Avid tennis fan Kate watched the women's semi-finals on Thursday and today returned to the Royal Box today with William.
Earlier today, Kensington Palace tweeted: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are looking forward to attending today's Wimbledon men's final - it's been a great fortnight of tennis." They also congratulated Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewitt who claimed the Wheelchair Men's Doubles, noting Kate had a chance to see them in action on Thursday.
More from the Telegraph:
'The Duchess of Cambridge is an avid tennis fan and is expected to take over from the Duke of Kent as Patron of The All England Club next year. “It's a huge thing for tennis and for women's sport to have her in a high profile role," Judy Murray told to The Telegraph of her appointment. "I'm sure she'll be a very active patron because she's a regular attender. It's very clear she loves watching and playing and that can only be good for the sport.'
It was a star-studded affair with well-known personalities in attendance including David Cameron, Lily James, Benedict Cumberbatch, Bradley Cooper and Hugh Grant.
The British number one is hoping to secure his second Wimbledon title, competing against Canadian Milos Raonic who has shown impeccable skills and focus throughout the tournament. He beat Prince of Tennis Roger Federer in the semi-finals to secure his place today.
A sea of fans took over Henman Hill to watch the action.
It was a tense match with both players showcasing incredible skill.
There were many applause-worthy points scored.
William talking to AELTC chairman Philip Brock.
Come on Andy.
Kim Murray cheering on her husband in a beautiful Jenny Packham dress. An emotional Andy Murray was victorious as he took the title in three straight sets.
The couple looked delighted.
After the match, William and Kate congratulated Andy.
'After expressing delight at the straight-sets victory, the royal couple exchanged thoughts with Murray on parenthood - and the difference a good night's sleep can make. William joked: "I don’t know how you managed that with no sleep....How’s your daughter doing is she alright?" Murray responded with a smile: "Yeah she’s great yeah, she’s really good at sleeping. The last three nights she slept through." William said it must have been "a good omen."
However, when Murray politely asked about the royal children, Kate responded: "No, today is about you.... you played so well, well done. "She later added that Murray "can relax with your family now" as they reflected on the straight-sets victory against Canadian sixth seed Milos Raonic, 25.'
You can view a brief video here.
The two-time #Wimbledon champion has a quick catch-up with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge... https://t.co/WDDbmvtbCZ— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) 10 July 2016
Afterwards, William and Kate watched the mixed doubles final. It was a fantastic day for British tennis with Heather Watson winning with Finland's Henri Kontinen. The Duchess donned a new dress by Alexander McQueen for her Centre Court appearance. (with thanks to Perth Fashion & What Kate Wore).
The Obsession Print Short Sleeve Dress features a jewel neckline, A-line silhouette, straight hem and nips in at the waist for a flattering silhouette. It's available at Bergdorf Goodman for $2,995.
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| Bergdorf Goodman |
A closer look at the print which features butterflies, skulls and lipstick.
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| Bergdorf Goodman |
The 'Obsession' print is seen throughout McQueen's womenswear and accessory collections at present. Below we see the Silk Georgette Blouse, the Print Crepe Dress and the Knot Dress.
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| McQueen |
The print on the 'Obsession' Tote and the Large Leather Wallet.
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| McQueen |
Thanks to a photo posted on Instagram by tennis legend Bjorn Borg we have a proper look at Kate's shoes.
As spotted by several readers, Kate wore her Gianvtio Rossi Praline Suede pumps.
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| Net-A-Porter |
The Duchess accessorised with her Brora Gold Charm Earrings. Kate wore the £39 pair several times during the tour. They are described: "Our gold charm earrings are a stunning everyday bit of sophistication, as well as something more glamorous for the evening. Attractively eye-catching, yet not overwhelming, these gold accessories are the ideal choice for the Brora woman."
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| Brora |
And her trusty Cartier Ballon Bleu watch.
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| Cartier |
Kate carried her L.K. Bennett Natalie clutch.
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| L.K. Bennett |
What do you think of Kate's look today?
Wow, what an unusual print to see Kate in! I don't like it as a print that I would personally go for but good on her. The cut of the dress is nice too. Looks like she altered the waist, the print doesn't match the print on the model. She is long-waisted correct? My first though was it looked like she took the waist in, but in fact I think they added fabric - it's longer overall.
