Duchess Kate got photographed as she shopped at Peter Jones last Friday

Whenever the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are doing a lot of stuff or announcing things, I wonder what’s going on behind-the-scenes, or I look to see what the Sussexes have going on. Last September, when Harry and Meghan made a successful “tour” of New York, William and Kate did the most to “compete,” including staging “pub lunch” photos in Norfolk. So what do we make of Duchess Kate’s flurry of activity last week? She went solo to visit rugby players, then the next day, she stepped out with Charles and Camilla, and the day after that, she announced her “solo trip” to Copenhagen. Real question: was all of this happening because Prince Harry did a BetterUp discussion with Serena Williams? Is Kate really that hellbent on “getting attention” while Harry is doing something? I really do wonder.

The reason I brought up last fall’s staged pub lunch photos – complete with a sycophantic “eyewitness” account – is because Kate got pap’d shopping on Friday. She was photographed at Peter Jones, which is reportedly her favorite department store (she’s been a frequent shopper there over the years). She wore a bulky cable-knit Ralph Lauren sweater, skinny jeans and her Massimo Dutti coat.

The Duchess of Cambridge dressed down in jeans and a knit jumper as she headed out on a shopping trip in south west London. Kate, 40, was spotted leaving Peter Jones, in Sloane Square, with a large black fabric shopping bag in one hand before climbing into the back of a chauffeur-driven BMW parked outside the back entrance to the department store.

Kate opted for a low-key ensemble for the outing, pairing blue skinny jeans with a £449 Polo Ralph Lauren grey cable knit jumper, favourite £249 Massimo Dutti check coat and £170 boots from celeb-loved brand Blundstone.

With a casual outfit and disposable blue mask covering most of her face, Kate would have blended in with the other yummy mummies popping in for a spot of shopping.

While the Duchess was inside the store, her driver was approached by two women who appeared to take issue with the way he had parked on the curb. Moments later, he pulled off the curb and parked on the road. He was waiting for his royal passenger when she emerged from the back entrance and made a beeline for the waiting car. Two women walking down the street appeared to recognise the off-duty Duchess and looked delighted.

[From The Daily Mail]

At this point, I believe the Cambridges only get “pap’d” when they want to, because it happens so rarely. I believe Kate either arranged this or she didn’t care that the photos happened. My gut says she arranged it, just because she wanted the added attention. It reminds me of when she arranged a paparazzi shoot for a shopping trip, and she made sure to wear the same shade of turquoise which Meghan had just worn days before, in March 2020.

I also find it strange that all of these moves are all about Kate? William is in the wind, he hasn’t been seen publicly since January 27th, his trip to BAFTA (which got barely any attention). Why was last week All About Kate? Are we about to be gifted with another two-week Embiggening Blitz? Possibly – judging from the way her fact-finding mission to Copenhagen is being written about, I suspect that February is going to be all about how Kate Is Keen About Early Years.

I actually love her sweater. I love a bulky cable knit.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

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111 Responses to “Duchess Kate got photographed as she shopped at Peter Jones last Friday”

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  1. OriginalLaLa says:

    The clothes that the BRF wears to formal “work” engagements – are they their own personal clothing or part of a work-only wardrobe? ie: do the taxpayer’s pay for all of their clothing/personal care or just things used for public engagement? I guess I’m wondering how deep the grift goes lol

    • SarahCS says:

      I think it’s a fine line between the two anyway. They get their annual ‘budget’ of our cash and then have access to ‘private’ funds. Those being the revenue on all the goodies they squirrelled (stole) away through the years of empire etc. and then the money they make from the Duchies – Cornwall (Charles), Lancaster (TQ – I think), etc. So they own massive parts of the UK and make more money from us that way.

      Doesn’t Charles fund Keen’s wardrobe?

    • Nic919 says:

      Kate has often worn clothing that was originally worn at engagements for personal matters and sometimes those outfits ended up on Carole or Pippa and so lines get crossed a lot.

      The official line is that charles pays for the clothing and he can make a tax deduction for the work related clothes.

