURGANDY
This is exactly what I was trying to say in my comment down thread (and was called ‘defensive’). There is no need for any comparison here because this engagement has nothing at ALL to do with Meghan. It’s just the Queen choosing to do an event with Kate that was likely planned a good while ago.
If Prince Phillip was there then it was by definition not solo. People can ascribe meanings to it or not, but solo literally means something different than both the Queen and Phillip attending at once.
I think the Queen’s first appearance w/ DoSussex was optics. Meant to show she was/is fully accepted by TQ & thereby the RF & thereby the State (which she embodies).
In other words, not about DoC vs. DoS at all, but about TQ & how SHE operates, she put her power behind the perceived ‘outsider’ letting one & all know Meghan is an Insider. “It’s about the Family Michael” (don Corleone voice). Queen Signaling.
Did anyone else see this? It is so, so funny!!
https://twitter.com/RoyalDetective8/status/1108011755484209156
Why is it funny? I think it’s cruel.
Why is this funny?
Lorelei, were the pictures really doctored or is this how it actually went?
Cruel? How is it cruel? The reporter got caught which makes it funny. IMO
@Lady D no the only photo that was doctored was the one Chris Ship posted. If you look at the first one closely you can see the split down the middle, and then you can see he pulled those two images from other photos.
ETA: You can see his original post here.
https://twitter.com/chrisshipitv/status/1108008385390264320
I noticed that line, too. It’s kind of obvious and it’s funny. I don’t understand the cruel comment, unless it’s cruel to call the photographer on his bullshit?
@Lady D ITA. I have no idea what someone could find cruel. He posted a ridiculous picture and got called out for it. Really not a big deal! It just made me laugh.
Haha that is funny.
Because the original tweet you linked to (which is terribly difficult to understand since it is so poorly written) has a bunch of comments underneath about how this is proof the queen hates Kate, and that reporters are forced to create photos where they interact.
We might snark but these are still human beings and posting something where there is comment after comment about how one member of a family hates the other is cruel. (For what it’s worth, many of those comments were using the hashtag #sussexsquad. Edited to add: I had never heard of this hashtag until today and it’s a whole lot of crazy. There’s a whole bit about “moles” and “traitors”—I guarantee any of these royals do not think about us as much as we think about them.)
It just goes to show how far the British press will go to paint Kate in a positive light. I don’t think this is the first time it’s happened, if I remember correctly.
A reporter,not even a tabloid,uses two cropped pics for a tweet and it’s the proof Kate is hated? Let me guess.. is it also the proof that the Queen loves and prefers Meghan? LOL These are the occasions where I love the pics and gifs selection.. lol I bet someine is busy finding THAT photo of Kate which can be used as THE proof that she’s being ignored by the Queen,overlooking others that show a nice interaction.. It reminds me of the engagement with Meghan which offered every kind of photos and gifs that are selectively used to prove a point,in one way or the other! LOL
What’s the big deal? It’s obviously two photos.
Well, I’m not allowed to see it, so that’s that…
Kate has no style. I don’t understand why she has to add belt in every single of her dress. The belt here look like a cheap plastic one.
I think The Queen trust Meghan more with public engagement, it didn’t take long for her to have one with her.
Short legs, long torso. The belt is supposed to trick the eye into thinking shorter torso/longer legs. Problem is, it’s placed about an inch too high. Drop it about an inch or so and the proportions would be better.
You’re exactly right. This is why the proportions appear off in many of her outfits.
Skirt or hair, Kate, not both. Do a pencil skirt and the curls or put your hair up and do the flaired skirt. As it is, this look is too little girly.
No, in addition to the wedding dress they spent a full day of events in Leicester together 1:1 in 2012 too. Please fix the headline! I love celebitchy but if the reporting is inaccurate the Meghan haters will come for you guys on other articles and your veracity generally. Xoxo
The royal reporters on Twitter are giving the same information, so…
Yes, the headline is everywhere. It must be that The Firm is pushing this narrative deliberately.
Philip was also there that day though.
Philip was there, too…
I have a dress similar to the dress Kate is wearing.
The only differences are my dress is from Ann Taylor, the skirt isnt so flared, and the cost clearly.
Just awful, too short, too tween. She looks like a school girl out for lunch with her grandmother
Precisely! You’ve nailed it.
Yes. I think the grey colour really compliments TQ’s pink outfit but the look is sploiled by the flared skirt the is too short.
Meh, the style is like a uniform for her. She looks nice, and neat, and non-threatening to the avid royalists.