ReplyDeleteGood eye. Nicely noted
DeleteLove Kate's dress! A fresh and youthful look....and kudos to William for wearing what looks like a new jacket ;) Also a big congratulations to Andy Murray on his Wimbledon championship!
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to see William in something other than a blue suit or blue sport coat.
DeleteAgreed-- I did a double take! William really looked stylish! Two thumbs up!
DeleteOooh, and look at William in his natty blazer!
ReplyDeleteWow, William in a non-blue blazer was the first thing i saw today. Yes, Kate is pretty, but good on William for changing it up!! And some square tie thingy? Really fun seeing him platy a bit with fashion as well!
ReplyDeleteOn to Kate. I like this dress. It's summery and nice! I like her longer version more. Not only does it work better for her role, but it also feels better and more proportionate with the design. It's very pretty and works well here :D
Nice little touch with the Scottish brand earrings for Murray. And I really like these so great to see them again!
And what a game, William and Kate is almost making me get into sports! But the best thing is when the pictures arrive. Will and Kate watching sports always produce the best pictures!!
I agree with you Rebecca: the true change here is William. I love light colours on him. Kate rocks as always, but is it me or her hair looks slightly blonder?
Delete+1!!! Will in a new blazer is certainly newsworthy!
DeleteLove Kate in a fun print. Maybe the India/Bhutan trip and all the fun prints she wore did rub off!
Wow.I like how both William and Kate stepped out of their fashion comfort zone. Maybe not my favorites but kudos for trying different patterns/colors for both of them! They both looked nice.
ReplyDeleteThe McQueen dress was the perfect choice for an afternoon of Wimbledon today :-) Kate looked lovely and I was surprised to see Will wear a different colored jacket today!Thanks Charlotte!XOXO
ReplyDeleteWow! I regularly come, have a look around and enjoy your posts, but today I was very impressed with how fast you updated it. There was so much information in the site, even before the event had ended! Congratulations on your dedication, hard work and results.
ReplyDeleteWhile I loved the cut of this dress I did not love the print. I recognize that skulls are a signature of McQueen, but I do not find them appropriate on royalty. Loved everything else-hair, earrings, etc., but could not get past those skulls...
ReplyDelete-Brooke in South Carolina
Is skulls really such a big emotional thing in some areas? For me (who is rather young-ish) it has always been a common pattern on clothes and accessories so to me it doesn't have this "DEATH!" label that some seem to see it as. If anything, to me it symbolizes science, anatomy and biology... and maybe pirates. Yes, it wouldn't be very fitting at the most solemn occations as a royal, but I think as a small (almost invisible) detail on a dress to wimbledon, that it doesn't matter. Ofc everyone has their right to different opinions, but I always get shocked how much emotion a little skull can get :)
DeleteI second you Rebecca about the whole skull thing. I too don't associate it with death or anything like that. Many have voiced opinion saying that as a royal Kate should have had he skulls removed. Royal fan commented that Mette-Marit of Norway wore skull earrings and no one said anything, which I totally agree with. I don't think Kate should have the skulls removed, they are so small i didn't even notice it. Like her suit that she wore to the trooping of the color, that ice blue suit had skulls on it as well. If Kate didn't want the skulls i'm sure she would have asked them to be removed.
DeleteHere's a link where you can do a great close up of the print and fabric. It really does look like a fun design.
DeleteAM's signature skull reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock's cameos in his own movies.
http://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/alexander-mcqueen-obsession-print-crepe-dress_161-2000084-437649QHC04/?previewAttribute=Ivory+mix&previewSize=6&_$ja=tsid:32619|prd:136348&cm_mmc=AFFIL-_-AWIN-_-136348-_-0RpXOIXA500&awc=3539_1468181262_40874a71ab40cb77b1a98b889459c1e0&utm_source=Affiliates&utm_medium=136348&utm_term=na&utm_content=na&utm_campaign=na
I agree with Rebecca and Victoria! The skulls are a signature of the designer not a statement from Kate. It actually reminds me more of little charms that you would find on a charm bracelet, don't think there's anything deep, dark or inappropriate at all. The overall colors in the print are fun, light and work with the design of the dress, which BTW looks great on Kate. It's a youthful look and a little deviation from the norm and she chose to wear it. Know its not to everybodys liking, but nothing really to dissect or analyze.