      • ItsMe! says:

        Same as when Meghan was doing them. Charles gave them an allowance and then deducted it on his taxes.

      • Ari says:

        Wrong on a few tax issues and a very Americanized answer too. First the Brits don’t have deductions similar to the US. The US has a very complicated tax system. The Brits do have employee expenses which can be reimbursed by employer, no tax write off. Here is the biggest kicker the monarchy doesn’t pay taxes at all. However, with the growth of the Duchy of Cornwall under Prince Charles, he is voluntarily paying taxes on it each year. There is no law he has to do this, keep in mind for William when he gets it.

        The Duchy of Cornwall is worth about 1 billion and makes about 23 mil. a year. It’s actually a bunch of properties all over the world. It was privately bought by King Edward for his son moons ago. I think it was an Edward. If the monarchy folds, this will definitely stay in the family, along with a bunch of other properties and Duchy(s) so they will still be crazy rich but taxes may be collected by the other Duchy(s) then and a few state properties are turned over to the British people for the government to make money. Plus, then no portion of British taxes will go to the monarchy then.

      • Nic919 says:

        Not American so not sure what you are talking about. But they have in the past said that the clothing worn at engagements are considered expenses that Charles declares.

        In any case none of that explains why Carole ends up wearing some of the outfits previous worn by Kate. And of course William is going to be sketchy when he inherits the duchy.

      • Busyann says:

        American here and I work in taxes at the government level. It’s tax season right now so I’m knee deep in this stuff. I find what was explained Charles voluntary paying taxes very interesting. Where can I learn more?

        100% agree with Kaiser, this was a staged photo op for Kate, but I want to know why? Lol there’s always a reason for their in the wild photos. What are they trying to distract us from?! Is it more accurate to ask what is it that Kate is trying to distract us from because honestly, this past year I’ve really learned that she has no problem going rogue in the written press if it’s for her own benefit. I don’t think pap shots are excluded.

  2. Becks1 says:

    Her off duty casual style is almost always so much better than her working style. That sweater looks super cozy and comfortable for this time of year.

    And yes, I think they only get papped at this point when they want to (or at least those are the pictures that get published, the ones that they want published.) It’s why the pics of them in the airport last October were interesting, bc I don’t think they really wanted those out there.

  3. Chaine says:

    I like the whole outfit, especially the boots. Her casual clothing is always so much better! Clicking through to the article, I had to laugh at the coverage of the Karens who made Kate’s driver move the vehicle while she was shopping.

    • Jais says:

      Just adding that I like this outfit too. No complaints on that front. The driver part was funny. So was he essentially parked on top of the sidewalk? There was also a cute-looking bearded guy in the pic and I was imagining that it was her rugby-player side piece, which is something I’m just making up.

    • Mac says:

      Yeah, the Karens are a bit much. It’s not like the SUV was blocking the sidewalk.

      • Jais says:

        Well I don’t know? The SUV could’ve been parked well up on the sidewalk as the pics were taken afterwards. I just thought the detail was funny in how it was written. Two women take issue with how the car was parked on the curb probably means it was parked pretty obnoxiously but the writer of this pap shot wasn’t going to say that.

    • CuriousCole says:

      Kate and her drivers have a long history of parking like assholes/illegally, including handicapped zones and double parking for superficial coffee trips and shopping excursions. As someone with occasional physical limitations, I am happy people are finally pushing back. Let us harness the power of the Karens for the betterment of all 😀

    • Emma says:

      Kate / driver were the ones in the wrong for parking on the curb, and frankly no one could be as much of a Karen as Kate. The idea you can never point anything at all out or you’re a kArEn completely removes the term from its origination in condemning racist abuse and erases its Black cultural origins.

      It’s not being a Karen to fail to show sufficient deference to entitled white assholes parking their giant SUVs to block the common right of way.

      • equality says:

        I agree. To me being a Karen means attacking somebody who is NOT in the wrong and Kate’s driver was.

      • BabsORIG says:

        The term Karen is used in cases where white folks use their whiteness to exercise their racism against people of color. Using it to describe a situation where a white guy and a white woman are being asked to consider pedestrians and not park/block curbsides? That’s a first, and frankly very confusing to me. Its like how the term “woke” is being misused nowadays, mind boggling.

