Princess Kate wore McQueen to ‘launch’ the Shaping Us campaign at BAFTA

I kept waiting for the Princess of Wales to actually, you know, launch her big new keen awareness campaign during the day on Monday. She did not. Probably because she was getting her wiglet conditioned and some fresh Bo, all to make a glitzy appearance at the BAFTA headquarters in London on Monday evening. You might think “wait, what’s happening at BAFTA?” This was the launch event for Shaping Us, yet another “the early years are important y’all” awareness-raising campaign. It has nothing to do with BAFTA. The reason they got to use the space is because William is BAFTA president and the Royal Foundation employs the former BAFTA CEO Amanda Berry (who was also there last night). This was Berry and Peg placating Kate and making her feel embiggened for her big “launch.”

Kate looked nice, honestly. I’ve been saying that since she got the upgraded POW title, her wigs have been painfully bad. Like, it looks like she isn’t even taking proper care of them and she just plops them on the back of her head with no blending. But last night, someone did her hair and makeup. She looked better. Her suit is Alexander McQueen and the cut and style is very reminiscent of a suit worn by Meghan in her Variety photoshoot last year. Plus, Meghan wore all-red when she spoke at One Young World in Manchester last September. Yet another big moment for Kate’s Meghan moodboard. Kate’s earrings are by Chalk, and they’ve a repeat.

Kate was in rare form, if these photos are any indication. William was paying attention to her and he put his hand on her back, and everyone was admiring her fire-engine red suit. She’s like a little kid trying to get attention. Early Years, heal thyself.

Her speech… it isn’t even a word salad. It’s just a collection of nothingness.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

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194 Responses to “Princess Kate wore McQueen to ‘launch’ the Shaping Us campaign at BAFTA”

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  1. BUBS says:

    Who is more mediocre: Kate or Melania?
    PS: Even with his arm at her back, William makes certain to put distance between them!

    • Tessa says:

      Kate. Melanie does not pose as an expert like Kate does.

      • Kittenmom says:

        I agree with you, but “Arly Years” does have a bit of “Be Best” vibes.

      • Sugarhere says:

        I almost fainted, you guys! Please, tell me Copykate didn’t wear a duplicate of the Duchess of Sussex’s red ensemble at the One Young World Summit in Manchester. Am I seeing double? This sartorial stalking is taking a pathological turn.

        I’m shaking at Middleton’s sick persistance. Additionally, she got another round of botox. Her face keeps morphing like crazy.

    • sparrow says:

      I saw that, too. William’s obviously been told to be affectionate in public, not wander off or talk to other people like he normally does. They are going full-on Meghan and Harry.

      • First comment says:

        He even wore a red tie to match her suit!! The struggle is real…

      • Andy Dufresne says:

        I think by this time, I’ve already gotten used to Kate copying her SIL.

        I say let her do it. Do whatever it takes to hide her insecurities and other issues this poor woman has. We can see right through this BS anyway- just like to watch it from the distance while shaking our heads or rolling our eyes.

      • Tessa says:

        Will still seemed to me to rather be somewhere else.

      • Gabby says:

        @Tessa, it pains me to defend Will, but can you blame him? I would detach from her too.

      • Joan Holloway says:

        My take is that Will is president of BAFTA so he was probably getting his ass kissed plenty too, making it easier for him to appear a bit relaxed and affectionate at a “Kate event”.

      • BothSidesNow says:

        @ Joan Holloway, I can see that being his driving force of playing the supportive husband. Though I noticed he kept a great distance from her.

    • Lizzie says:

      Both need subtitles.

    • Marion says:

      This is all Kkate wants to attend things like this in the middle of a cost of living crisis, no funding for the NHS which they could solve by selling a few of their homes.

      I’m sick of the British press ramming this entitled end narcissistic and out of touch woman down my throat.

      Meghan and Harry should never go back to these abusers.

      • Mary Pester says:

        Marion I agree, Harry needs to stay away from this toxic family and he should DEFINITELY keep his children safe from them and their mind games. Not only is Khate continuing to copy Megan’s style, but now she is trying to use Harry and where he works as well, Better UP and just look at what she has called her latest 5 minute brain fart

  2. Belli says:

    I’m still feeling to find anything more to all of this than “the early years are important”.

    • Esmerelda says:

      If the message was sincere, and not just an excuse for Kate to be keen in public, it would be enough.

      I don’t know how things are in the US/UK, but in my country it’s very difficult to find a good kindergarten – it’s a rich people thing. Normal people with a job make do with what’s available, and people who work with small children are not considered “important”, socially.

      So the idea of making early years a focus could be good, BUT things will change only through political action, and left wing political action specifically. The message doesn’t fit the right wing narrative of “meritocracy”. This could be a good call to action, but it isn’t. It’s just a photo op.

      And Kate is one country Tory lady who props up one of the most unequal and privileged institutions in the world. If she’s the spokesperson, the message loses any meaning.

      I do like the suit, though.

      • Fabiola says:

        I like her outfit and I normally don’t like red.

      • Isabella Saxon says:

        She never suggests any course of action, so saying early years are important is meaningless.

      • dawnchild says:

        24-yo athlete Damar Hamlin’s charity has done more actual good for young children and in a shorter time than this nitwit yammering on about the importance of the early years

    • Mabs A'Mabbin says:

      I’ve tried. Don’t bother, important is all she’s got.

  3. Tessa says:

    She is so smug and smarmy. The dm has 5 articles and there are negative comments about her. She just is all talk and enjoys being center stage.i can’t get past her behavior to Meghan. She is no expert on this topic

    • Chloe says:

      There’s always negative comments about kate in the DM comment section. But usually they get the most downvotes, while the positive comments get a ridiculous amount of upvotes

      • sparrow says:

        Agree, Chloe. But the tide is turning in real terms. The BRF is tanking in the popularity ratings. Their collective attempts at food banks is particularly damaging to them, because of the economic state of the UK. Their individual projects aren’t resonating well – William’s earthshot nonsense is seen as hypocritical, and Kate’s early years is seen as a farce. It’s now become difficult for many to take this couple seriously; swanning around in expensive clothes and doing bugger all is rubbing the British people up the wrong way.

