(Note: I updated this post with the photos from today!)
Good news! The Princess of Wales finally wore a new ensemble instead of pulling something from her closet. What’s funny about that is… Kate already has tons of navy coats and coatdresses, and half of her closet already looks naval-themed. Prince William and Kate were in Glasgow today to launch a new ship, the HMS Glasgow. Kate was tasked with smashing a bottle of whiskey against the hull to officially launch the ship. Kate wore a Suzannah London dress in (obviously) navy and white.
The Princess of Wales has officially named HMS Glasgow by smashing a bottle of local Scottish whisky against its hull. Kate, 43, was joined by her husband, Prince William, to conduct the traditional naming ritual at the BAE Systems’ shipyard in Scotstoun, on the bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow.
Keeping her look suitably nautical for the outing, the royal sported a navy and white £1,850 coat dress from British brand Suzannah London and a matching statement hat from Philip Treacy, first worn at Trooping the Colour in 2024.
Stepping up onto a podium before a crowd of several hundred BAE employees, their families and the 45-strong ship’s company, Kate uttered the time-honoured words: ‘I have the pleasure to name this ship HMS Glasgow, may God bless her and all who sail on her’.
The Princess then flicked up a small red ‘launch’ button to release a bottle of exclusive single malt whisky made by the nearby Clydeside Distillery. The ceremonial act is said to bring good luck and fortune to the vessel and its crew. The distillery opened its doors in 2017, the same year that the HMS Glasgow build began, marking what is considered the start of two modern icons of Glasgow’s maritime heritage. Each bottle of the whisky sold will include a donation to HMS Glasgow’s chosen charity, Place2Be, of which the Princess is patron, and which supports children’s mental health in the city.
I feel like we are being gaslighted about the whiskey. The actual tradition for ships and sailing vessels is to break a bottle of champagne, not whiskey! I guess whiskey is a specifically Scottish tradition? It also appears that Queen Elizabeth II smashed a bottle of whiskey against one of her boats too. Anyway. It looks like very few photo agencies are buying these photos? The only photos being run by most outlets were released exclusively by Kensington Palace’s in-house photographer. Very strange. I will update if we ever get any photos.
A bottle of whisky is smashed against the hull of @RoyalNavy’s new ship HMS Glasgow by the ship’s sponsor – the Princess of Wales.
Kate and William are in Scotstoun, Glasgow for the naming ceremony and to meet those who built the Type 26 frigate and those who’ll sail on it. pic.twitter.com/yQueo8O6nb— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) May 22, 2025
Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Avalon Red.
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- The Princess of Wales walks with Royal Navy aircrew during a visit to RNAS Yeovilton. The Princess of Wales visited the Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton, one of the Royal Navy’s two principal air stations following the recent announcement that The King has appointed The Princess, Commodore-in-Chief, Fleet Air Arm (FAA).,Image: 806239038, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Richard Pohle / Avalon
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- The Princess of Wales talks with a Royal Navy personnel in the training hangar at RNAS Yeovilton. The Princess of Wales visited the Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton, one of the Royal Navy’s two principal air stations following the recent announcement that The King has appointed The Princess, Commodore-in-Chief, Fleet Air Arm (FAA).,Image: 806239176, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Richard Pohle / Avalon
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- Mull, Scotland, 30 April 2025: The Prince and Princess of Wales visiting Mull, Scotland the couple visited the Ardura Community Forest. On the second day of their visit to the Scottish Isles, The Duke and Duchess will meet the Countryside Rangers from the Mull and Iona Ranger Service at the Ardura Community Forest to highlight the importance of protecting and championing the natural environment. The Mull and Iona Ranger Service plays a vital role in conservation, biodiversity protection, visitor management and education on the islands. Countryside Rangers lead guided events for visitors and the resident community – regularly partnering with local primary schools to ensure that every child on the islands has the opportunity to experience the beautiful natural environment around them.,Image: 993841772, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Ian Vogler/Avalon