DeleteI never even noticed the skulls! Thought they were all flowers :D
DeleteDoes anyone know why the "skull motif" is used in McQueen as a signature statement. Originally I thought it was a floral or leaf pattern and from a distance I really like the dress both length, colour, and style. Up close I think the pattern has a very unusual combination of images. Not sure why the designer chose to put these together.
DeleteKate did have the skull clasp removed from a bag, so she may be conscious of the ambiguity of the symbol - but it would be extremely had to remove it from the fabric without a major redesign - if she had loved the dress style but was concerned about the skulls, her only choice would really be to have it made in a different fabric. While I don't like skulls personally - they are so creepy to me - it is a lively fun dress and suits Kate.
DeleteExactly Julia :) And Wimbledon is a very "unsensitive" event in that regard so it was the right place to wear it.
DeleteAlso, I kind of like that it's odd and some think morbid things that make up the pattern. It almost feels poetic with taking ugly and odd things up close and how it can make up something so beautiful from afar.
Live in the Southwest of the United States where there is a large Latino influence. The Day of the Dead is a celebration in Mexico and is symbolized by whimsical skulls. Here is a little description: "Within the Western culture, skulls usually depict the dark, macabre and gruesome death. However sugar skulls’ origin (or calaveras de azucar) springs from Mexico. Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday, celebrated on the 1st and 2nd November in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saint’s Day and All Hollow’s Day. The festivities start at midnight on the 31st October. Sugar skulls are often used to decorate the gravestones of the deceased. The reason they are called “sugar skulls” is because the authentic sugar skulls were made out of clay molded sugar, decorated with feathers, colored beads, foils and icing. These sugar skulls are very colorful and whimsical, not scary at all. The name of the deceased relative could be written on the skull’s forehead and then put on the altar, accompanied by marigolds (the marigold is perceived as the flower of the dead), candles and maybe even the deceased’s favorite food and beverage in order to encourage and guide him back to earth. The idea of this tradition is that the Mexican families choose to celebrate the lives of their dearly departed friends and relatives as an opposite to most cultures that tend to mourn the dead. The roots of Dia de los Muertos could be traced back to the Aztecs and their festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl. The holiday has spread throughout the world with small differences – In Brasil, it’s called Dia de Finadosand and it is a public holiday that many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches. In Spain, there are festivals and parades, and, at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray for their dead loved ones. There are similar observances found throughout European, African and Asian culture." Skulls obviously have different meanings for everybody, but believe that in the context of this material, it is not meant to be macabre but more in the lines of a celebration in the manner of The Day of the Dead.
DeleteTo me, skulls are morbid, and a very odd symbol to put on clothing, unless it is a Halloween costume. They are a symbol of a dead body! What a bizarre thing to include on a fresh, summertime print!
DeleteKate always looks great but I really have a strong dislike for skulls. I'm not sure why because I'm not offended by day of the dead or Halloween or death in general but I think skulls are just very tacky. I was a little disappointed to see her in this dress today. She usually blows me away with her sartorial choices.
DeleteAgreed. The skulls are not classy or tasteful. If she wanted a fun, lighthearted print there are hundreds of others I wish she would have chosen. Her hair and earrings were very pretty however.
Deletei personaly like the dress very much and i agre that the sculls are no big deal they are not done in bad taste nothing dark and goth i no alot of people think sculls are death or evil but look at the fun in this dress little lips and butterflies just bright and pretty for a nice summer day
DeleteI entirely agree. Skulls = death. What else? Skulls and cross bones = pirates, poison. Not fun.
DeleteMarie-Hélène
I have to disagree with you anon 11:30. My mascot at East Carolina University here in north Carolina is a pirate. Peedee the pirate. he is our mascot because we are close to the beach and we are known for pirates in North Carolina (Blackbeard to name a few). We don't associate him with poison. Everything I own has a pirate on it with the skull and cross bones.
DeleteI agree Marie. Branding ugly doesn't make it right.
DeleteI wasn't crazy for this dress on the model, nor the shirt or other two styles. However on Kate it looked fresh, cool and perfect for summer, and I liked it. She is always gorgeous. William looked great too. Congratulations to Andy Murray!
ReplyDeleteIt appears to me that Kate's dress was custom made (or bespoke, if you prefer) as the hemline on Kate's dress is at or below her knee, while on the model it is considerably shorter. Smart choice!