While I do think that she looks “nice” I also feel that this is not an appropriate outfit for someone of her age. To me, her clothes always look out of style and frumpy, and oftentimes childish. She looks better in slimmer silhouettes. She needs a makeover, she could look so good!!!
This is an inappropriate outfit of a woman in her 30’s? Give me a break. You can not like the outfit, but let’s not be dramatic.
I’m going to have to disagree with you. In her role she would be better served by displaying some gravitas and because she neither says or does much, the best way for her to do it is through her clothing. She nailed it at the St. Patricks Day engagement in a terrific ensemble that was so appropriate. Then she wears something school girlish like this. It’s not a good look for an engagement with the Queen at all. I really hate too short skirts and dresses on grown women and prefer pants over all. Too bad Royal women seem to have to wear dresses all the time.
Yep,
@Lolly, I stand by my original comment. I don’t think that it’s an appropriate look for someone in their late 30s. She is not a good dresser and the flounced skirts and sausage curls just make her look dated and unprofessional. I don’t think that my comment is any more “dramatic” than other commenters who have expressed their dislike of Duchesses Cambridge or Sussex’s attire.
There was one occasion where she, her husband, and Harry were in France for a WWI commemorative ceremony and she looked great. Her hair was worn up and she had on a pencil skirt and a nice cost, she looked fantastic. As I stated above, she should wear slimmer silhouettes, she looks great in them.
She looks SO GOOD in pencil skirts. I don’t even care about juvenile vs gravitas or whatever. she looks so much better in pencil skirts. I get that they are not always going to be the most comfortable, especially if she may be bending down a great deal during a specific event, but overall I think she should veer towards that silhouette and not this flouncy skirts. Her outfit from Sunday looked great.
As someone in their 30s I would agree with @RENEE2.
Nothing wrong with Kate but her style really is balanced between childish and matronly.
Its really fascinating.
I agree even though I like Kate ,the dress really does look inappropriate and uncomfortable. This is a fail after her wonderful St.Patrick’s Day outing.Away, from Kate, I need the Queen’s coat
It looks more appropriate for Lady Louise, but she would reject it as too juvenile.
ITA, Kate continues with a school girlish type of look and I can’t understand why. This was a big event for Kate, and this is what she came up with? The Queen is better with staying on trend then Kate, with the help of her dresser Angela Kelly.
I have the same body type as Kate- tall, short legs, long torso. I think it’s a swimmer’s thing. But, I have no idea what people are talking about with regard to pencil skirts being uncomfortable. Pencil dresses and skirts, wide leg high waisted pants, and slim cropped pants are my entire work wardrobe. As long as you have your clothes properly fitting and the length of the skirt is below knee length, there should be no problem. Of course, Kate tailors her fitted clothing really really close, so maybe that’s her problem. Wearing clothing that is fitted but not uncomfortably restrictive is a thing you learn in the work place. If a pencil skirt is too tight, even if it doesn’t look it when standing, it will ride up when you sit and cut at the waist. So uncomfortable.
@Renee2, I totally agree. Instead of the gravitas of a future Queen Consort, she looks like the teenage granddaughter of the Queen. Nope. She’s mid-30s with 3 kids and 8 years of royal marriage. Grow up!
The Queen looked lovely.
Her age? What age? Meanwhile Spanish queen wear leather head to toe and she is gasp… wait for it… in her 40s!
There is nothing wrong apart from Kate’s spine. I don’t think pregnancies helped.
Her Maj looks great!
Kate’s dress is a bit schoolgirly to me and I think the belt cheapens it. I think the colour is fine though. When you’re with the Queen, who is known for her bright colours, it makes sense to go for something more neutral.
But Kate, have a word with Meghan, get a yoga routine going and stand up straight or you’ll end up with a hump!
The timing of this is so suspect, Meghan really has Kate feeling threatened!
After soo many years and no solo joint appearances with the Queen, all of a sudden she’s doing a joint appearance…. for a refurbished building (lol) Meghan really has her rattled!
Also, that outfit … sigh.
Sorry but this really is confirmation bias. As a Meghan fan you say that this is Kate being rattled by Meghan and so she is what… forcing the Queen to do an engagement with her? A Kate fan would say this is the Queen showing Kate support in the face of all these Meghan vs Kate rumours.
A more objective person would realise it’s neither of these things and is probably an event planned long ago that has NOTHING to do with Meghan at all. Enough of the constant comparisons (including in the article above)!
This is the second post in two days about “confirmation bias.” Is that the new thing?
This is a celebrity gossip website that veers a bit snarky. It’s not a news site. Of course there are going to be comparisons.
