Duchess Kate brings back the buttons, zooms with some baby bank workers

THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE MARKS 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF LONDON BABY BANK LITTLE VILLAGE

It feels like it’s been a while since we’ve seen the Duchess of Cambridge in something new and covered in buttons. It occurs to me that buttons were perhaps a stress reliever for Kate, a visual signal that she used to telegraph that she was feeling overworked. Now that she’s simply Zooming from home, she doesn’t have the need to douse herself in buttons constantly. Kate wore this prim sweater with small buttons for a Zoom call last week. I… kind of like it? I love a henley, but I could do without the collar. Still, it’s a very “Kate” look.

Kate spoke with representatives from Little Village, a London baby bank which helps provide essentials to moms and babies in need. She did an in-person appearance at a Baby Basics baby bank last August (on Meghan’s birthday lol), and Kate was given the credit of “spearheading” a campaign for major retailers to donate items (in bulk) to several baby banks across the UK. I don’t have any shade for Kate about this stuff – this is exactly the kind of work which she should do and should have been doing for years! Little Village is one of the largest baby banks in the UK, and they not only provide essentials to moms and babies, but they also have midwives as part of their network. Little Village has also been providing emotional support to families through phone calls and check-ins during the pandemic.

During one of the calls – Kate did several Zooms to Little Village workers – one woman’s daughter crashed the Zoom call and Kate complimented the girl’s headband. The girl informed her “I’m a princess today. It’s snowing outside.”

THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE MARKS 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF LONDON BABY BANK LITTLE VILLAGE

THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE MARKS 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF LONDON BABY BANK LITTLE VILLAGE

Photos courtesy of Kensington Palace/Avalon Red.

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67 Responses to “Duchess Kate brings back the buttons, zooms with some baby bank workers”

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  1. Becks1 says:

    Did KP release these videos or did they let Little Village release them? If the latter, it’s def something they’ve picked up from the Sussexes, I know they’ve done it a few times before but thats not really the norm for them.

    Anyway Kate looks fine, the baby bank is a good project for her, so good to see she’s still involved.

    • Aurora says:

      @becks1 She also picked this charity up from the Sussexes who put them on the map a couple of years ago with a call for donations.

    • Nic919 says:

      I’m pretty sure this was first linked on the KP social media. I don’t think they ever hold off releasing proof of the one thing per week Kate actually bothers to do.

  2. Genevieve says:

    She really can’t help herself from dressing up in costumes, can she? The 1940s clerical staff look is precious.

    • Elizabeth Regina says:

      With her it’s two steps forward and three steps back. She has no distinct personal style.

  3. Aurora says:

    I’m still LOLing at the complete Sussex-style Zoom background makeover.

  4. Kitty says:

    These Zoom calls do absolutely nothing.

    • carmen says:

      Except provide a distraction/time filler for Kate during “lockdown”. Seriously, what do the people she speaks to get out of this?

    • Elizabeth Regina says:

      Sssh don’t tell her that. She’s only just managed to choose her own outfits and do her hair all by herself.

    • Chrissy says:

      Kate counts them as work so that’s something, I guess.

  5. Linda says:

    I love the buttons. Her, not so much.

  6. AVEA says:

    I just love that the plants in Kate’s background are slowly creeping closer and closer lmao. We get it, you’re as cool as Meghan, you too have plants in your background!

    • Aurora says:

      They’re so extra with their copying. The Sussexes had a few plants so the Keens need to have an entire jungle as a backdrop.

    • Ang says:

      That’s the first thing I noticed; why is the one plant draped over the sofa and almost her shoulder? Why isn’t it against the back wall like the other? Strange placement for a plant lol

      • Aphra says:

        hahahaha

      • AVEA says:

        @ANG it’s that close cause it’s sentient lmao And as Keen™ as Kate to do some keen work for the plant community

      • SarahCS says:

        Part of me says the Keenbridges and busy on the copy-Kate agenda, another part of me remembers reading Day of the Triffids and is wondering if I should worry. I mean by all means eat the rich but what if they come for us peasants after?