ReplyDeleteI love this dress! Does anyone else feel it might have been intended for the India tour? The pattern and style have a similar to feel to the type of pieces she wore there.
ReplyDeleteMight have been intended for a trip to the Olympics. I'm Latina and skulls are a big positive symbol to us.
DeleteYes, I wondered that two. The skirt is a similar cut and style to her red arrival outfit. I also wonder if she didn't wear it there because of the skulls. Not a big deal at a sporting event in the UK but open to misinterpretation on an overseas tour.
DeleteLooking at the symbolism in India with skulls, I would doubt it. It isn't a negative symbol per se, but it has religious connotations and pairing it with lipsticks wouldn't seem too diplomatic on an official tour, even if the individuals she met wouldn't mind. Here's a link. http://blog.sivanaspirit.com/skulls-hinduism-buddhism/
DeleteKate looks great, but it is William who looks very handsome today. That color jacket is wonderful for him. I love his entire ensemble. It brings out his blue eyes. I believe he has done some shopping recently. They make such a charming and loving couple.
ReplyDeleteI think that William's new savoir fare has to do with them being brought more to the forefront of royal duties.
DeleteIf you notice, many of the other men in their area are also are wearing
Deletegray or light-colored jackets. Especially the royals.William looks great.
I wish news outlets would get it correct-I believe the Duke of Kent is
President of Wimbledon, not patron. The Queen is patron. I think Julia and
others were correct that the patronage will stay with the monarch. Andy Murray's wife, I believe it was, was quoted as saying Kate would likely take an active part in her new role, but it was in the same outlet that said the DOK was patron, so-
who knows. They said Kate would be taking his job as patron.
I like the dress. I actually don't see skulls on her dress, but it is hard to tell. It looks fresh and pretty and has clean lines.
Butterflies, lipstick and skulls? Who ever thought of putting those elements together? And it does not seem like Kate. I am a bit surprized at her choosing it. I do like William's jacket though. Well done to AM on his win :-).
ReplyDeleteI like the pattern. It's quirky :) Yes, I could do without the skulls, but they work. I like that it's just odd bits and pieces that you have to watch close up but looks like a classic floral dress from afar :)
DeleteIt's called the obsession print so I suppose they are someone's obsessions.
DeleteI have a McQueen skull scarf, and I love it. It's fabulous and goes with tons of things.
As always bluhare, in point. Cheers
DeleteRebecca, I also love the print and love that it has a surprise element. So much more interesting than a boring floral! I love it when Kate wears something different and original.
DeleteYes, agree with you both. I'm "obsessed" with this dress! So whimsical and quirky, and refreshing, it's not floral...Yey!!!
DeleteImogen, :):) Yey too. ali
DeleteI love the shape of this dress, but absolutely hate the print. I have never been a fan of the skull motif that features in so many Alexander McQueen designs. It somehow doesn't seem appropriate for Wimbledon.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun dress! Always a great silhouette for Kate. I wonder if she picked out William's outfit? It seems like a major departure from his usual style.They play really well off each other. Congrats, Andy!
ReplyDeleteI DO NOT like the fabric of this dress.
ReplyDeleteThe eyeball in the design is weird (not attractive in the least), the lipstick in the design (ugly) and almost phallic, the other objects in the fabric are not that attractive either (they all could be but they aren't), and I don't like the skull design either. Some can be sort of cute, but these are not. Put all those together and you get a big yuck from me. A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. This fabric has only weak links. Don't care how nice the design of the dress is or how it fits. The fabric is the message and it, to me, is a very unattractive one.
Agree. If I buy into Kate's sartorial message, I do wish this one was different.
DeleteSpot on! The Duchess was badly advised in wearing this outfit.
DeleteMarni
Texas
I think this dress has become another mini-Rorschach test-revealing the workings of one's subconscious.
DeleteWith all the minute dissection of Kate's clothing choices, maybe she just decided to actually give us something to talk about. :-)
The vagueness therefore no Rorschach. Everyone agrees there are skulls on the dress.
DeleteLove the dress, love the length on Kate, love the results of today!!!!!! Not much more to be said but congratulations to Andy.
