Here are more photos of the Duchess of Cambridge with the Queen at today’s Kings College event. I saw the comments about the “twee” vibes of Kate’s dress and I’ll admit to thinking similar thoughts, although I just want to put this out there… I really believe that Kate thinks she has some kind of “signature” looks that are only for her. She feels like her signature looks involve coatdresses, endless blue dresses, grandma’s doily-lace dresses and this full-skirted silhouette. Kate loves a twirly skirt. Kate abhors a pencil skirt. So while I do find this silhouette to be rather twee and school-girlish on Kate, I also think that she trained us to expect this, and this is her style brand. She’s still going to be wearing twirly full skirts above the knee when she’s in her 60s.
Anyway, Rebecca English at the Daily Mail tried to tease out some big royal gossip and everyone was like OMG SUSSEX TWINS. The tea is not “Polo Babies.” The tea is that Kate has finally signed on to be the patroness of another charity. She is becoming the patron of the Foundling Museum. According to English, “The new patronage has been announced ahead of her visit there later today where she will learn how the organisation works with art and artists to transform the lives of vulnerable & marginalised young people.”
I went and looked it up, because going off my memory, I felt like this would be Kate’s third museum/gallery patronage. Turns out, it’s her FOURTH. She’s also patroness to the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Portrait Gallery and the National History Museum. The Foundling Museum seems like it intersects with Kate’s art-history background (*sideeye emoji*) and her interest in families and children.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I don’t think that’s what Rebecca was teasing. This patronage was widely expected.
Rebecca said she almost spit out her tea. A fourth museum patronage in Kate’s area of focus couldn’t be shocking to even the most casual royal watcher. I don’t get it. I mean, good for DoC, but . . . .
The “wow” moment appears to be Charles swimming at a beach. Yeah.
no it was is swimming trunks
Yes, Kate will always be granola mom, athletic, and girly twee….an interesting mix.
Its not my style but I also dont think, that women have to wear pencil skirts to look professional and pencil skirts are the only way. Its her body and she has to feel comfortable.
Good for her for taking on another patronage. Seems to be something right up her alley
I agree. She looks good and obviously, a full skirt makes her feel good. If she’s not comfortable in a pencil skirt, there’s no reason why she should wear one.
Agree. I think flared skirts/dresses are more flattering on her.
I’m one of those who is ok with her and Meghan’s style? I don’t get the criticism most of the time. Maybe because I’m not a fashion person. But I do understand when folks criticise them for cost (which should also be extended to the men).
Eh anyway she’s working so let’s see the numbers by year end.
The flared skirt just comes across as childish.
But this is Kate’s style.
I agree. I think Kate is aware of her height, her long waist and dainty bustline, and wants to feel more womanly and feminine. She does this with volume around the hips, which also flatters her teensy waistline and great legs. Yes, it reads a bit twee – her styling could be better, but if she wore pencil skirts all the time we might complain about how she can’t dress her body. I am *not at all* willowy. I have an athletic figure, more in the Meghan vein, though a couple of inches taller with less delicate shoulders, and I totally love pencil skirts because they show off my long legs and help define my short, straight waist.
She looks like a silly school girl not a grown*** woman. She needs a stylist who can tweak this style into grown-up villle.
or she is a 37 year old who likes it this way and should be allowed to make her own decisions regarding her own body. *kanyeshrug*
meh, her body, her choice.
Personally, I detest pencil skirts on me. They are so hard to move in. So, I wear mostly A-line skirts/dresses myself. Given my short stature, I guess everyone here would think I’m trying to look like a little girl. I say let everyone where what they feel comfortable in. There is nothing inappropriate in what she is wearing.
I stick to flared skirts and I’m 40. 🤷🏼♀️
Her skin looks good though – she’s glowing!
Are there any photos yet of Kate interacting with the Queen? I’m really curious to see their dynamics.
I did not see any…there was some twitter chatter because two were placed next to each other and they looked as if they were smiling. There was a photo that involved blanket sharing in the car…
Ed Sheeran is waiting by the phone as we speak.
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Lol – exactly
I don’t get it?
Ed Sheeran had to be hired by EACH for fundraising because Kate as patron did so little for the charity.
@Beli, slow clap! 😂
This is all we can expect of her in every way. Better get used to it, I suppose.
Good for her but the wording in the announcement is so annoying. Shouldn’t she have learned about the organization before becoming a Patron?
Kate doesn’t seem to do that.
I keep reading it as The ‘Fondling’ Museum and darn near spit out my wine.
I would wear the HECK out of that (look, Ma, no buttons! Although I actually don’t mind the buttons). I really like that dress.
A note on pencil skirts: I think they’re a fantastic, subtly sexy business look. But I think they would be harder to wear when you’re constantly getting up and down and in and out of cars and things, especially with people crowding around taking your picture. Mine frequently require a surreptitious tug when I get out of my car so I’m not wearing them like a belt (exaggeration). They may ride up like mine, or if they’re close-fitting they might affect her walk and range of movement. Her skirts, especially if properly weighted, are probably not only something she prefers stylistically but may also be a practicality. We haven’t had any knickers flashing in a long time. Maybe we should be careful what we ask for! (Meg’s trouser suits are stylish and also convenient for getting around).
I am super pro pencil skirts for Kate, but I do get the theory that they aren’t super comfortable depending on the event. But I liked what she wore on Sunday – not quite a pencil skirt, she still had some movement, but a slimmer silhouette.
This seems like a good patronage for her; I imagine as time goes on we will see her become the patron of several more museums. How many patronages does she have currently? Is she up to 10?
I don’t know what people want from Kate. Her job is to be the perfect, inoffensive English rose who dresses like a 40s housewife and produces heirs. That was also Diana’s purpose until she decided she wanted to do more than be a human mannequin. Kate seems content and well-groomed for this royal life. It would bore me, but Kate seems to enjoy it.
People expect what they see Anne and Sophie doing – working. ESPECIALLY since Kate is going to be the future QC. Like they are, she needs to be active in her patronages, actually knowing about and understanding them, and doing enough work with them that the patronages don’t have to find celebrities to pick up the slack.
Queen Mary started the royal family into doing engagements to earn their keep because they had to change their german family name and needed to show commitment to England and the UK. That would have been in the early 1900s. Since then all senior royals are expected to attended engagements and all of them along with their wives have done so. It is only Kate and William who started this part time royal nonsense while implying that Charles and Diana were bad parents because they weren’t attached to them 24/7. Anne and Sophie both have children and do double (in Anne’s case probably triple) the engagements and no one suggests they have neglected their children.
Kate looks stunning.
What no comment about her lack of sausage curls? I like her hair here – finally looks grown up and less twee.
Kate’s hat looks basically like a beret — or beret shaped — with a giant flower. Which wouldnt even have registered to me except I’d just read 50 comments on the Tindall christening post about how horrible it was that Meghan wore a beret.
This dress looks like the underside of my car trunk. You know, the grey, felt part that you can lift up. I mean, it’s nice, but I wouldnt want to wear this color and material.
Wow! The Queen really is shedding her patronages. The Foundling Museum has a very important history.