@eyeroll THANK YOU
Sorry, but this is a bit too obvious to handwave away. I don’t think Kate stormed into the Queen’s offices and demanded a solo engagement…but I CAN imagine Kate having her people reach out to Her Majesty’s people after Meghan had her outing.
Kate has NEVER been as busy as in the last couple of months, hasn’t bothered to bee seen alone with the Queen, etc.
It is absolutely natural to compare Kate’s current behaviour with her past behaviour and wonder where the sudden change comes from. And the answer is obviously Meghan.
Oh don’t get me wrong, I do think Kate’s more fulsome workload probably does have something to do with Meghan hitting the ground running (coupled with Kate’s newfound confidence after giving birth to Louis) but this is just not the best example.
The Queen sets her own agenda and this was probably planned way in advance. Even Kate when she was at her most workshy wouldn’t pass up an engagement with the Queen. This one really has nothing to do with Meghan.
@eyeroll I have followed royal stories for years and Kate has never been this active until Meghan came on the scene and i’m not sure why you are so defensive in me acknowledging that. Any objective person would see her change since Meghan arrived, it’s so obvious!
@baronsamedi I agree! Current Kate behavior vs. Past Kate behavior is too different for people not to notice and it can’t be a coincidence that its happening when there’s a new family member (Meghan) in the equation.
@jagirl
I literally have acknowledged upthread that Kate’s increased workload probably does have something to do with Meghan – hardly defensive. I just don’t think that this event has anything to do with that – Kate hasn’t masterminded this event with The Queen to keep up with Meghan. It’s The Queen for crying out loud.
I suspect it is the Queen’s decision to “balance scales” that never needed balancing in response to lunatic fans who keep wierd scores such as how many solo trips the Queen has made with which Grand-daughter-in-law and how soon after meeting them. To any rational individual, this is a bizarre competition – the sort that kindergarteners have about whom Teacher likes best and what sitting next to Miss Hill on the bus on the way back from Kew Gardens means (she was naughty. No she is her favourite).
Yes, this is all for “optics” (there’s that dreaded 2020s word) – but not, this time, to befit some arcane Royal procedure – but for a wierd royal fanbase that has gone all primary school in its dotage.
Gosh, i wouldn’t be surprised if the Queen is becoming a Republican at this point. I know I’m gravitating from a lazy one who couldn’t be bothered to actively protest to one who may well be bothered – this time less because of the royals than because of the lunacy they inspire.
@BaronSamedi Kate had two “solo engagements” with her after the wedding,so it’s not true that she has never bothered to be seen alone with the queen. The one where Philip was present at some events definitely counted as an engagement with her.
As far as her schedule is concerned,it was reported last year that they moved permanently to KP to be “full-time”. William has consistently stepped up too,so I expect that she will continue to do it as well.
I’d be becoming a republican too if there was a chance that I might have to ask Boris Johnson to form a government.
Hmm, If I were her in that situation, I’d become the ultimate monarchist; seize executive authority, off with Boris’ head and all that. The man is villainous.
Having said that, “one” probably has a greater kinship with the likes of the Bo-Johnson contingent – the Turk notwithstanding – than with umm, Jezzer or someone who will hopefully succeed him soon.
I think this has more to do with Philip’s retirement. KP announced in the summer of 2017 that W&K would be moving to London permanently & become full-time royals. This was around the time when Philip’s retirement was announced. Since then we have seen William give up his air ambulance job & increase his royal duties, and Kate started 2018 strong before going on maternity leave for the rest of the year.
Exactly, Megan’s arrival coincides with Philip’s retirement. All of the younger royals are doing more to compensate, and going with the Queen to events.
Kate would have solo events with TQ on record except Philip was there, so they don’t “count” as solo.
The Queen looks like she is announcing the arrival of spring.
She really does, doesn’t she?
The flowers on her hat are so cute (and they match the print on the skirt/dress underneath perfectly!).
Kate looks fine – very in her wheelhouse. The Queen looks great in that pink. This reminds me of that story about Meghan’s engagement with the Queen where she was told that the Queen will be wearing a hat (which apparently means that Meghan was also supposed to wear a hat?) Kate clearly got the hat memo here lol.
Kate has been Duchessing for eight years, If she doesn’t get the memo then she’s really dumb.
Meghan was only few weeks being married when she had one on one engagement with TQ. She’s probably still learning about British custom and tradition. I also don’t understand why BP team didn’t just ask her to wear a hat.
Maybe they asked her and she just didn’t want to? Or didn’t have a matching one?