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- Mull, Scotland, 30 April 2025: The Prince and Princess of Wales visiting Mull, Scotland the couple visited the Ardura Community Forest. On the second day of their visit to the Scottish Isles, The Duke and Duchess will meet the Countryside Rangers from the Mull and Iona Ranger Service at the Ardura Community Forest to highlight the importance of protecting and championing the natural environment. The Mull and Iona Ranger Service plays a vital role in conservation, biodiversity protection, visitor management and education on the islands. Countryside Rangers lead guided events for visitors and the resident community – regularly partnering with local primary schools to ensure that every child on the islands has the opportunity to experience the beautiful natural environment around them.,Image: 993841786, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Ian Vogler/Avalon
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- Mull, Scotland, 30 April 2025: The Prince and Princess of Wales visiting Mull, Scotland the couple visited the Ardura Community Forest. On the second day of their visit to the Scottish Isles, The Duke and Duchess will meet the Countryside Rangers from the Mull and Iona Ranger Service at the Ardura Community Forest to highlight the importance of protecting and championing the natural environment. The Mull and Iona Ranger Service plays a vital role in conservation, biodiversity protection, visitor management and education on the islands. Countryside Rangers lead guided events for visitors and the resident community – regularly partnering with local primary schools to ensure that every child on the islands has the opportunity to experience the beautiful natural environment around them.,Image: 993844788, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Ian Vogler/Avalon
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- The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, attend the naming ceremony for HMS Glasgow, at the BAE Systems shipyard in Scotstoun, Glasgow Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales, William, Prince of Wales Where: Glasgow, United Kingdom When: 22 May 2025 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, attend the naming ceremony for HMS Glasgow, at the BAE Systems shipyard in Scotstoun, Glasgow Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales, William, Prince of Wales Where: Glasgow, United Kingdom When: 22 May 2025 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, attend the naming ceremony for HMS Glasgow, at the BAE Systems shipyard in Scotstoun, Glasgow Featuring: William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales Where: Glasgow, United Kingdom When: 22 May 2025 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, during a visit to the BAE Systems’ Shipbuilding Academy to at the BAE Systems shipyard in Scotstoun, Glasgow Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales, William, Prince of Wales Where: Glasgow, United Kingdom When: 22 May 2025 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Princess of Wales, known as the Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, meet with apprentices and graduates during a visit to the BAE Systems’ Shipbuilding Academy to at the BAE Systems shipyard in Scotstoun, Glasgow Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales Where: Glasgow, United Kingdom When: 22 May 2025 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
That outfit is 1980s Princess Diana cosplay. She looks ridiculous.
My thoughts exactly.
I am so glad others saw that too!! That was my first thought and I was going to go look to see if Princess Diana ever christened a ship and what she wore.
She must have raided Diana’s 80s wardrobe for that outfit. She would have been better wearing a repeat outfit. She looks totally out of place and time.
It truthfully gives me the chills that she “Single White Female’s” her deceased mother in law and Meghan. It’s just creepy AF..
Very much so. Except Diana would have matched her blues (Kate’s hat & coat dress thingie are are not quite the same blue).
Exactly, that screams 80’s Diana
That was my reaction too. She’s dressed like his mom.
Dressing like your husband’s deceased mother is just so many levels of creepy.
This was my immediate first reaction when I saw the photos! 100% Diana and Diana wore it better. I notice that Kate is wearing the engagement ring again all the time now, too.
It’s not only the outfit, that little arms straight down, lean back and laugh was a signature Diana move. I recall Jan Van Velden teasing her about it because when she stood like that, it could make her skirts look odd and like they were incorrectly fitted.
The mind absolutely boggles about what she will try to copy next.
The Diana lean back posture copying is bizarre. It’s disturbing to think that of her practicing that with Carole.
wow, so much work, Vacation time must be coming up
wow, so much work, Vacation time must be coming up. She has a “flying saucer” hat style
Were any photographers there other than KP’s one? After those pics of Kathy at the garden party, they might have decided to restrict access lol.