      • Cairidh says:

        The daily mail comments used to be 99% negative about Kate (from when they started dating until years after they married) and they were the most upvoted.

        Then the dm started removing most of the negative comments and the articles were flooded with astroturfers clearly paid to write praise about Kate. They were obviously fake comments. They’d use the same key words like “classy” and say she was hardworking and always put duty first which even her own family couldn’t say with a straight face. The dm would fudge the arrows to show mostly up votes.

        When britain first went into lockdown the fake gushing praise suddenly disappeared, and the comments were nearly all negative about Kate again. Although the ones who used to regularly write the worst comments about Kate, weren’t there, they’d probably given up trying after having their comments removed for years. (Harriet from Canada, Russ from uk)

        The astroturfers weren’t at work, and the dm hadn’t bothered to fudge the arrows. After a whilst they resumed service.

        Recently the dm has been letting some negative comments through again.
        In short, it’s not the publics opinion that’s changing, it’s the DMs treatment of her.

      • Tessa says:

        The usual cliche comments still appear: William chose well; she is Perfect; She is stunning (overused phrase), born to be Queen, Etc etc.

    • BUBS says:

      It seems like the Brits are getting tired of this woman…also, it seems like her mediocrity is becoming more apparent and alarming to them! The comments I see on Twitter even from uninterested bystanders these days…sheesh! Katie girl, your people think you’re dumb!

      • jane says:

        dumb and a grifter, cold and mean selfabsorbed shes nauseating period!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      • Museum Lady says:

        I don’t know if the person who tweeted this reads this site, but I almost fell to the floor laughing when they said:

        “I thought this was Bethany Frankel for a second.”

        Maybe Kate should do The Real Housewives of Norfolk.

      • booboocita says:

        @Museum Lady — I hate to admit it, but I would watch “The Real Housewives of Norfolk,” particularly if Khate were cast. She’d make the perfect villain: cold, haughty, thinks she’s better than everyone else, trying to be the leader, everyone laughs at her behind her back. Hours of entertainment!

      • Iolanthe says:

        Doesn’t she have an identity of her own ..years and years of copying beautiful Diana and now she has moved on to being a Meghan clone . It just doesn’t work ..she is such a cardboard cutout .

    • SAS says:

      She is on an absolute attention high! You can kind of get a picture of the bubble they live in that she is acting (and KP has obviously been playing along all week) like this is a HUGE DEAL. Yet we’re all sitting here like… has it happened yet? Is this it?? What… exactly is it?? Lol.

      • Chloe says:

        SAS: there’s a video of a little girl on twitter who is doing a small presentation about this exact topic. And she does it better than keen

      • Becks1 says:

        She’s totally on an attention high but I think there are cracks in her bubble. People are just scratching their heads. So Kate has announced now several times that she is launching an awareness campaign (three years after the 5 Big Questions and the pie charts and all that) to tell people the early years are important? Like, what?

        If I saw this video before a movie that would be my cue to hit the bathroom one last time before the actual movie started.

      • TheFarmer'sWife says:

        I’m still trying to figure out who she’s talking to. Is Princess Khate suggesting U.K. parents are idiots? Is this supposed to be a jab at Harry? Up Chuck? Will I Am? Everyone knows early childhood is important, as is elementary/middle/high school. So is Khate talking to U.K. parents, each working more than one job to pay the rent/mortgage/childcare while trying to put somewhat decent food on the table? I don’t know anything about costs in the U.K., but in B.C.’s Lower Mainland, childcare runs upwards of $1,000 a month per child if you don’t qualify for the few spots of $10/daycare. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment is at least $2,200 per month, and grocery store corporations continue to make enormous profits. It’s insulting to those just trying to survive that she shows up in expensive new clothes and puts on a look-at-me demonstration where awards are handed out to people making a lot of money for acting in movies few people can afford to go to. Should she not have done this during the day wearing her jeans/boots/anorak jacket at a small town daycare? Being a parent is not glamorous; taking care of children is not glamorous. Khate once again missed the mark by a mile or two.

      • Andy Dufresne says:

        @Chloe, you’re right! It’s by Molly Wright.

        Lol seriously! I bet Kate won’t even want to work with her cuz the little girl will steal her thunder. SMH .

    • BothSidesNow says:

      @ Tessa, the Daily Fail may be propping her up but Twitter was cutting her down. The anger was real last night and I do not believe that there was one ounce of support by her speech last night. Everyone mentioned how KKKHate spoke in double talk and how she didn’t bring anything to the table. It was also pointed out that she has been supposedly keening on this project for a better part of 5+ years and nothing has come to fruition.

    • Mary Pester says:

      Tessa, yes she was smarmy as all hell towards Megan, but she can’t stop copying her style. Poor little botox barbie just can’t help herself, she is playing Megan dress up every day 😂😂

  4. OriginalLala says:

    The suit is cool, but she is ‘Toxed and filled to high heaven, her face looks plastic. I still don’t understand this campaign- so far we’ve gotten a sad insta scrapbooking video, and a little film about a stop-motion baby?

    • Tessa says:

      Business woman barbie.

    • Brassy Rebel says:

      Too much make up, IMHO.

      • TeamMeg says:

        WAY. TOO. MUCH. That thick brown eyeshadow—why? And the red suit takes copying Meghan to such a ridiculous level, nobody can’t not see it now. Almost feel sorry for her now. But not.

    • SussexWatcher says:

      That claymation video was beyond creepy and the baby a bit gross looking. And, just like Keen, it had no real purpose or educational value. The entire point of the video seemed to be: babies are born and then they age up to 5 years old. No shit, Sherlock!

    • Startup Spouse says:

      I love the suit. That’s a win.

      But her face… it doesn’t move above her mouth. It’s so hard to watch. And she is still struggling with her diction.

    • sunny says:

      I really love her look here. Excellent suit and overall, an appropriate look. However, the work is just so weak, like this campaign feels like a joke. Talk about poorly executed! That claymation video felt pointless and was so creepy. Like what was that video even communicating except children grow??? Everyone involved in this is so incompetent

    • Dawning says:

      That power suit is all Meghan. When is Khate gonna stop copy-keening?