      • L84Tea says:

        I think the plant is trying to get closer to ask “Psst, how long am I going to be used by you people? I’d really like to go back to the conservatory with my other plant friends.”

      • BeanieBean says:

        I don’t understand the room layout. That table behind her, with the photos, appears to be placed in front of a door–hinges can be seen in the background. And there’s another table placed at 90 degrees to that one.

  7. ABritGuest says:

    Ahh I’m actually thrilled she did this. I heard of Little Village through the Sussexes (like Kate I bet🤪) as they named them as charity for donations when they were expecting Archie. I donated a couple of times & just really love their work.

    They were on the BBC the other day talking about rising rates of child poverty & I thought this is a job for our early years champion. And I think this call was released the next day. So great they are getting this spotlight& I hope a call for action.

    And I like the baby bank initiative so don’t understand why they don’t hype it as much as the random survey in the puff pieces.

  8. Sofia says:

    If she wants to wear Peter Pan collars, she should move towards these types of blouses. It looks much better than the silk one she wore before (although the bar is low).

    And she should continue to highlight baby banks. These are important for people who use them and it’s a way for Kate to support Early Years without pretending like she’s doing a massive project

    • BeanieBean says:

      Where do you stand on the puffy shoulder issue? I think that top would be better with flat seams at the shoulders.

  9. Yoyo says:

    Next week it will be under a tree of life, those darn Sussexes keep moving the goal post.

  10. ShazBot says:

    I will never get over them setting up their zoom – table, plants and all – in front of a door. Is it because they liked the design of the door?? It’s just SO staged, I’ve never seen anyone zoom like that. Yes, everyone pays attention to setting up their backgrounds, but they do it in normal, existing spaces lol

    • Belli says:

      Maybe that’s why she’s so exhausted after doing just a couple of Zoom calls? All the furniture had to be rearranged every time.

    • Dee says:

      Maybe she’s trapped in there. The staff has finally figured out a way to get Kate to do more Zoom calls.

      • SarahCS says:

        Ding ding we have a winner. This makes so much sense.

        “No Kate, you need to do two more zooms and one video. The different outfits are on a chair and we’ll throw some buttons though the window as a reward between each one.”

    • Myra says:

      Did the plant topple over? It reminds me of when they rearranged the furniture at KP to photograph William on the phone, but the photocopier, side desks and awkwardly-dangling cables were all strangely positioned. All in front of what seemed like a fireplace.

    • BeanieBean says:

      I find that weird, too, and commented above. Seems to me to be a safety issue, as well. Blocking emergency egress, should it be necessary. Never block a door!

    • Dl says:

      My grandparents had French doors that opened into the formal living room from the master bedroom. The doors were never used and were treated like part of the wall. There were two other doors out of the bedroom. The French doors worked just were not used. KP is old,maybe this explains the door?

  11. mtec says:

    Her eyebrows do. not. move. Loll

  12. Sandra says:

    Oh my god I haven’t had my coffee yet. I read the headline “baby bank workers” and thought you meant like, fresh out of school Gen Z kids working their first jobs in a bank.
    Getting coffee now.

  13. Amy Bee says:

    The top’s ok maybe she should’ve unbuttoned the top three buttons. The Telegraph wrote a whole article about her wearing something new from LK Bennet for the first time in two years. Whatever. The royal rota really didn’t promote this Zoom call maybe because it was tweeted out by Little Village and not KP. I’ve seen a couple reporters complain about the Cambridges’ zoom calls saying that they don’t really provide much of a story. This borne out by the fact the press doesn’t put pictures from the Zoom calls on the front pages anymore and there’s only a blurb about them on the inside of these papers. I think the difference between the Sussexes doing Zooms (which are not a lot thankfully) and the Cambridges is the Sussexes have conversations with people and seek to focus on the work and the issues that affect the organisations and people they talk to. While the Cambridges just say well done and thank you. There is no attempt to highlight the issues that these charities face and how people can help.