They have definitely been restricting access to photographers and to the rota. I’ve noticed that the only picture of her from that garden party in yellow was only onthe front page of the Mirror the day after and it was relatively smaller than the usual front page area they give to her when she goes out. They may not have wanted a close up. I also notice KP being their own photographer to events more often now and I think they distribute those videos/images to the rota to put on their socials. If you notice, they usually post the same exact video as if they were sent straight to the group chat. Some of the rota will post it on ‘x’ and some will post it on Instagram.
They don’t want her to look aged too much. I think they’ve been photoshopping too much and worry about comparisons.
As I recall, KP became especially restrictive around photos after the Frankenphoto debacle last year. It’s about more than just what Kate’s face looks like.
They are so stupid. That is why when we get unedited pics of her, everyone is questioning why she suddenly aged. How long do they think that they can play this game?
I’m assuming the plan is…. forever? LOL.
That’s what I was thinking. They were unhappy with the garden party photos so had only their pet photographers on hand & only released photos via their socials.
Oh my goodness, these people…..such vanity😨😨😨!!!!!. KHate Middletonedeaf is 43 years old. And if the good Lord is willing, she will have more years, which means she will get old and wrinkly and gray. What will they do, encase her in anti-aging or what? SMDH, that’s why Meghan will ALWAYS win, because she and her husband are not vain. Those hideous royal family folks and their adjacents over there on Isle de Saltines think aging is a bad thing? What ridiculous hogwash!!! My gosh!!!
After the Garden Party pics/comments, I don’t think they’re going to allow just *anyone* to take a pic that’s not guaranteed to be photoshopped to death, unless it’s only a far shot.
Exactly
But even with the KP approved photographer, the photos still look painstakingly awful. She looks like she’s been up half the night crying and the other half raiding Diana’s 80s wardrobe. A mess.
Had to look at the paper in front of her at least three times to read just one sentence…. bless her heart.
AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STAND UP STRAIGHT!
😂 love the pause. She really struggles with public speaking.
And yes, the posture is horrific.
That speech could’ve (and should’ve) been memorized on the helicopter ride over. No wonder Kate hates Meghan. There’s no way she can compete.
This. Kate must have been filled with a sense of dread when Meghan started speaking on that Heads Together stage all those years ago. No amount of training can produce Meghan’s natural ease with public speaking.
Two short sentences. And @Beverley is absolutely right, this is the sort of thing she should have memorized on the way over, or even in the car ride from the helicopter landing pad. Maybe she was distracted with worry about falling over on those 4″ heels.
“bottle of exclusive single malt whisky made by the nearby Clydeside Distillery”
What a waste of a good whisky.
NB
whisky = Scottish spelling
whiskey = Irish spelling
Both come from the Gaelic phrase uisge beath – “water of life.”
Agree with others who hate her choice in hats – always slanting on one side. Is she shorter on one side?
So she looks suitably Navy-esque which i think is fine for this occasion. i feel like she has so many things close to that dress though – this was the day she decided to buy something new? But I guess its nice, and this is a basic royal event, so yay for her for getting out of the house twice in one week?
Weird that William did an event in Scotland yesterday and Kate did not. Did they travel up together?
They don’t tend to do separate events on the same day though do they? As to whether they traveled up together…no idea. Technically, this is a pretty traditional bread and butter event even if they didn’t seem to speak with the crowds there. Unless those pics just haven’t been released.
I wouldn’t have expected her to do a separate event but why not the soccer event? i just feel its all a little weird no matter what. Either they took two flights and met up in glasgow, or Kate went up with will yesterday and did some shopping while william did the event.
Okay, that makes sense. Why couldn’t she have tagged along to William’s event if she was already there? Spa day? Or separate travel.
I just saw a photo that included WillNot, so he was there.
right he was there for this but in edinburgh yesterday – so did they take two flights, did Kate go up with him and just hang out?