@IRA i really dislike the indirect style of communication the palace apparently used there. “the queen will be wearing a hat” = “you must wear a hat as well”? why not just say that outright?
@Olive, that’s very British. “Not bad” means very good, etc. There’s a good chart going around that says what we mean when we say particular things. It comes of having lots of people in a small space, you can’t be too direct.
Weren’t you complaining about ‘constant comparisons’ in this same thread? Being consistent is easier said than done for some I guess.
@BeachDreams
I was actually trying to make a point about the unnecessary ambiguity of the Palace ‘hat memos’ but nice try.
And agree with the response up thread about Kate being around long enough to know what ‘the Queen is wearing a hat’ means whereas Meghan was super new. Just say ‘wear a hat please’ for crying out loud.
Another yawn. And I don’t like the flared skirts and the length. Would it be too much to ask for a nice fitting A line or pencil?
Due to the outfits she chooses, all these photographs just melt into each other. No pizazz. Nothing to strike out at you. Such a shame.
She wore a skirt without flare on March 6. https://whatkatewore.com/2019/03/06/its-michael-kors-sportmax-for-blackpool-engagements/
Agreed. My god woman, change your style! It’s as bad as Jennifer Aniston’s hair! Does Kate have one original thought in her brain?
Oh, we are back to the flared skirts I see.
Kate looks fine. I actually liked the dress at first glance, and then the more I look at pictures the less I like it. I think its the combination of collar, belt and skirt – if the skirt was a nice pencil skirt, or it didn’t have that collar, I think I would like it a lot more. But overall this is a pretty classic Kate look.
Queen looks great in pink. I do think that her team and Kate’s team must have talked because the black gloves and buttons go nicely with Kate’s look.
With those details and the juvenile too-high belt? Kate’s outfit looks like something out of the American Girl doll collection.
God, she looks like a Samantha doll! And not in a good way. I’m actually appalled by how childish she looks. It’s so twee. Also cheap looking. Especially that belt. And those little girl tights need to go away forever. There was an old Mary Higgins Clark novel that featured a character who was married to a pedophile who made the character dress uncomfortably young-looking. I’m sure that’s not the case here, but it’s the first thing that came to mind when I saw her.
Doesn’t she have another nearly identical Catherine Walker? The peter pan collared schmatta with the buttons? How are people not shrieking about 2 brand new custom coats with identical items in her closet within 2 days of each other. Meghan wore 2 less expensive off the rack trench coats on the Australia tour and people were up in arms.
Also, is Catherine Walker’s widower really just using old patterns? That explains alot. None of the silhouettes are updated in the slightest but the fabric he’s using isn’t of good enough quality to stand up to the old designs. Even in the 80s, fabric choices were much better. This explains why all of her Walker items look so chintzy. They need to be cut from better fabric.
omg, now that you’ve mentioned Samantha, I cant unsee it. Its a perfect combination of her school dress from Samantha Learns a Lesson and her plaid dress with hat from Meet Samantha.
I clearly had one, haha.
I did too! A perfectly appropriate outfit on a 10 year old. A creepy mess on a woman in her late 30s.
The queen looks cute. Like a little old grandma. Kate looks like a little girl. That’s all I got. Also lol at that thumbnail.
The Queen looks amazing! Fresh and elegant.
And that is a difficult colour to pull off, IMHO.
Love her in purples and pinks.
Princess Mary wore a similar print dress the other day, but she just looked so much more modern in it. It had a slimmer skirt and I even didn’t mind the Peter pan collar on her dress. Kate looks fine but a little too schoolgirl.
How does she manage to look matronly and twee at the same time? She’s as exciting as a dish of vanilla pudding.
Sophie is the Queen’s favorite and Kate has done more official engagements with the Queen than her. The Queen definitely spends more personal time than Sophie. The Queen does it more as a teaching thing than a “you are my favorite” thing. William wanted to be a part time Royal up until 2017. He also stubbornly felt that he should be the one teaching Kate. That’s why one of the engagements was when William was stationed in the Falklands. Things got visibly rocky in their relationship after his return. The next time Kate was with the Queen, William was there too. William was clearly afraid that Kate might learn how to work if he wasn’t supervising properly. She was happier doing engagements in the early days. It was only after this that she lost interest and looked uncomfortable all the time. That’s why I cut Kate slack. She basically married her mother. Motherhood seems to have helped her form an independent identity and I’m glad to see her more confident.
I don’t understand this. Why William afraid Kate learn how to work as Royal? Why basically she’s married her mother? William is her mother?