  14. Over it says:

    That shirt is ridiculous. Is she in the school choir or catholic school? Either way she is way too old to be wearing it. It seems both Kate and the

    little girl were equally bored with each other. Also why is she supporting mothers in anything? I am sorry but after the abuse Meghan suffered while pregnant and giving birth and Kate said absolutely nothing. I find her involvement with anything new struggling moms hard to digest. Maybe she can become the face of what not to become when you grow up.

  15. Over it says:

    Top ceo looks tired and sad . I suspect it’s Harry and Megs picture of happiness and love that’s doing that to her. She wants it but she wants the Crown Jewels more. Have fun with your gardener waity.

  16. Eenie Googles says:

    Love that top. Very 1940’s vintage.

  17. Cecilia says:

    So nobody is going to talk about the fact that the Cambs (and especially kate) haven ‘t been zooming from their homes but from a random place on the queens estate?

    • Sofia says:

      It’s actually been talked about. Several times. Especially when it was first done a few weeks ago.

    • Beach Dreams says:

      Here is the only place I’ve seen it discussed (and occasionally on social media). Judging by the date of the initial tweet from Rebecca English, they’ve been Zooming from Sandringham for nearly a month now. It’s definitely bizarre. They’ve had no issues Zooming from Anmer Hall (and from more than one room at that) until recently. Their first joint Zoom call of the year was from Anmer, just a few days before the switch.

  18. Beach Dreams says:

    Again with the fidgeting (second video). We all know she hates doing even the bare minimum of quick Zooms, but she could stand to make it a little less obvious.

  19. Nic919 says:

    The articles talk about another new blouse as she’s speaking with an organization that exists because not enough British parents have what they need for babies, due to the income equality that she benefits immensely from. Maybe it would have been smarter to wear something she’s worn before?

    • carmen says:

      Yes it would, but unfortunately that’s just the tip of the ice burg.

    • Aurora says:

      That’s precisely why the Sussexes didn’t want the Royal Rota covering their events. The charities always got short-changed in the write-ups.

  20. Lemons says:

    Good cause, OK blouse, Ridiculous plant decor. The RR can only write this story so many times. They need another schtick besides Zoom calls. Like planning a real fundraising event.

  21. Harper says:

    This makes three Zoom calls from Kate since Jan. 30. Three calls in 13 days, just like a top CEO. I saw on Charles’ Insta that it is now half-term in England, so with the virtual school shut down, she’ll be gone from sight again. But William seems to be MIA; he has shown up even less than Kate.

  22. Digital Unicorn says:

    She really is the royal Melania – thats all i have.

  23. SarahCS says:

    She looks like she’s about to play tennis in 1923.

  24. CrystalBall says:

    Her eyebrows try very hard to move but they can’t move, just like her frozen forehead. When she isn’t fake-smiling, she looks downright scary. And she’s still running off to Sandringham house to zoom, the hands-on mom escaping from her family, lol.

  25. Beth says:

    She needs some softer eye makeup colors and updated application techniques. Smearing black liner and black mascara around her eyes is not working anymore and the zoom calls really call attention to it. Her eyes look like pouchy, angry, closed-off slits.

    • Digital Unicorn says:

      It’s her go to panda look – it ages her. She reportedly does her makeup herself and it shows. When a professional does it you can tell as she looks more youthful and just better.

  26. Liz version 700 says:

    Ok credit where credit is due, that buttony blouse is less terrible than many many of her previous outfits….she looks less grandmaish in this outfit.

  27. Over it says:

    Katie had a Botox top up recently. Face looks less lined

    • kelleybelle says:

      More fillers and fresh extensions too. Such a “concerned” look on her face, as in “I’m listening so intently.” Of course, you’re on-camera.

  28. BeanieBean says:

    Did they really think it’s a good idea to show us her notebook beneath her computer stand? So that we can see her script?

  29. EveV says:

    Kate is just so insincere. She has a script of about 3 or 4 lines that she repeats over and over in these Zoom videos and it is just so frustrating.

  30. Margaret says:

    I think Kate’s has lifeless looking dead eyes in this zoom. She appears to be unhappy.

  31. yinyang says:

    She’s lucky to have the help of fillers, that smile she does makes for lots of eye wrinkles.