    • Honey says:

      I had stopped myself from commenting on the Kate threads years and years ago because the only thing of substance to comment on were her clothes. She simply brought so little to the public table. I mean it was just years and years of the fly-away skirts (why won’t she use magnets?), the coat dresses (OMG, the designer is basically selling the same patterns his dead wife used when Diana was alive), and/or why is her clothing and hairstyles so kiddie (before the wiglets there were the sausage curls, etc.).

      Here I will say 3 quick things: (1) I’m glad Meghan entered the scene. It finally gave Kate a near peer in age who she could emulate in style and dress. (Near peer in that Meghan has so much more life experience and that includes dressing not only her age, so to speak, but in dressing her age professionally.) Meghan effectively freed Kate from the coat dresses and the dresses and hairstyles that were more appropriate for Charlotte in look and design. (2) Kate actually looks nice here. I like her suit. She wears it well. Her cheek fillers are a bit too pronounced and it looks as if they tried to create cleavage but overall she looks nice. (Thank you, Meghan). (3) Despite her new age appropriate professional dress and look (not 7 or 75), she just hasn’t put in the work and practice needed to be more comfortable and confident in the professional/institutional side of her role. IMHO, she just doesn’t have the modern day life experience for such a role. I’ve always maintained that as a woman she might be right for William but in her public role as consort she is a poor fit. At this stage in the game, her “signature piece” should be well into its development and approaching mid-course for evaluation and expansion. 🤦🏽‍♀️

      • Annalise says:

        I remember when Kate wore that caped gold dress with the huge shoulder pads and the country music hair, to the James Bond movie premier, Kate stans were like “Our future queen!!!!!!” and “THIS is what a queen looks like!!!” and “she’s ready to be queen!!!!”

        Its really pathetic that all they require of their future queen, is to look good in a dress. Nothing more.

      • Tessa says:

        That gold gown was too gaudy and did not even fit her right. One of her worst looks ever. IMO.

      • Honey says:

        Do you all remember when she was all dolled up like a country western singer in the purple lace dress? That one was one for the record books too.

        What I will say about her is that I do think her dress clothes are tailored way better than Meghan’s. Kate does has a bigger budget but all and all, I do think her tailoring has been better than Meghan’s. Other than that, if one is looking for a modern women then Meghan has Kate beat hands down. It shouldn’t have been a contest but the BRF, William’s & Kate’s jealousies and insecurities, and the tabloid press turned it into that.

      • SomeChick says:

        I used to have a garment design business with my then-husband. if he used patterns I’d created when we were together after my death, I’d honestly be proud and honored. that’s not what’s creepy about those dresses. what’s creepy is that Catherine is cosplaying her deceased mother in law. that’s creepy.

      • Honey says:

        @somechick – I was echoing the remarks that were being made at that time.

    • Alice says:

      Santa Claus is back. I don’t like the red shade or the all red accessories,etc.

  5. Brit says:

    This person is the true definition of mediocrity. Literally nothing but smoke and mirrors with no tangible results and a show for the tabloids. No wonder they keep wondering where Meghan is. Kate is dull and predictable.

  6. L84Tea says:

    Look at them, trying sooo hard. Snort! I would actually love this look on Kate–because it fits well and she does look good–but the knowing that it’s another Meghan rip-off ruins it for me.

    As for Will, am I imagining it, or did he get a few plugs to create a little wispy combover?

    • TigerMcQueen says:

      The copy keening of Meghan is so blatant. There’s something deeply wrong with that woman.

      • Ginger says:

        The fact that Kate thought Meghan wanted her fashion contacts is just bizarre considering Kate has been copying all of Meghan’s looks.

        This whole ridiculous campaign to just say “The first 5 years are important.
        After that you are on your own” This is definitely like ‘Be Best’

      • Kit says:

        I genuinely don’t understand this blantant Megan copying business , l mean how is she not embarrassed, l mean everyone sees it , wonder what Willie’s friends think ? I found it hard to.watch her speech though, if this was such a big deal to her why wasn’t de speech to de point, shorter so she can stop reading those bloody pages !!

      • Tan says:

        @Kit – I see on twitter and prob a lot of CB commentators pointed out that Kate does this copying to override the times that Meghan wore her outfits so it becomes a messed up storyline that Meghan is copying Kate rather than the other way around. Another facet of misogynoir

      • Jais says:

        It doesn’t even have to be a story that Meghan is copying Kate. Although, I’m sure it happens. Either way, inevitably a mag will write something like duchesses wearing suits and the reader will see the side by side not knowing who wore it first. And at that point, it doesn’t matter who wore it first, but it is a way to make Meghan’s style and choices less unique and to get Kate’s face in more articles. And it leans into the whole competition storyline bw the two duchesses of who wore it best. It legit never needed to be this way except for the fact that kate goes out of her way to copykeen meghan. Listen, there can be style overlap but that’s not at all what this is. It’s a concerted effort to SWF her SIL.

    • Jais says:

      The suit is a good look. Good fit. I’m kinda surprised she didn’t wear a low pony like Meghan did for her oyw speech. Im just disgusted by the blatant copykeening. The red heels with the red pants. Come on. After the way she treated Meghan, accusing her of wanting her fashion contacts, and then turning around and stealing her style. Fashion colonialist.

      • Saucy&Sassy says:

        Jais, I think she is trying to cover her one eyebrow with her hair, so people won’t see that something is very wrong with her brows.

      • SomeChick says:

        fashion colonialist!!!!! comment of the week!

    • SussexWatcher says:

      I never look too closely at Willnot because he grosses me out (can someone get him some frickin’ chapstick?!) but he definitely also gets some hair airbrushed on from time to time, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that wispy combover is photoshopped.

  7. SAS says:

    I always find it so freaky how often she is the only person in the entire shot looking directly at the camera. Like they’re obviously not calling out or something because more people would be glancing over. It always makes her look so disconnected. She is the main character in her own mind.

    • Selene says:

      The British press has made her believe this.

