Here are more photos (better photos) of the Duchess of Cambridge on May 14th at Bletchley Park. She wore a $2200 Alessandra Rich dress which… looks like something that could have been found at a thrift store for about $20. I’m still sort of shocked that people were defending this 1980s school teacher dress. I mean, it’s “on brand” for Kate – she’s been going more for this kind of dated, pinched, schoolmarmish look for several years now. I was called “prejudiced” for hating on this dress, by the way. Prejudiced against 1980s teachers or prejudiced against polka dots and buttons? I have no idea.
Anyway, in addition to repeating my fashion critique with better photos, I also wanted to talk about how Kate’s children always sound like they’re a handful. Kate told someone at Bletchley Park that Prince Louis got away from her and ended up atop a slide before she even noticed.
The Duchess of Cambridge revealed her son Prince Louis is already a handful – and hinted the boisterous one-year-old is walking. Mother-of-three Kate, 37, spoke about her youngest child during an outing to Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, on Tuesday afternoon.
Speaking to former Bletchley Park worker Georgina Rose, Kate admitted Louis is keeping her and William ‘on their toes’. Mrs Rose, who was a Teleprinter Operator during the Second World War, offered Kate her ‘congratulations’ on her ‘beautiful family’, to which Kate revealed that little Louis, one, is proving a handful. The Duchess replied: ‘Thank you so much. Louis is keeping us on our toes. I turned around the other day and he was at the top of the slide – I had no idea!’
Kate was also gifted with some cuddly toys from a group of primary school codebreakers who she had met earlier in the day. The royal was given a squirrel, fox, owl and rabbit for Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s baby Archie. Kate was delighted with the gifts, and it sounds like the children will be too. “They love wild animals. They will look after these,” she said.
[From The Daily Mail & Hello]
Yikes on Fearless Lou climbing on top the slide. He seems more like Charlotte – from what we’ve seen of their little personalities, Charlotte seems more likely to suddenly climb some big height. Lou’s barely 13 months old too, he must be walking and running like crazy. Either that or George and Charlotte were like “haha, let’s put Lou on top of the slide!”
Which child got which stuffed animal? George clearly got the fox, Charlotte got the owl, Lou got the squirrel and Archie got the rabbit. That’s how I would have parceled them out! I just remembered that when I was a little girl, I had such a big thing for owls too. Anyone else?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I wish this dress had lining and an extra 4 buttons.
For a dress that costs that much it shouldn’t look so cheap.
Buttons up to the chin and slit four inches from her babymaker. Definitely on-brand for Katie Keen, the Duchess of Flash.
Wow, I don’t love the dress either but what a gross, gross comment. Baby maker? How is this permitted on a “feminist, Liberal” blog?
I was just coming to comment that while the fabric itself looks cheap, it does appear to have lovely structure at the waist? Check out the picture of her kneeling. It’s very well tailored. But then the fabric puckers under the pleating. But it’s almost like a drop waist trying to be an a-line with that structuring in the middle.
It’s not a look I would choose if I had her budget, but I appreciate that she likes what she likes, so poo-poo to me.
I just keep staring at the buttons on that dress, lol.
I’m glad she told a story like this, because it makes her sound more human. She usually, when she speaks at all, makes it sound like everything is perfect always in every way and never admits that things might be difficult. It’s nice to hear that she was in a position relatable to many parents. I haven’t had caffeine yet so I’m not sure how coherent this comment will be but hopefully you know what I mean!
Their kids are so full of spunk. I think they will be what keeps the monarchy alive.
It’s so true! Every public parent is like “My child is so placid. They just sleep and gently coo for food- but not until after I’ve had a nap and showered. In the meantime, my toddler cleaned up his room and put himself for a nap!”
the fit does nothing for her and only accentuates her long torso. does she have a stylist or does she select these outfits herself?
The original dress comes with a belt-which this totally needs. The drop waist is not a cute look. Honestly-SJP wore it best. Got it hemmed, rolled up the sleeves.
I generally expect buttons, body hugging tailoring, and some element of cosplay from her. But the drop waist seems a bridge too far.
Her posture is terrible. The dress looks nice when she is sitting but I agree it needed extra buttons to keep from showing her leg. She just can’t help herself.
Idk. If the dress is fits and is appropriate for the occasion I’ll not criticize it.
$2200 for that schmatte. SMDH.
Louis seems like a jolly fellow. And anecdotally it seems the farther down the birth order you get, the more fearless the kid is. They see their siblings doing that stuff and want to join in.
There is a story in my family about how I once climbed to the top of a ladder when I was an infant. My mother freaked out when she saw me up there.
Yep – got away from my mother at about 2 and also ended up at the top of a slide. Except I fell off it backwards when I let go to wave at my mother who was frantically rushing to catch me. (She didn’t get there in time – and always said it was one of the most terrifying things realizing I was falling and she couldn’t catch me. Luckily I wasn’t hurt and wanted to climb back up again…kids are resilient! And bounce, apparently!)
I can speak from my own personal experience that kid number 3 is fearless. He started walking at 10 months and never slowed down. I joked that I was going to be the only person with locks on all their upper cabinets because he uses the drawers to climb up onto the counter tops and then helps himself to food. Our knife block in on top on the fridge because of him. He runs and falls on the driveway, gets right back up and continues running, he’s doesn’t care if he gets hurt. And when I drive or push him on a swing or anything, he yells faster or higher. He’s going to be my daredevil, so I’m probably going to have a heart attack when he’s an adult.
He sounds just like my number three who we nicknamed Sweet Pea. He had his baby nightgowns with the drawstring removed and let go of the table to take his first steps at 7 1/2 months. By age two he was jumping off the high dive with mom in the water. He’s an adult today, plays in triple A baseball and coaches kids. Athletics worked well for him, year round sports.
When my youngest was two and a half, my neighbor came over and asked if I knew where my little boy was. I assumed he was still in the backyard playing with the others. Nope. He was on our roof with his big wheel!
With his Big Wheel?!?!! OMFG how scary.
Very much my number three, also. He climbs on everything. He climbs up the door frames and just hangs out there as long as possible. “Oh there’s a telephone pole. I must climb it.” He’s always trying to find some new way to give me a heart attack.
That little boy with the suspenders is adorable!!
i know! he’s the highlight of the entire visit!
He was definitely the star of the show, and Kate knew it, the reason why she spent so long chatting to him, she knows a good photo opportunity when it presents itself.
I love owls
The more I see the dress, the more I like it. Hope she wears it with the belt.
Oooh! I actually like the dress a more now that you can see the seam detail on the waist in the new photos- it looks less “long-torso-ed” up close. And the way the skirt moves is so nice. Love it!
Agree! I liked it before but really like it now.
Isn’t this basically the dress Abigail Spencer wore to the royal wedding?