You ask a good question. Sorry, I tried to change my post and hit submit early. 🙁 Maybe she flew in later or was getting this new Diana dress fitted.
For some reason “getting this new Diana dress fitted” is cracking me up 😂😂
I don’t think so, there’s photos of her getting off a private jet with William waiting for her. So I think she just came up. Looks like she just got there earlier today and went directly to the shipyard. And if I had to wager she probably left directly after as well.
Only photos from far away? Maybe the close-ups have not been retouched yet.
Plenty of photos in the Daily Fail already. There’s one of Kate being her usual animated self (gurning, jazz hands etc.) and William is giving her the side-eye. Embarrassing.
Why, why, why is her mouth always hanging open!? Three of the above photos were of her teeth and tonsils, geez!
Kate’s look is very old fashioned.
So I’m confused, Kate pushes a red button that does what? Launches the whiskey to be released? Where? So when does the bottle actually get broken? It’s a little anti-climactic.
I was looking for the whisky* bottle too.
*with thanks to @blogger for teaching me the correct spelling.
That was my question!!
Didn’t they used to get close enough to the ship to swing a bottle on a rope?
@idles – yes – and I seek to remember the Queen releasing the bottle and it swung but didn’t break against the hull like it was supposed to. It was pretty funny.
If the bottle doesn’t break, it’s supposed to be bad luck for the ship and its crew.
I’m going to assume that the video was provided by KP because we didn’t get to see the bottle getting smashed on the ship, just Kate pushing a button.
The centering of Kate was a choice. Definitely don’t cut away from her royal magnificence to show the whisky bottle smashing against the ship. You know, the entire reason they are there.
It’s comical, isn’t it? Pressing a big red button is all Kate is good for.
Whyyy is she wearing beige shoes with a navy blue dress??? It looks so dates , just match the shoes for Pete’s sake. I’m surprised it’s not more military styled, lord knows she loves buttons and frogging and epatulets.
I think means that either she did not purchase that dress – someone gave it to her – or her shoe budget has also been slashed. But it is much more likely that her bunions are killing her and this is the most comfortable pair of shoes she has?
Waste of a good bottle of scotch.
Why hasn’t anyone ever told FakeyKatie to stop theme-dressing and try buying clothes that are tailored to her specific needs instead — long torso, short legs?
This is another prime example of making her look like the caricature of a princess that she is.
I also don’t get how her reported “princess training” didn’t include lessons in public speaking, diction included, and simple things like making small talk or standing up straight.
As we all know, this is not a new complaint, so someone among the 60+ gold-plated advisers working for KP should have taken her private secretary or dressers or whomever aside and told them to prepare her for the part of a consort.
Too bad too that she’s not even able to remember this standard kind of formulaic sentence for a naming ceremony by heart.
I think the incompetents at the Palaces have given up. And having a one on one tutor in public speaking means she has to study and we know how devoted she is to the school runs.
Now, if she can only add “attending a public speaking course” to the Court Circular, that might be an incentive.
It must be said, Queen Mary of Denmark, when she realised her dating the Danish heir meant she had to up her game a bit, she enrolled in a deportment and etiquette course.
Lazy could have done the same but Carole placed her in the aristo school and aristo university and she winged her way through it, gave it a big FU since she nabbed the heir, so she didn’t care that everyone would see her vagina as she stumbled out drunk from London nightclubs. And this is the woman who made Meghan cry over tights! 😂
Even Camilla and Diana went to finishing schools because they were expected to marry well.
Etiquette is vital when your position IS soft diplomacy and so the rats keep writing she doesn’t put a step wrong. But she does. Every day she goes out, she offends people who pay her with their taxes with her lack of training, lack of curiosity and lack of interest. And thinking about that South Korean event, that was a pure catty offensive.
That’s one of the BIGGEST reasons everyone 🤬 Meghan in that deplorable cabal of British Royals! Meghan is SUPERB regarding soft diplomacy…which is innate to her character and everyone recognized it…and instead of emulating it…they choke on ice cold Haterade!