    • Dillesca says:

      I love the whole outfit, too– especially the coat (which I believe we have seen before). Much better than her ‘work’ wardrobe.

    • Leesa says:

      I’m definitely a Karen on this then.

  4. DrPerson says:

    Y’all I do believe she is wearing an *adult sized* mask. One for the record books.

  5. Belli says:

    “She could have blended in” seems to be signalling that this was a pap call. She wouldn’t have been noticed if she hadn’t wanted to be.

  6. BothSidesNow says:

    What, no body guards? No stylist to accompany her? What am I saying, I don’t think she knows stylist exist. Just out buying buttons and colors of Copenhagen…..the horror for those people that are to be her hosts.

    I bet all of us could make a killing if we opened a buttons and dowdy dress store!

  7. Noki says:

    But where can they even get pap’d? I doubt they do their own supermarket shopping, everything is surely delivered from food to clothes. School runs are prohibited to paps. So its rare because they hardly venture out for the normal things.

    • Sofia says:

      It’s been said for years that Kate loves to shop and there’s been plenty of stories of people spotting her out and about in London. And just because you can get everything delivered, doesn’t mean you will. Some people like to go out and about to shop and Kate is one of those people.

  8. Woke says:

    I wonder how he feels about Kate taking such central place in the firm. She’s the most appreciated member of the family and it’s clear the firm recognize that. In the early days of their marriage the popularity I think was even handed even though she always had the most attention because she’s a woman. Now she’s clearly more popular than him not Diana level like with Charles but still.

    • Jais says:

      I wonder if he cares at this point. In some ways, not doing a flurry of photos and embiggening could show he’s more secure in his position, which I mean he is the heir. He’s not going anywhere while she is the married-in and trying to prove her worth. She might be more popular but so? Let her flurry around while he sits back and gets legal advice.

      • Woke says:

        If he was secure in his position he wouldn’t have pushed his brother and sister in law out of the country. And the multiple briefing calling for him to succeed to the queen instead of Charles wouldn’t be out there.
        If he’s indeed secure it’s interesting that he consider Kate non threatening.

      • jodie says:

        He didn’t push them out.

      • Jais says:

        Oh he’s definitely insecure, especially in relation to his brother and sil but I don’t know if he’s insecure about Kate getting all the spotlight anymore. As in she can have it when she wants as long as I can continue to water my London garden.

      • Lady D says:

        Agree he didn’t push them out. William’s hands were far too busy plunging knives into his brother’s and mother’s backs. He had no time for pushing.

  9. TIFFANY says:

    She opened her own door.

    I thought that was a violation of phantom protocol only made up for Black women.

  10. Sofia says:

    I love the outfit. She looks great and it looks pretty comfortable. I’d wear it – the entire thing actually. She needs to lean into this style more instead of the coat dresses and prints. As for pap photos, I agree that if KP didn’t want them out there, they would not be out there.

  11. Over it says:

    Funny how she was in a masked, came in and exited through the back door, yet people recognize her. How did the pap know where to be to see her? I say she called them and told them or her mummy did because she wants to steal Harry thunder

    • Christine says:

      Seriously, I passed my own mother one day, mask and sunglasses, and I didn’t recognize her, just swanned on by. She thought I was pissed at her!

      So, yeah, I’m picking up what you are putting down, this was staged.

    • Tessa says:

      She alerted the media. I have no doubts.

  12. Amy Bee says:

    According to the Kate stans, the shopping trip was the week before not on Friday but it doesn’t matter when it really was. The main point is while publicly KP has made it known that off duty pictures are not allowed, there is an agreement between the press and KP for the Cambridges to be photographed outside of official engagements. As with everything else, it would seem that KP softened this stance when Meghan joined the family.

  13. Jay says:

    Katie Keen has been on an absolute blitz (by her standards). Solo portraits, solo outings with the in-laws, a solo trip, and now some solo pap shots. Hmmm.