    • sparrow says:

      SAS. I just looked at the photos and see totally what you mean. What the hell is she doing? It’s like someone has just shouted out “Kate, you’re needed on the phone” and she’s replying “me? now?”. How strange. She’s sitting amongst some beautiful women there, and kind of falls into the background face wise but stands out for the red clothing and weird stare. She looks medicated and totally unaware of what is going on around her or the people next to her. She must be the most disconnected, socially unaware and boring person to sit next to. Can you imagine the small talk? No, nor me.

      • SAS says:

        @Sparrow, it happens ALL THE TIME on walkabouts. It’s extremely bizarre when you start to notice it.

        After the garbled weather talk at the recent school visit I can’t even begin to imagine enduring the small talk!

    • Chaine says:

      Photos like this where she is madly posing and grinning like she’s on stage in the finale of a broadway show, while no one else is paying attention to the camera at all, they just make me think she truly has some kind of sickness. She must wear an earpiece where her personal photographer cues her when to pose.

      • sparrow says:

        Now SAS has got me looking at those two photos, I can’t stop! Kate looks mad. Is she under the impression her photographer is going to cut everyone else from the final edit. I am so tempted to use it as my screensaver. When she’s with other people like this you realise how plain she is. Without all the attention or hyper make up and botox glow, she wouldn’t stand out. The only other “posing” photo I’ve seen is the one where she was at the Tour de France and was freeze framing. I haven’t seen it on walkabouts. I’m never going to stop looking for it now.

      • Jais says:

        Well, it’s many years of honing in on where exactly are all the camera angles. We saw it at Phillips funeral. But the Tour de France freeze post was the absolute most amazing example. Does anyone have the link?

      • Dee says:

        The link I had bookmarked from that race and Kate’s freeze “shocked” pose is no longer available. Scrubbed from the internet, maybe?

      • L84Tea says:

        @Dee, OMG. I have never seen that! That is so hilariously awful!

    • sparrow says:

      SAS. As you can tell, you’ve made me obsessed with those pictures. I can’t even tell where she is looking? Her eyes are totally directionless and glazed over, particularly her right eye. I’ve never seen anything like it from anyone. EVER! If she hadn’t managed her talk, I’d guess from these photos that she was medicated to the hilt. (I think she is on some form of meds, which I’m not knocking, but this is a totally new level.) She’s on a total high here, because, unlike at the food bank, the lighting at these events and her photographer do a good job with her face. But now these have been published. I bet she’s livid.

    • The Recluse says:

      It is so odd to see her strike such an exaggerated, almost pseudo-surprised pose aimed for the camera: Oh! Who? Me?!

    • Nic919 says:

      Kate has been posing directly at the camera since day one. Before they became a Meghan hate site, the royal dish forum used to track how kate was always the one looking straight at the camera at public events and no other royal was doing that. She likely planned this pose as much as she and Chris Jackson did the fashion shoot at Philip’s funeral.

  8. Seaflower says:

    It’s all about me!!!!

  9. Kiera says:

    Love the suit. No. It’s there, fit is great, length of pants is great.

    Earrings though. Hmmm. I don’t think I would have done big dangly. I would have gone big diamond studs. Fits the tailored look better and doesn’t pull down her face with her hair.

    And yes, straight from the M Pinterest board.

  10. Tessa says:

    William still looks annoyed with that attempted smile at kate.

  11. girl_ninja says:

    Less work, spends more money and nothing but sad copies of Meghan’s style is churned out. She’s so unserious and uninteresting and refuses to grow. Pathetic.

  12. DouchesOfCambridge says:

    I thought it was Meg…
    Anyway, she says it’s a “loooong term” campaign, so don’t except anything new anytime soon. Boring speech, i don’t feel the hype.

    • JustBitchy says:

      Yup- long term. She’ll be at this stage for another 20 years.

    • Myra says:

      The Meghan suit is lovely. It’s nice to see the evolution in royal fashion since 2018. This campaign feels like the last one they did a few days before Meghan launched her project.

    • Jais says:

      A looong campaign is right. And how will it’s success be measured? By propaganda. All the UK morning shows, from what I can see on my Twitter scroll, are caping for Kate and talking about her early years campaign. According to them, it’s a success. Which sure, as long as you don’t too closely at the comments beneath the embiggening headlines.

      • BUBS says:

        Kate needs something for the next 20 years. They’ll keep on relaunching this every year. Lol

  13. Brassy Rebel says:

    How many ways and how many venues can they find for Kate to keep saying the same things over and over? Graham Smith from Republic had the best comment, I think: “I never could have become an adult without my childhood.”

    • IForget says:

      LOL that’s amazing.

      Her speech was honestly offensive. I don’t want to hear from someone who has access to every resource in the world and millions of pounds say how important these experiences we undergo as children are to our adulthood. I have girlfriends here who have children, and literally every single ‘issue’ Kate speaks about could be solved with money. The struggles they’re undergoing as parents, their hopes and wishes for their children, all of it could be solved with money (and to a lesser extend, resources, which could be purchased with money). Nobody isn’t aware that early childhood is important. Advocating for awareness only is honestly pathetic.

      • ArtHistorian says:

        And that is why this a stupid subject to pick for a royal campaign – because the solutions are all dependent on policy making and that is political, something she cannot engage in because of her royal position.

        She has hamstrung herself from the very beginning. What the heck was her advisors thinking? she should absolutely have been steered towards something else.

      • IForget says:

        Agreed 100%. I see Twitter keeps trying to make ‘Children’s Princess’ happen, but it’s not going to happen. When you look at kids aroud her, and William for that matter, they usually look bored, confused, etc. That’s completely fine, and that itself is not an indictment of her character, but it’s not very clever to try to make that her thing.

        My guess, is that she’s not very academic (can you test the smell by smelling it, do they still make Faberge eggs, etc), and she’s not a hard worker (part time accessories buyer for Jigsaw being her only job, she rarely takes her coat off at engagements and always looks like a fish out of water when she has to work, the people in New York asking her if she could work while she was sitting pretending to volunteer, etc). So maybe they thought, if she’s not academic, not a grafter, what about working with kids?