@Lala11_7: they’re British. They don’t drink ice cold anything. 😉
And then Mary found a Danish stylist and never tried to hide that she was working with professionals. The refusal of the BRF to treat royal life like a professional job and instead act like inherited rules and behaviors are enough will be their ultimate downfall
I’d like to add that Mary also dove into learning another language. Aussie English to Danish is quite a feat but it sure showed her commitment to her position and her adopted country. Kate can’t even speak English clearly, never mind French or any other European language!
This is the navy version of another coat dress. It’s got all the features she likes in a coat dress–high waist, buttons, almost monochrome, sharp tailoring, paired with super high heels–because she thinks this style makes her look thinner (as if she needed that) and her legs look longer.
Is it just my ears, or did she pronounce it ‘H Mess’ Glasgow?
I tried to hear it as HMS, but it was definitely HMess. 🤷♀️
I had forgotten how annoying her fake accent is!
Why are we celebrating Princess Dolittle having spent taxpayer money on new clothes that look exactly like old clothes? And what’s so wonderful about good Scottish whiskey being squandered on a ship’s hull? I’m fine with Kate “re-wearing” all the items she only wore once or twice before—heck, why not wear her outfits a dozen times? Who cares what she wears? The whole institution is outdated and tone deaf.
If all she has to do is read a couple of sentences and push a button, she might come out more often. If promised she will not be taxed with more. I love the dress and hat; I am a sucker for that style of dress. When did they start pushing buttons instead of actually smashing the bottle? You know, swinging the thing and ….oh well.
@therese – I think we are in a minority here in liking Kate’s outfit. I think it looks a lot better on her than the hideous yellow creation she wore to the palace garden party.
That press a button thing has been done for a while now. I’m more concerned about broken glass going into the water, seems environmentally unsound. What does Mr. Earthsh*t think about that? Do they really still break the bottle against the hull? I can’t find any actual photos of that. I heard a thud in the video, but I dunno.
A navy dress for a naval event. I don’t think Kate can be faulted for choice, pedantic though it is. She looks nice- appropriate, the dress fits her, the hat is carried off well, she is dressing in her comfort zone and I think it suits her. I’m sure looks the way she is expected to look by many who are traditional supporters of the monarchy who will find it elegant. Friends of mine in this category have commented numerous times about how elegant Kate looks in her coat dresses. If anything, her silhouette reminded me of Princess Diana for a moment- the height, the big hat, and navy coat dress. I also heard ‘H Mess’.
Try saying “H.M.S.” (which stands for His Majesty’s Ship) quickly. For British people, “H Mess” sounds perfectly OK.
@tamsin
Come on, Diana didn’t have to wear wigs, hip pillows, or have her legs extended in Photoshop.
Her outfit isn’t fashion, it’s costuming. The cream pumps… dear god. It’s not even 80s Diana, it’s early 90s. It’s Bunny MacDougal. Except Bunny wore her hair in a younger style.
Why is the British Navy making deals with a local distillery to support a charity associated with the POW? Why do they even choose a charity to support? Nice idea, of course, but is this the norm? Also, I’m assuming BAE Systems is the shipbuilding contractor? I read that’s their shipyard, but it’s odd to see banners of a private company plastered all over a naval ship. I don’t think I’ve seen that before.
Why does she have her mouth open wide in so many pictures?
“Catching flies” is what we called it when I was growing up.
Just a guess here but I’m thinking if she has her mouth open people won’t notice that, notwithstanding botox, she has wrinkles and sagging skin, particularly saggy jowls.
Freshly botoxed (again), as her forehead remains smooth where it shouldn’t.
I think Henry Higgins would have advised her to tone down her fake-posh accent.
SMH, after all these years of keenery she can’t even greet the spectators and mention what a lovely day it is to dedicate this beautiful ship…yada, yada, yada. She can’t engage in basic pleasantries? All she can do is walk up to the microphone and read a sentence and push a button. Wow! Ok. 🙄