    Is Peter Jones a fancy department store? Is it more like Barney’s or NM as opposed to say, Harrod’s? Is this “she’s just like us!”?

    And what’s the over under on “vaguely Scandinavian sweaters” she nabbed for her upcoming Danish trip?

    • Ocho says:

      Fancy? That’s not the word I would use, but it’s not M&S either. Peter Jones (generally called “John Lewis”, don’t ask) carries a wide range of price points. Think practical more than fashion-forward: home goods, china, buttoned blouses, grosgrain ribbons (which I just purchased). Excellent customer service IMO. This particular branch is in a very expensive, elite area. It caters to moms with money but not necessarily really into fashion.

      • Jay says:

        Thanks, Ocho! I had never heard of this store before, so I wasn’t sure whether she was signalling aspirational glamour or something more accessible. I have heard of John Lewis ( because of their Xmas ads), but I didn’t know it went by another name!

      • Christine says:

        I really need to know the rest of the story! Why does it have two names?

  14. equality says:

    If Meghan headline would have been all about controversial Chinese manufacture of Ralph Lauren. I thought RF was supposed to promote UK. I guess, at least the boots were Australian. Describing women as “yummy mummies” is nauseating.

  15. SarahCS says:

    Of course she arranged this!! We’d have pap pics all the time if they weren’t closely controlled by KP.

  16. Over it says:

    I am in the minority here but I don’t like the print of that coat or the color. I think that blended with the sweater makes her look washed out.

    • swirlmamad says:

      I think it’s insane that that sweater costs $500+. That’s all I got.

    • Deering says:

      Over It–agreed. The coat and sweater are fugly as hell. The sweater looks especially “will-stretch-with-one-wash.” The boots and jeans are the best things here.

  17. Cathy says:

    Why is Kate wearing work boots? Blundstones are more usually found on a building site and not Knightsbridge?

    Or is Kate trying to tell us she’s been on a building site?

    • OriginalLaLa says:

      Blundstones are pretty popular (at least they are in my circles in Canada) they look great with jeans and age well too! I wouldn’t call them workbooks at all – I have several pairs myself 🙂

    • salmonpuff says:

      Every university kid I know has a pair of Blundstones. They’re very popular right now.

    • Jaded says:

      Blundstones aren’t worn on work sites…you have to have proper steel-toed construction boots to get on ANY building worksite. Blundstones are super popular here on Canada’s west coast because they’re great in the rain and snow and last forever. I have a pair and love them.

      • Dragony says:

        Blundstones have a line that are steel-toed and certified for worksites – they have a green CSA tag. Pretty much everyone in the film industry wears them on set because they’re certified and more comfy/lighter than work boots.

    • Cathy says:

      Thanks @Dragony

      I’ve only ever seen Blundstones with steel caps so that’s why I asked.

  18. girl_ninja says:

    I wonder if these were photos of Kelly Conway or Ann Coulter if there would be these comments about how cute her outfit is and how they’d wear the same thing. That’s who this Kate woman is a damn racist and racist enabler. Who gives a crap? She’s just copying Meghan again by seeming to be a normal woman shopping when she’s just a racist, lazy, jazzy handsy android.

  19. AVEA says:

    Could willy have covid? We know they didn’t tell anyone last time he had it

  20. SussexWatcher says:

    I refuse to click on DM articles so I can’t fully see…but doesn’t that RPO in the first pic of the DM tweet look like Prince Harry? Ginger bearded man? Methinks KKKeen is still obsessed with her brother-in-law.

  21. Harper says:

    Kate only seems to act out in jealousy when there is female competition and she got a lot of coverage a few days earlier with the rugby event which one would imagine would have satisfied her ego. And, the previous blue coat pap photo came right after Meghan’s blue dress moment. So, perhaps Burger King is on vacation with a side chick, and Kate wants to be seen to send a message to her? Maybe Kate saw or someone forwarded to her an Instagram post from the side chick wearing a chunky cable knit sweater and Kate reacted this way?