        The thing with kids, they don’t lie, they don’t pretend, and they don’t give a sh*t about anything they don’t want to. I’m remembering those kids in Australia repeatedly asking the Queen what her name was and why she was there. Also, as you mentioned, policy and systemic issues relating to children are incredibly political, and truly represent what the government of the day is (essentially, whether social structures are funded or not).

      • Christine says:

        Are you serious, IForget? I am never going to stop laughing, they are trying to make “Children’s Princess” a thing?!?

        This has made my day.

        WHAT.ELSE?!?!

    • Naomi says:

      Yeah, I mean, to my mind it seems clear that the point of BRF is to *look* like they’re doing philanthropy (ie., patronages & BS programs like Kate’s) but not *actually* do philanthropy. The problem H&M posed to the BRF is that they wanted to real philanthropy — actually put in the work, do the research, bring people together, fundraise, etc. Yes, Charles has actually put time & effort into some his projects & patronages, but overall it seems like what the establishment (tories, royalists + media) wants is to do what Kate is doing: nothing. Show up, look nice, say nothing. Because the establishment doesn’t want anything to change. The BRF is little more than window-dressing for tory policies at this point.

  14. Lady Baden-Baden says:

    The suit is gorgeous

    • BUBS says:

      She can thank Meghan’s The Cut interview for that😎
      Too bad though…she can copy Meghan’s clothes but falls short when it comes to brains!

      • Lady Baden-Baden says:

        I’m sure she looked nice too

        ETA: didn’t M wear a black poloneck for the Cut? Or was that just the cover?

      • Becks1 says:

        @LBB just the cover. She wore a white suit with a VERY similar cut to this one in the photospread. (or was it Variety? I can’t remember.) This also reminds me a lot of the white suit Meghan wore in The Hague in April.

      • Lady Baden-Baden says:

        Isn’t that just the current style of women’s suits?

        Nevermind – I love it anyway, although I don’t think I could get away with that red. Let’s be honest – all these people are useless. Might as well admire the clothes.

      • BUBS says:

        LBB, Meg had on a similar asymmetrical suit on for the photo shoot inside. Meg’s was in white…K just looked for something exactly similar, but in red!
        Ole girl has an entire Meghan mood board in her room!
        And no, Meghan is by no means useless…neither is Harry. Their work portfolio speaks for itself. Real results too. The “remainers” though…yeah, totally useless!

      • MJM says:

        @Becks1 Meghan’s white suit was featured in the Cut photoshoot, not Variety.

    • Tan says:

      Saw it louder for everyone on the site – since I cannot say Meghan is useless I’ll prop up Kate and then when the site says Kate is just copying Meghan that’s when I’ll slip how useless Meghan is – ha ha u so smart

      • Lady Baden-Baden says:

        ??? “Prop up Kate?!” Do you want me to vomit?! I like the suit not the woman in it! Is that not allowed?

      • Tan says:

        Am I misinterpreting this quote
        “Let’s be honest – all these people are useless. Might as well admire the clothes.”
        Is this only concerning Kate or also Meghan as well?

      • Lady Baden-Baden says:

        I was referring to the Royal family, which Meghan very wisely left. I could’ve said a lot worse but I try not to be too negative

      • Tan says:

        Understood – appreciate it for responding. I am sorry for my prior implication. Down with the royal family

  15. BUBS says:

    I’m sorry but William looks like a clown. He and Kate look like they’re in some sort of simulation.
    I went back to look at the pictures and🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

  16. Maxine Branch says:

    Early learning advocacy goes all the way back to Piaget and his era of advocates. The United States implemented the Head Start Program for early learners which was/is very successful. I just do not get what this woman is doing. There is a body of available research, she cannot reinvent the wheel because the research is readily available. What is she trying to do, just remind everyone how important early learning is? Hard to imagine most parents not being aware of this.

    • SarahCS says:

      Busywork to justify the £££ she costs us and give the rota something to talk about. Thats it.

    • Startup Spouse says:

      This is just busy work to create the illusion that she serves a purpose in her role. It’s to placate those who have no critical thinking skills and blindly support the monarchy.

  17. Eurydice says:

    She went somewhere and she wore something.

  18. JustBitchy says:

    First, she clearly has an ED. So I really don’t want to comment on the clothing.

    Lots of “learning”, “planning,” “future work “ phrases. Oh lord.

  19. Grace says:

    The pantsuit has a great color, but the shoulder pads look really weird. Like they were trying to grow small pointy ears. I’m not even going to mention that no way she could have launched this campaign re-wearing something already in her closet.

    I still don’t understand how this campaign is going to raise awareness. By showing a claymation? I was taught about the importance of early years and a child’s brain and emotional development at school when I was between 13 and 17 years old. It was part of the biology and psychology curriculum. It was even part of the maternity healthcare when I was expecting my daughter. Don’t think this is news to anyone. The importance of early years was recognized a long time ago already.

    What exactly is the role of these celebs here? How exactly are they involved? And how is all this highlighting going to help parents and caregivers who don’t have the sufficient resources to take care of the children the way they would like to? No new well-paid jobs for poor parents, playgrounds, healthcare facilities or funding are going to be created just because the royals tell early years are important. This sounds like all the parents and those who have with children to do were treated like idiots. We know that childhood matters and we’re all doing the best we can. No need to tell us that, and no way everything would automatically be screwed for children before their sixth birthday if we’re not perfect.

  20. SarahCS says:

    I can’t say I’m feeling the make up. In the closer shots it looks super heavy while the suit could be a daytime look. Someone hid her kohl crayon a few years ago and got her to ditch the panda eyes and they did her a favour. This looks spray painted on.

    • Chloe says:

      Her make up is always quite heavy though. At least the foundation. She wears a lot of it and it has been like that for a while now.

  21. Miranda says:

    I’ve made this point before, but it just drives me crazy that, every time Kate has a genuinely good fashion moment, she lets the look down with boring or just plain bad accessorizing. She always does this head-to-toe solid color thing. Red suit, red heels, red clutch, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if she was wearing ruby or garnet jewelry…FFS, have some fun with it! Wear metallic or contrasting color accessories!