William and Kate are both lazy, unfortunately they’re the future King and Queen consort of GB.
No, Kate has not done more engagements with the Queen than Sophie. Sophie has 20 years of engagements with the Queen.
Black and grey make up most of my wardrobe because it’s easy to make them look professional.
I like it. I’ve actually just embraced the block heel trend myself and decided that I’m not going to get rid of shoes anymore (as long as they’re in good shape) because they come back in fashion every 10-15 years.
I’m gonna say it…
Kate’s clothes work my VERY…LAST…NERVES!!!!!!
It’s like she’s doing some 1940s cosplay…and not the HAWT 1940s clothes that Bette Davis or Katherine Hepburn or any of those magnificent Divas would wear…I’m talking….well…1940s items that someone in the ROYAL FAMILY WOULD WEAR!!!!!
I’m just sick of seeing her in things that I wore as a child…to Sunday school….
I said the same thing lol
Also, the fact that she choses McQueen to be “her” go to brand but then wears the less McQueen things possible? Chose another designer then, and would Alexander feel okay with dressing royalty? I don’t know.
Nah, 40s style can look really sexy if it’s done right. This stuff is so prim and uptight.
As a fellow short-legged lady with a long torso, these block heels make me cringe. She’s tall so she really can get away with so much more and it frustrates me to see this young, beautiful mother dress so poorly for her frame. Also so matronly. Block heels tho…. not for short legs.
The hat is nice.
Really? I’m petite but have been switching over to block heels lately because I like height but feel like these are more comfortable, a bit more casual for work, and feel a bit more up to date, but are they dowdy? Maybe I need a stylist… 🙂
I think block heels are great on anyone. Plus they offer more stability.
I love (no I don’t) this insistence here that Kate has woefully short legs. All the faux sympathy.
These heels are, imo, a blessed relief from the accursed 1980s stilettos that ruin outfits for me.
Thanks Vava and Glor, I try to be cool 🙂 but sometimes also you just have to wear what works, and agree, I have beautiful stilettos from the Sex and the City days but some are just too impractical, esp for actually living in a city and walking everywhere.
What kind of bizarre arbitrary rule is that?
Tall girl with short legs here too. Not only does she look ridiculous towering over the queen like that, the heel height is too high for the length and proportion of the skirt. She looks like a doll, and not in a good way.
I also find that kitten heels with dresses make my legs look longer this would have been a good day to repeat one of her blue tweed skirt suits. With low heels.
Do you have an issue with Meghan’s heel heights? Probably not, darling. There is no protocol regarding heel height. however, if you *must* insist there is, I guess Meghan hasn’t been following it. Can’t really *insist* something for one Duchess, then ignore it for another one. If you’re going to go all out on made up royal protocols, go head, but you should note that consistency is the key!
I preferred Duchess Meghan’s sleek look during her outing with the Queen. A creamy coloured hat to match or maybe a pop of colour for the hat would have made the outfit, IMO.
Point to where I mentioned anything about rules or protocols. And, no, dear, I don’t have a problem with Meghan wearing high heels because she can walk like an adult in them and doesn’t tower awkwardly over people while slouching like a teenager.
I really like Meghan’s outfit for the outing with the queen, minus the embossed label on the belt. I’m not one to pay thousands of dollars to someone to advertise for them. Nothankyouverymuch.
Don’t like the bottom of the coat because the length should be longer with that silhouette. However I don’t see an issue with the heels or walk.
I think Kate should invest in some smart pantsuits. Her gait reminds me of a tomboy forced to wear dresses. Meghan has opened the trouser door so I think Kate should just waltz in behind her.
Theory and max mara make amazing pantsuits. She should definitely replace 2/3 of her wardrobe with them.
Gorgeous dress, except for the collar on it. Fits her great though. Those pointy shoes … Ugh.
My god, no. STAND UP STRAIGHT, KATE. This is the first thing thing she needs to do. Looking at these photos is painful! If the shoes are causing this, then wear some flats or lower heels. My guess though is she is nervous around, and intimidated by, the Queen and that’s the reason for the particularly noticeable slump in her posture.
These Walker creations are just terrible. As others have stated, they make her look so juvenile. The skirt is too wide and the belt cheapens the entire look. I don’t mind the color, the velvet collar, but the overall shape of this thing makes her look like a little child. Hate the hat with that hairstyle, too. Two thumbs down.
The only way to salvage this would be to completely redesign the skirt, remove the belt, ditch that hat and for the love of god – stand up straight!