    I never imagined that that Burger King would be so bold as to take a trip with his side chick until the recent #princewilliamaffair trending event. Amongst all the many bits of tea that dribbled out that day was a tweet that Kate fired her longtime assistant for organizing a trip between him and Rose. That was an eye-opener, and now I’m very suspicious when the Burger King goes missing like this.

    • equality says:

      He could be quarantining before visiting Dubai or left early so nobody will comment on his mode of travel.

    • ⁸Rapunzel says:

      Dubai was supposed to be yesterday, no? Or did I get dates mixed up?

    • Nic919 says:

      I agree that it’s way too long of a disappearance from public view just to be prep for this trip to Dubai. I also suspect he was expected to show to the event with Charles and just didn’t want to.

      And really the booking trips using staff indigent also makes me wonder about how he got Covid originally. It was kept under the radar and not announced like it was for Charles suggesting he was somewhere he wasn’t supposed to be when he got it.

      • equality says:

        You saw how well he did as a diplomat in Scotland; he may be in intensive training on how to behave.

  22. ABritGuest says:

    Funny how there so many pap pics of royals in recent times given it was claimed Harry& Meghan would be more protected against paps in the uk because of an agreement with the UK press & that they were making mistake of moving to ‘pap central LA’.

  23. Harla says:

    I’m old enough to remember that Kate was called the Royal Patron of Peter Jones.

    • Nic919 says:

      I’m sure they normally send her outfits to try on, as Arthur Edwards reported seeing racks upon racks of clothing for her from various designers when he had to visit KP a few years back. So being papped was intentional. In her mind she thinks being seen shopping at an upper end store makes her look relatable.

      • Saucy&Sassy says:

        Nic919, the first thing I thought of is that Meghan was papped doing some Christmas shopping and here is Keen (right on cue) being papped while out shopping. Coincidence?

  24. Giddy says:

    I bet the buyers for Peter Jones try to always have outfits with plenty of buttons and faux military trim on sale. Maybe they have a special rack they wheel out when they know Kate is in the store.

  25. tw says:

    I wish they would stop tying to make “Catherine” happen.

  26. Layla says:

    What a treat for us peasants here in Britain. We’ve got a fool for a leader with his 18 parties who just won’t go, our e energy bills are rising, around 300 people are dying every day from COVID but none of that matters because we’ve got platinum pudding and the lovely jubbly and keen keen kamilla to look forward to. And the cherry on the top, this once in a lifetime sighting of Keeny Antoinette in her super duper low key outfit with the ugly rug like coat that’s going to save the monarchy and all of our lives #wHatElse

  27. Rapunzel says:

    She’s swimming in the sweater, no?

  28. Athena says:

    Is that BMW Mrs. Earthshot got into an electric car or a hybrid?

    As far as the adult size mask, some stores have disposable masks for patrons who show up without. Her security detail has the same mask.

  29. Lemons says:

    The only time Kate did a solo blitz like this was when she was papped during her off-periods with William when they were broken up.

    I think the affair has been ramped up, the side piece has been moved into a higher position, and everyone is doing their best to make Kate feel the most important so that the marriage doesn’t explode.

    • Lizzie Bathory says:

      This would track with the “move to Berkshire” stories.

    • Jaded says:

      They’re totally separated. Keen’s latest spate of solo appearances (and with C&C) proves it. The 2-day trip to Denmark (actually only an overnighter) alone shows something big is afoot. She definitely alerted the paps for this little shopping excursion — “Look, I’m just like all you regular folks out doing a spot of shopping!” Plus William seems to be even more sour and pissy of late if that’s possible…I guess he’s off sulking with his latest sidepiece.

  30. Jezz says:

    The UK Karens scolding the driver and photographing the car the one tire slightly up on the curb — hilarious!! Wonder if they thought they’d end up on the cover of the Mail!