    And God, I’m cringing so hard at that speech. If she weren’t such an awful person, I’d feel genuinely bad for her being so clearly, painfully out of her depth.

  22. Stef says:

    The suit cut and colour on her are both striking and beautiful. This look is one of the best she’s ever done.

    I’d even venture to say I like this all red ensamble more than Meghan’s all-red look. This shocks me a little!

    • Tessa says:

      I think Meghan outdoes Kate always.

    • TheWigletOfWails says:

      And this is why she and her team keep kkkopying Meghan. It is a white supremacist tactic and it’s gross.

      • Jais says:

        This.

      • ElizabethR says:

        Yes, thank you for saying it @TheWigletOfWails. The copying is so blatant, and so deeply offensive, for the reason you mentioned.

      • Nerd says:

        This to me is just as offensive and racists as when Melania took Michelle’s “Be Better” campaign and reused the signage, wording and only changed the logo to “Be Best”. It is extremely offensive and racist for a white woman to steal from a black woman and try and take credit for what the woman of color has already done or accomplished. Yes this is just clothing, but it is obvious that Kate is intentionally copying Meghan’s fashion. It won’t make her more popular or help her outshine Meghan because no matter how hard she tries she always manages to mess it up somehow. Meghan is the standard that Kate, even with all her money and media hype team can’t compete with.

    • notasugarhere says:

      Whereas I think the suit is badly-tailored, the puff sleeves are ridiculous, and none of the reds match. Another 5,000 easy wasted on yet another outfit she’ll wear once.

      • Stef says:

        Damn! Thought it would be good to finally say something nice about this outfit. Didn’t have the obvious copying and appropriation in mind with an attempt to make a quasi-positive comment about Kate. Very true though: her keen-copying is just gross.

        On a potentially positive note – at least Keen seems to be able to learn from others in a tiny capacity. That’s good, right?

        Yes, Meghan will always do it better with ease and beauty Keen envies. Sad but true.

        That said, I really like this suit on her and I stand by it.

      • Emily_C says:

        Seriously, I do not understand all the people saying the suit looks good on her. It’s baggy. I don’t think anyone can make anything that fits her any more — she’s too skeletal. Then there are the horrible pointy shoulderpads.

  23. Harper says:

    After watching Burger King throw himself two Earthshot parties, Kate decides it’s time to honor herself with an Early Years shindig. Because what was really missing, she discovered, was an audience, some very Z-list celebs, and a podium where she could blather on and get applause. I expect the Early Years of Mr. Bill claymation video will get its own post here. Burger King looked as bored as ever last night.

    • BUBS says:

      Honestly, I was a little shocked! When they said “celebrities”, I really thought “top-of-the-chain”… only to see a bunch of unknowns…someone even had a baseball cap on, in this supposedly top-tier event! This family has really fallen so far down!

  24. Mooney says:

    So, anyone still wants to say that she’s not copying Meghan but the style of millions of working women around the world?

    But seriously, all this red is hurting my eyes. Meghan really has a way of pulling off any colour she wears. Something KKK of WanK lack.

  25. Becks1 says:

    This is so self-serving I’m almost embarrassed for her (I said almost!) she’s throwing herself a launch party, wearing a red power suit (something we have not seen from her before, designed to make sure she’s the star of the show) and she’s talking about…..what, exactly? Making sure people understand the importance of the Early Years?

    Okay, we get it, the early years are important. Now what are you doing to help make sure people are positioned to give their children the best start in life possible? How are you addressing housing issues, food insecurity, cost of living concerns, the high cost of childcare, social programs that help new parents, addiction, mental health, etc?

    It’s just not enough to say “X is important.” Okay, so what comes next?

    She has no answer to that.

    • Chloe says:

      You know whats funny? Back in 2020 she sat down for an interview with the bbc i think to discuss the importance or early years and how she got involved in it. (Mind you she did this on the same day as meghans girls up keynote adress but anyway). She said then that the data behind early years is staggering. And yet i have not heard her mention any statistics She simply does not understand what the is even talking about.

      • ABritGuest says:

        Wow Kate looks fantastic in her Meghan inspired all red look. Probably top 5 fave look from her. I remember when her fans were hoping she’d go back to coat dresses when she was POW but copy keening it is.

        Apparently this was an existing Bafta event that her EY thing was added to. Makes sense as the ex Bafta chief is the royal foundations new head I believe.

        This is just PR & photos to Kate. I doubt she could talk intelligently about the science behind her centres research to save her life. Just glib statements about raising awareness is enough for her press cheerleaders. I’m surprised by the amount of criticism she’s getting though from the public at least on SM – at a time of cost of living crisis etc I think an awareness campaign with no solutions or practical resource is quite tone deaf.

  26. sparrow says:

    Kate’s face loves these events because of the bright flash light. She looked so different at the food bank? Because now she’s got the lighting and photoshop.

    • JanetDR says:

      I am trying to figure out what happened to that raised left brow that has been so noticeable lately.

  27. msmontclair says:

    Love the suit. Nope to the earrings. Strong nope to the wearer.

  28. Tessa says:

    I don’t think she looks all that great. Her wearing red is to get focus on herself.

  29. Amy Bee says:

    Meghan is the fashion blueprint. I think Kate is past the stage of an awareness campaign she has to do more now.

  30. sparrow says:

    Before I click and cringe, can someone tell me what her speech is like? Is it as bad as usual? I get so much painful second hand embarrassment. I don’t like her, but for some reason I don’t take any joy in hearing her flounder around and mumble.

    • BUBS says:

      We become fully formed adults by first being children under the age of 5: that’s the summary of the speech!
      At least, that’s what I got from Twitter comments because like you, I can’t put myself through the discomfort of watching her mumble!

      • sparrow says:

        thanks, BUBS! I am so tempted to click but can’t. I’d have been so tempted to walk out of this nonsense event.