If she had worn mid heeled over the knee boots, she might have gotten away with everything but that terrible belt. But those shoes and those tights and that hat. God, this looks so cheap.
I’m tall and most of my clients are closer to 5′. I feel like a fool making myself tower a bit above 6′ only to have to bend down like a kindergarten teacher to talk to them. I also think it’s disrespectful. Kitten heeled slingbacks from Jimmy Choo and Sam Edelman have been a godsend.
Agreed! i’m trying to imagine Kate wearing some mid-heeled OTK boots. Somehow I can’t picture it, such a thing would be way too fashion forward for her. Not sure even the boots could fix this stupid looking coat dress, the skirt part is way too much fabric. I don’t mind the length, but the billowing skirt part is so damned juvenile.
She really should start rocking some more pencil skirt suits and beautifully tailored trousers with elegant jackets. Her style really sucks at the moment, even though I thought her coat on St. Patrick’s Day was good – but it still begs the question: how many green coats does one Stepford Wife need? I think 2/3 of her entire wardrobe should be auctioned off and maybe she can start over by getting some really great pieces and have a working wardrobe that is interesting by mixing and matching things.
Can’t say I like the Queen’s coat, either. Never have liked her hats – they remind me of the Cat in the Hat.
Someone on the other post said the dress looked like the floor of a car trunk and I can’t unsee it. The seamstress is also trying to fake a v shape on Kate by setting the shoulder seams 2 inches too wide. It looks like they did the same thing for the green coat. And seriously, she has to have a dozen green coats by now. She finally landed on a not terrible one with the velvet collar and cuffs but I thought Sunday’s offering looked cheap. I thought the same of the black remembrance day coat that was nearly the same. But they are all tailored too slim. They make her look emaciated.
She and I have the same body type. A healthy weight goes a long way to minimizing the disproportionate torso. But that doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen. Slim crop pants, high-waisted wide legged pants, high waisted midi pencil skirts, pencil dresses with cardigans or blazers, these are the things people with our body type need to wear. Fit and flare works-ish sometimes, but it takes a deep midi skirt to balance it. The most amazing thing she’s ever worn is the ivory off the shoulder Barbara Casasola. She needs to lean in to that sort of thing hard.
Gianvito Rossi has incredible over the knee boots with a block heel but you’re right, nothing could save this schmatta. Even if it was cut into a pencil dress without the belt. The fabric is terrible.
I’ve been saying for months now that she should auction off her wardrobe to benefit EACH- Especially her terrible evening gowns. The psycho #replikates will waste a couple of mortgage payments for her barely used littany of lace curtains. Toss the high street junk (especially those horrible Zara moto jeggings) and start over at Theory, Max Mara, and mother denim. And stop with the high heels if she can’t stand tall or walk gracefully in them. I’m tall and I love a kitten to mid heel, I think it looks so chic and makes the legs look longer. And also comfortable and appropriate. Most women learn this by their late 30s, having spent our 20s teetering around looking like a baby giraffe. But if you have never had a job, you wouldn’t know that. Denim with zero stretch also helps out with the stumpy legs too. It skims instead of clings.
They need to be done with the hats for non-ceremonial events too. Meghan was smart to ignore the queen’s aide’s implication that she wear a hat to their outing. No power on earth will make me believe that Meghan didn’t know what that meant but didn’t want to start a fight by refusing. There’s really no way to wear one and look modern or professional.
I still think Kate’s best option is to have one more kid like she obviously plans and retire from public life. She’s just too painfully clueless and change resistant.
WHY does Kate constantly channel Vera Lynn?? Apart from the recent Westminster Abbey appearance, she consistently wears clothes that would be better suited to black and white cinema. She rarely does her appearance justice.
Fine for her husband’s grandmother. Uncomfortable on her.
OMG I just had a “White Christmas “ flash of Vera Lynn in that black sweater, white turtleneck, and HUGE flared, belted skirt!! SUCH a tiny waist!! Frankly, if Kate had this in a “40s” length (midi) and dropped the collar, it’d be lovely.
At least it’s a dress instead of a coat dress
Where is the outrage about the cost? Is it couture? That is saved for Meghan.
Cost is irrelevant when we are dressing the future QC!! YWIA!!!
Becks1, why are you making things up? It clearly isn’t irrelevant when you’ve all been criticising Kate’s costs as far back as 2011/2012. Soo???? What gives? Meghan spends too much on the haute couture and Kate spends too much on her bespoke items – no need for haute couture or bespoke/custom/couture for every engagement.
Especially since she already has an almost identical outfit. But, sure, Meghan is the spendthrift. Mmhmm. We see you racist fools.