    • WHAT says:

      We know that Kate is more obsessed with Meg than Harry. This is her version of the two shopping trips that Meghan was photographed coming out of stores. But two things the article clearly states that she blends in with other shoppers, if you didn’t know its Catherine would you take a second look at her, Pippa or her mom. Nothing about her look or dress wise would make you look at the non Photoshop Kate. Also if she tries to keep up with the rose and get papped on her off day-try and make everything go good. This particular time her driver needs to be told where to park. The other time at the memorial for the British lady who was killed by the cop which she copied Meg when she went to the African girls memorial and tied the yellow ribbon- protests where done later that night. Kate is copying Meg getting photographed coming out of the store and her driver held that mattress in a bag. She had a coat and blue mask on but always Kate fails to deliver

  31. aquarius64 says:

    A pap stroll highlighted in the Instagram account? Keen may have seen a preview of the queen’s get out of jail free card for William.

  32. Nic919 says:

    My favourite shopping trip was when kate was caught shopping the same afternoon after she spent 15 minutes pretending to guest edit a Huffpo page. That was probably one of the few times she wasn’t looking to get papped. Here, yeah it obvious.

    • tamsin says:

      I think the Huffpo was a joint endeavor with Michelle Obama on some topic of mutual interest at the time. For the life of me, i couldn’t figure out at the time what exactly Kate’s contribution was. Or Michelle’s for that matter.

  33. olliesmom says:

    I’m trying to figure out what a “yummy mummy” is.

    Kate’s just like everyone else! Shopping in the most expensive and trendy part of town in her $600 sweater getting into the back of a black BMW with a driver.

  34. MerlinsMom1018 says:

    Someone help me out here.
    What, exactly, is a “yummy mummy”????
    it sounds faintly disgusting

    • NightOwl says:

      Wondering the same thing myself. I loathe the phrasing despite not knowing what it is exactly.

    • Che says:

      Hm something about the open oversize coat and loose sweater looks vaguely familiar… Oh yeah without the beanie -Meghan’s style. She sure is giving royal women dress tips and not getting the credit. I prefer the first run looks with Meghan because she has the flair to look amazing!

    • Jaded says:

      A “yummy mummy” is an attractive, sexy mother who is usually married to a rich man. She spends most of her days shopping, getting her nails and hair done and working out at her exclusive gym while her children are at school/day care or with the nanny and her husband is at work. They rarely work and live a highly self-indulgent lifestyle.

      Sounds like someone we all know….?

      • WHAT says:

        That’s not Kate. She couldn’t get her own husband’s attention when she was in the gold dress and when she was in the green dress where she had to catch up to will. There was a man who commented on how lovely Catherine looked and turned to will and said I’m not trying to hit on her and apparently will wasn’t either since he said 🤐

      • WHAT says:

        That’s not Kate. She couldn’t get her own husband’s attention when she was in the gold dress and when she was in the green dress where she had to catch up to will. There was a man who commented on how lovely Catherine looked and turned to will and said I’m not trying to hit on her and apparently will wasn’t either since he said 🤐

      • Jaded says:

        @WHAT – let me correct this, I wasn’t referring to William thinking she’s a yummy mummy, it’s other men’s approval they enjoy, even other women’s envy. They can be divorced and still be referred to as YMs, as long as they have children and still present a fit, attractive image. YMs eventually morph into MILFs once they’re past 40 so I guess Kate is entering into her MILF years, although I don’t know what kind of man would be attracted to her.

    • Nic919 says:

      More precisely Kate is a welfare queen, as she shops on the taxpayer dime.

  35. Mmmmm... says:

    So much money to look so boring

  36. Carolind says:

    This is interesting because Kate’s position in Britain has changed since late on Saturday night when the Queen made her statement that Camilla is to be Queen Consort, not Princess Consort. When Kate married William she thought she was going to be next Queen Consort but this has all officially changed. She is going to have to bow down before Camilla! It was also said that William was not a part of the decision making process, just as it said a few weeks ago when Prince Andrew was stripped off everything that William had less to do with it than the press were saying. Sunday in Britain was all about two women and neither of them was Katie.
    Also apparently Prince Charles is now going to live in Buckingham Palace if he becomes king. Best of luck to him and Camilla.

  37. JRenee says:

    At this point, one can ask Where’s Waldo about William…

  38. SourcesclosetoKate says:

    Kate you look great, Meghan says ‘youre welcome’.

  39. Linda says:

    Kate has a kind heart.