      • aftershocks says:

        @Sparrow, Khate’s delivery at least was not mumbly, but she had to keep looking down at her notes, and she was clearly uncomfortable and short of breath. She hasn’t fully learned proper pacing and how to breathe. She made a few slight bobbles in wording, normal for a nervous speaker, but she quickly recovered. That shows how she was drilled by handlers to keep practicing the speech over-and-over in prep for this. Maybe that’s why she’s been looking so teary-eyed and exhausted lately! LOL

        Overall, the content was as others have said, fairly useless and repetitive. Most of all, it’s obvious that Khate believes in none of this. It’s not coming from anything authentic, heartfelt, or genuine. It’s all about p.r. embiggening and photo-ops.

    • First comment says:

      I did click and Bubs is right, this is the summary of her entire speech: “We become fully formed adults by first being children under the age of 5”. There were also the same points mentioned in “her” open letter. On the whole, it was pretty annoying because she kept looking at her papers and she couldn’t utter one word without looking even though there were the same repetitive words..

      • sparrow says:

        Thanks, First comment. Sounds like she didn’t speak from the heart or wisdom, then, just from a load of papers. Such a genuine expert. Let’s hope she never gets asked to do a TED talk.

      • Gabby says:

        @sparrow, she had to look down at her notes to thank the people in the room, if that gives you any idea.

    • Ruby says:

      When I hear her give a speech I can only think of the contrast with Meghan. Khate seems disassociated from what she’s saying and seems so rehearsed. She probably has certain words underlined on the typed pages she’s reading from so she knows what words to emphasize and when to pause, etc. Contrast with Meghan who doesn’t appear to use notes and speaks from the heart. I know Meghan is an actress and a natural public speaker. But my goodness Kate should be better at this by now.

    • Chaine says:

      Just skip it and go Google Princess Diana’s first speechas Princess of Wales when she was just 20 years old and went and even spoke in Welsh to an audience in Wales. Keen is no Princess Diana.

  31. Cc says:

    Who else attended this? One would hope that the experts she had a meeting with the other day were there. (There’s someone in a ball cap a row or two back from Kate, so maybe they desperately started pulling people in off the street.)
    How else did they fill the time? Was there a musical act? Did guests get drinks and appetizers?

  32. Pumpkin (Was Sofia) says:

    The suit is nice. It’s the only thing I’ll give to her.

    As others have pointed out, the actual work of hers is severely lacking. Okay you’re raising awareness but that is not going to create more funding, more access to low cost nurseries, meals for low income families etc etc. If the idea is that “Oh the public will campaign!”, they already are. It’s the government who aren’t listening. If she wants to make a legitimate impact in EY, she needs to work with the government in some way. I believe policy makers were mentioned for this campaign but honestly, I’ll believe it when I see it (aka any actual policies implemented).

  33. Dee says:

    When can we download her Early Years podcast? (sarcasm)

  34. Layla says:

    Wow! Meghan really lit a fire under k’a ass without meaning too

    Just knew we’d see an assymetrical blazer soon after the cut… earlier than I thought though…

  35. sparrow says:

    There’s a disconnect here that Kate seems totally unaware of (how unusual!). The kids who struggle most during the early years are from poorer homes, and yet here she is, expensive suit and all, treating the whole thing as if she’s been nominated for an oscar. She just doesn’t get it.

  36. Digital Unicorn says:

    Even though this is peak copykeening – its one of her better looks and yeah she had a pro do her makeup as she looked ok and it was blended better than normal. I do like the suit thou.

    The smug is sooooooooooo strong with her at the moment – she is one of those self absorbed people who knows people are not buying what they are selling but doesn’t care as she knows her privilege (and the UK media and the RF) will protect her.

    I still don’t think she will ever be QC, am still convinced they will divorce at some point. She can cling and scheme all she wants but when it comes down to it they (Peggy and Chuck) WILL feed her and her family to the wolves to protect themselves and the crown. You reap what you sow.

    • Moondust says:

      Maybe once Louis turns five they’ll get a divorce. After all, only early years matter according to her.

  37. ABlue says:

    Will and Kate are like the chatGPT of royal philanthropy. Someone gave them an idea of what to do and say, and it comes off completely alien. Actually worse than chatGPT…

  38. TheWigletOfWails says:

    I’m so over this white supremacist Karen. Keep trying to colonize Meghan’s style, Kitty Columbus, Sussex fans will never like or support you because you are a vapid, insecure C U Next Tuesday.

  39. Mle428 says:

    Love the suit, but the earrings are a no. They look like something from Chico’s.

  40. Crowned Huntress says:

    It frustrates me to think about how cool and productive this initiative could’ve been especially during the height pandemic when so many children were stuck at home and needed support.

    Maybe a toy, book and clothing drive? Hell if Meghan was involved maybe a crossover collaboration with the Hubb Kitchen and Smart Works providing food and resources to help families of young children during a crisis.

    Suit is nice but I consider her constant copying of Meghan to be stalking and harassment at this point so there’s that.

  41. SourcesclosetoKate says:

    Holy red! Move over Beyonce, lol. I wonder since bafta is his big thing is why William is acting all different towards Kate here, he’s making sure nothing screws it up. And is that a tan line on Kate’s chest, it’s really deep

    • notasugarhere says:

      I don’t think it is a tan line. If you look at other photos, it is the bones of her chest.

  42. Chaine says:

    If you just glance at the last two photos in just the right way, it looks like she’s wearing a jauntily askew trucker hat.

  43. alexc says:

    Cypher in a killer suit, that’s about it.

  44. tamsin says:

    What makes this audience the appropriate one? Shouldn’t she be talking to parents and the Education Cabinet Minister and School authorities? Must say, this is one of Kate’s best looks in a long time. And she’s getting more clever at the cosplay- copying suit, but in a different color which is also a big cosplay. Meghan has worn red on a number of occasions now, all evening events.

    • notasugarhere says:

      Kate’s cosplaying Meghan’s white double-breasted suit and the head-to-toe silky red, unlined trouser look. See Meghan’s look from One World September 2022.

      • ElizabethR says:

        Yep, she’s doubling down on the copying. It’s stalkerish. It feels like another form of bullying, tbh.