Meghan has spent more than kate ever has in a year. THAT is what people complain about.
And people have actually complained about her cost. And yet meghan’s is still way way way more.
Kate spent $175,000 American in the first year of her marriage, according to Forbes, when she was seen about 2 dozen times, excluding the Tour after the wedding and excluding her wedding dress. Meghan’s figures are always inclusive of her jewelry, engagement gown, and wedding gown. And we’ve seen Meghan 10 dozen times in 2018 and over 2 dozen times in 2019. According to Elle, Meghan’s wardrobe has cost about half a million USD, without the wedding dress. Divide that by the number of times we’ve seen her and her wardrobe averaged about $3500 USD so far. Divide Kate’s figure for her first year by her number of appearances that year- about 3 and half dozen, including the North America tour- gets you $4200 per look. We know for a fact that Kate has never paid for anything she owns, if it wasn’t her in-laws, it was her family. We can’t verify definitively what Meghan has bought for herself pre or post marriage, but we can nearly guarantee that she purchased all of her pre-marriage clothing herself. Anyone complaining about the cost of her clothing but not leveling more criticism at Kate for her spending is trafficking in racism. Case in point: nearly everything that she has worn new this year, she has a nearly identical item already in her closet.
Hold up, does The Queen’s brooch match her outfit ?
Baller Liz, baller.
KCL students are tweeting about the visit saying students who’ve been ‘considered a threat’ have had their access/ID cards cancelled and aren’t allowed on campus until 2pm. It’s a disgrace- these kids are paying thousands of pounds to do their degrees here and are being excluded for VERY dubious reasons relating to background and politics. Kaiser, could you cover this or add this to the post? It’s obviously not personally coming from Kate and the Queen, but their security and the university or whoever did this should be ashamed of themselves.
https://twitter.com/sharon_evi/status/1107969186809016320?s=21
(This tweet reads: So the Queen is at KCL today and they have cancelled the ID cards of students that the uni deem to be a threat. As in they can’t enter any part of campus until 2pm. WILD)
Par for the course with high-level Royal engagements. I have no doubt they swept people off the street for Harry’s wedding in the same way they deemed people a threat to William’s wedding. Whenever there are big Royal engagements like these protesters here in the UK aren’t allowed to express their voices against the monarchy. That is why you usually see anti-monarchy protesters overseas at their engagements, booing and such, but hardly ever here. It’s a shame but it is how the Firm roll.
I just don’t understand how two women can wear similar dresses but yet look so dissimilar. Imho, Mary looks neat and professional and Kate looks a bit twee.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6822291/Princess-Mary-Denmark-wears-optical-illusion-dress-launches-environmental-challenge.html
The shoes and the pencil skirt…..they really do change the whole look.
Yep, the shoes, the pencil skirt, THE HAIRCUT, the earrings, everything basically LOL!
I don’t understand the hair criticism. Her hair isn’t a drastically different style from Kate’s – Kate’s is just in loose curls. From the pictures I’ve seen of Kate as a kid she seems to have wavy borderline curly hair – is that the issue? People would rather she straightened her hair? I just don’t seem to be grasping what other people are saying. Sausage curls is another term thrown around a lot, but she doesn’t wear actual sausage curls.
@Erinn I think Kate’s hair looks beautiful today. A few people have called it “sausage curls” but I don’t think that at all— it’s just wavy IMO. She has definitely worn ridiculous sausage curls in the past but not today.
Yes we have def seen her in sausage curls, but not today. I actually think her hair looks nice in general today, but I don’t like it with that particular hat.
OMG! Kate would look absolutely perfect in that same dress silhouette as Princess Mary, less Twee. Kate’s style is too young and, while it’s a lovely dress, it’s just a wee bit too young for her. Kate is nearly 40 years old, she needs to modernize her style to be age-appropriate.
That is a gorgeous shade of pink Her Majesty is wearing. It’s the perfect spring pink–and she looks lovely.
Mary looks perfect!
Yeah, I don’t think people here really know what sausage curls look like…………. lol. Sausage curls are tight curls. Kate has worn loose sausage curls in the past but we haven’t seen those curls on her for a long time. They were girlish. Her hair is now usually loosely waved. Meghan does the same loose waved look. I think waves suit them both. I forgot Kate’s hair is naturally wavy! Bone straight hair is a no-no, soft waves/curls flatter the face.
What about the event at the train station in 2011….that was just the two of them alone without other members of the royal family…
Prince Philip was there too just not close enough to make the photo.
I think Kate looks beautiful in this dress. The Queen also looks beautiful!
Well, I think they both look great! Pink and grey is a great color combination.
As a fellow big gal I feel for Kate’s hunch. I Imagine it would take something like ballet lessons – which Diana had – to prevent that nervous habit from forming. But can ballet help after the fact? OTOH there are some women like Julia Child, who at 6’2” never seemed to be bothered by her height.
I feel like if you want to play the royal game the LEAST you should do is get someone to help you fix your bad posture? All this moaning about protocol this and protocol that and nobody looked at her and went “We should put a book on her head!”?
Hah – I forgot about the book-on-head device! From tvtropes:
“The main exercise in just every poise class: learning to walk with a book on your head without letting it fall. It helps with standing up straight, the basis to earn respect in high class society. Rich men are not expected to slouch, either; but curiously, it’s mostly women who are shown training with books in fiction.”
I don’t find the coat childish or school girl-y. Kate seems to prefer A-line skirts and I’m guessing it’s because her hips are narrow and they give her some shape? I actually like it a lot, but I also love a good contrast or statement collar ( a good way to add visual interest without adding buttons)—though I think it would have been better in a different color.
It’s sweet she wore the same hat she did on their outing with Prince Philip.
Yes, I think the A-line skirts are gorgeous. They flatter everyone, too. I don’t’ see the problem. Duchess Meghan’s Dior outfit for the RAF event was also A-Line, it gave her some shape like this skirt is doing to Kate.
love, love, love that shade of pink on the queen. she looks marvelous.
The Queen reminds me of Yoda in the last picture.
Queen looks great in pink! Kate looks amazing, that’s my favourite style. Two well dressed royals.
Kate looks lovely!
Where do you live people it wasn’t her first her first engagement with the Queen was in 2012. Use Google from time to time you know so that you don’t make guild of urselves
first solo public engagement. This is not Kaiser saying this. This is literally every RR out there saying it.
Wasn’t that engagement considered her “first outing” with the Queen? Philip was there too,even if apparently he didn’t attend every event,but he used to accompany her everywhere when he was still working full-time. He would have surely tagged along with the Queen and Meghan too.
Harry and Meghan visited the New Zealand’s Embassy/Consulate this afternoon, and laid posies then sign the condolence book.
Meghan wore a Gucci coat and carried a Gucci clutch. Hmm, interesting……
Yes, interesting. The duchesses (K & M) have both worn pieces by Gucci recently, so I wonder if they’re not aware of the fashion house boycott or just don’t care.
Eh, I don’t think Meghan cares and I don’t think Kate cares. I don’t care either. I’m not chucking my Gucci pieces away. Why should I? So, I don’t expect other people to do the same. I do think they know, though. It was a big thing, but idk, why would people expect Duchesses to care when they married into the BRF, of all institutions? Lol.
I genuinely didn’t understand people bashing Kate or Meghan for wearing Gucci. Do these people want them to burn their new clothes/accessories or something?
Substance vs the Queen having to hold the hand of The English Rose who still doesn’t understand the job.
When tragedies take place, All RF members sign condolence books, btw. They usually show up without the cameras. I noticed W&K started with the cameras and it looks like Meghan and Harry are following suit. The other members turn up without cameras/attention on themselves.
Was the queen holding her hand? How? In the few photos I saw she looked perfectly comfortable chatting with people on her own..
I know M&H went on the behalf of the family,but if we want to talk about “substance” I would have appreciated more the gesture if it was truly a private visit.
Ohh, and I really dislike PH calling us r8gh8ads and p888s then going onto sign a condolence book, trying to show sympathy. After he called us that? I don’t think so, Prince!
Prince Charles in Barbados, 🏊🏾 wearing speedos (not) swim trunks, who will get the front page tomorrow? Charles, the Queen and Catherine or the Sussexes.
If they’re having a melt down on YouTube today, tomorrow will be worst.
Charles look amazing in that bathing suit, and not just for his age.
Black tights, square heels, flared skirt – evokes an Irish step dancer, though her skirts are longer now.
Tights are a staple here so I don’t get the tights hate! Everyone wears tights when it’s chilly outside – the young and old. Hose is worn in professional settings by all women – just the way it is.
Kates ‘work’ was breeding the next heir and shes done that + delivered 2 spares.
Do you really take them seriously when they talk about giving minorities a voice or lgbtq rights when these women wear D&G and Gucci? Anyone can talk a pretty talk. Theyre all the same, Meghan included. She just has a more engaging personality so everyone is blinded by that. Shes also the new shiny thing so…