  45. First comment says:

    I really like the suit and the color. It suits her. What I find unacceptable is its price (£2290 for the jacket and £880 for the pants, according to wkw). She can definitely buy a £3000 suit to wear once or twice but she can’t make a donation to a food bank!! I guess it’s alright to spend so much money in these difficult economically times and to ignore so blatantly “your” people’s struggles in order to cosplay working but it’s too “political “to actually do something good.

    • AnneL says:

      There is absolutely no need for that suit to be so expensive. You can buy extremely well made, classic but modern, flattering basics like this from a label like Theory. Accessorize them right, make sure they fit to a tee, and the effect is just as good. YMMV.

      And her copy-keening is off the charts! The slightly long trousers, the monochromatic suit and sleek lines? Not to mention a red suit, which Meghan wore to an event last year (though that was a bit more glamorous and offbeat due to the event).

      She has zero originality. All that money and access and not even a fashion thought that’s all her own. It’s sad.

  46. Roop says:

    Ok, I know that not everyone is skilled at public speaking. And we all know Kate is terrible at it. But… can she not TRY??? She looks down at her notes three times in one sentence! She even had to look down after her final sentence to see what came next, then looked up and said “Thank You.”

    She had to look at her notes to see the words “thank you”??? She couldn’t remember even those two final words???

    She spent no time trying to memorize her speech. She couldn’t be bothered. She threw an event where people would come just to hear her make this very short speech, and she couldn’t bother to try to memorize any of it????

    This is what happens when you have no job or career besides Prince chasing. You develop no skills or confidence whatsoever. You have no concept of delivering a good presentation or how to do it.

    What a useless woman.

  47. kelleybelle says:

    Doesn’t she always wear McQueen? Or Catherine Walker … *yawn* You forgot to mention the hideous earrings. How in hell did the cameras manage to catch Will actually looking at her? I’m sure they read these columns.

  48. AmelieOriginal says:

    I don’t like Kate and we know she loves to copy Meghan but that is a nice pantsuit outfit. The speech however… omg. I saw a copy that Omid Scobie posted yesterday on Twitter and everyone was confused by it. Nothing about it was original or groundbreaking and was just incredibly repetitive from similar speeches she’s done promoting early years. She was being ripped apart for it. So many studies have been done already over the last few decades proving that the first few years of life are crucial to a child’s development. I learned the basics in AP Psychology in high school! We all already know this. Are there seriously people out there completely unaware???

  49. Diamond Rottweiler says:

    Meh. It’s a good color on her, but the material looks like that icky “power blouse” crepe de chine everyone wore in the 80s (which also stank terribly after a day of wearing as I recall lol). It doesn’t have enough body to hold the suit’s lines, especially the pants. Copy fail.

  50. Brianne says:

    Does anybody else find it a bit odd that Kate and Wills are supposedly mental health focused and yet 10 years late Kate still wears McQueen to everything despite him offing himself at 40? I’m not trying to disparage him at all….lots of suicide victims out there from all walks of life. It just kinda seems off. Maybe it’s just me?

  51. Jay says:

    But did she bring her script/ speech in a folder labelled “folder”…

  52. Pity says:

    Maybe I’m not on social media much and missing a lot or I’m in a bubble.. but I checked the hashtag for shaping us and there’s little engagement besides a few royal reporters?
    Even some of their random pages the engagement is low? I’m not trying to give myself a false sense of hope but I remember one page was buying bots like crazy and now it’s nothing? Anyone notice?
    Maybe this is why it’s important for people to ignore her if you don’t like her since most other people are too.

  53. Eenie Googles says:

    Looove this outfit. Amazing look, great colour on her.

  54. j.ferber says:

    The first time in years I haven’t seen William dismissive, contemptuous or hateful toward Kate. I guess that 22 million pounds a year from the Duchy have really mellowed him–he can even look civil /non-committal standing next to his wife.

  55. Marion says:

    William’s wishing he was in a rose garden..

  56. Emily_C says:

    This is part of a Tory propaganda push. It’s only “early years are important” over and over and over again because they want people to think no other time is important, and once someone is 5 years old, their personality and fate is set in stone. Of course the brain develops hugely in the first 5 years — it’s when people learn to walk, talk, eat, basic motor skills. One’s brain keeps developing throughout all of life. It doesn’t stop, not ever, and people keep changing throughout life as well.

    This propaganda lines up perfectly with Tory misogyny: Women must stay home and raise babies. ENGLISH women, and only the right type of English women, middle class or higher from the Home Counties.

    And it is right in line with their recent propaganda push about how you should hate and fear Albanian children, and that it doesn’t matter that nearly 200 Albanian teenagers were kidnapped when they were seeking asylum in the UK. Because those Albanian children didn’t have a perfect first 5 years, so of course they’re doomed to be nothing but thugs anyway. Watch for UK tabloids to start talking about how Virginia Giuffre’s childhood was bad when she was a toddler in order to smear her.

    The way Kate talks (or mumbles in that heinous faux posh accent) about “early years”, it’s basically code for being born in the right caste. They don’t want anything to do with people who aren’t comfortably-off economically, who don’t have the right accents, and who don’t have the right patriarchal political views. A working class person from Liverpool absolutely does not count — really, no one outside the Home Counties does except on sufferance.

    • Nic919 says:

      There seems to be push back on the uselessness of this awareness campaign but people outside of the bootlicker brigade. There are practitioners of early years who have been critical of this campaign and with a teachers strike starting tomorrow in England there may be more criticism of the useless rich mannequin telling people who have to work how to raise their kids.

  57. Bellah says:

    “Thank you for helping me develop my thinking.” 🙄
    Is she 14 or 40 years old?!

  58. Lee says:

    She looks great

  59. Cottage Cat says:

    Kate is currently being hero-worshipped in the Daily Mail for telling an “ordinary Joe” from the crowd (possibly carefully- selected), “Don’t worry, we all get nervous sometimes”, when he requested a selfie with her. I always had my suspicions that pro-Middleton bots were astroturfing those comment forums placing multiple posts under different names. Now I know for sure: “Awww, bless her, I bet that made his day”, first by Orion25, New York, and then again a few places below, by Alison11, Perth Western Australia. This should be exposed, big-time.

  60. Bread and Circuses says:

    That IS a darned nice red suit, though.