ReplyDeleteI was excited to see Kate and William show up at Wimbledon this morning - given Andy Murray was in the finals. Really like this dress on Kate. And I like the bespoke version - longer length - than the original. The pattern of the print makes the lines of this dress beautiful.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte your post was so fast! Any photos of Kate and Will with Andy? Which shoes did Kate wear? Maybe the rose suede? Doesn't matter because the dress is so lovely.
Kate looks so nice today. I like the little purses and lipsticks on the dress. I love how William and Kate's really gets into the match. Me and my husband love football (if anyone is from the south in the unites states, they will know how much football means to us) we get into the game as well. Bless Williams heart, the hair gene is very strong with the Windsor men. William looks handsome as well, it's nice seeing him in something other than the blue suit.
ReplyDeletePerfect for Wimbledon. Absolutely love the dress. I wonder what shoes she's wearing? Undoubtedly the dreaded nude pumps.
ReplyDeleteI was waiting for your post Charlotte--like me you were probably glued to the telly watching the match. Thank you for posting so quickly afterward. I was able to watch the tennis on TV this morning and really enjoyed it! I used to watch the finals all of the time when I lived in Montreal but then drifted away from it when I moved to the US. But the prospect of two reps from my birth and heart countries was irresistible. It was a wonderful match and I think the Canadian has great prospects for a future champion.
ReplyDeleteWatching it, there were several shots of Kate and William in the stands and afterwards congratulating Andy Murray in the clubhouse. Watching them interact in the stands, the "best friends" aspect of W & K's marriage shone through. And both were clearly excited to chat with Andy afterward in the clubhouse.
One thing--you said that Kate would take over from the Duke of Kent as Patron. But the Queen is Patron, the Duke is President. I get confused about the discussions as to whether she is also going to take over the Presidency?
As to her dress. She looked lovely. Very much in keeping with what others were wearing. Again, I feel that the dress with the busy print and the dangly earrings would overwhelm most wearers but not Kate. Maggie said in the last post that she wondered whether Kate is glamming up a bit. From today's outfit, perhaps she is :)
i believe she was wearing her gianvito rossi pumps in praline. If you zoom in on the last picture of her descending the steps behind William, we could see a peek of the shoe :)
ReplyDeleteI think that shot is of some one else's foot. Looks a bit older than Kate's foot!
Deletethis picture will show you her foot.
Deletehttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/07/10/16/3621A3A000000578-3683114-image-m-70_1468164651690.jpg
Kate's dress looks quite a bit longer than the one on the model (falling below the knee instead of quite a bit above the knee). Do you think it is a custom version or does McQueen offer it in different lengths?
ReplyDeleteThere's a black version at the longer length
DeleteI love the dress. It's interesting and appropriate at the same time. Kate looks fab. That's one dress I would like to own.
ReplyDeleteI second that!:-)
DeleteI'll give it a third! My thoughts exactly
DeleteMe too. I would love to have this dress. Love everything about it.
DeleteI'll third it.
DeleteCount me in as number 4. Not sure what the fuss is all about. The skulls are barely noticeable. Only when pointed out does it become apparent and then they blend in with the design.
DeleteI guess I actually fifth'd it!!
DeleteI'll sixth it! Love the dress-everything about it!
DeleteDid anyone see the bats, insects, knives, on the fabric.
DeleteThere's more than the skulls.
Nice to see the Duke and Duchess enjoying themselves today! I liked the look of Catherine's dress at first, from far away, but upon seeing the print up close, I'm not sure what to say...the skulls are just really weird. I know it's a McQueen "thing," but in the past the Duchess has this motif removed (I'm thinking of one of her clutches which originally had a skull clasp...don't remember if there were other instances). Anyways, the skulls have ruined this dress for me.
ReplyDeleteBut what is even more interesting about the Duke and Duchess' appearance today is that William is not wearing a navy blazer! I gasped when I saw the first photo : ) A nice change for the summer, I think. The beige blazer and blue tie/pants go nicely with Catherine's cream dress with bits of blue.
How could one remove a skull fom a print dress? ;-)
DeleteDo people clap as William and Kate enter the Royal box at Wimbledon? From the photo kinda looks like they do.
ReplyDeleteThe players were coming on to the court when William and Kate were taking their seats. So the clapping was for the players
DeleteOh. Thanks, Skippyboo.
DeleteThis has been a week of total hits IMHO! What a fresh look for both the Duke and the Duchess! They look very handsome together. Love the dress and the quirky material!! Believe our Duchess has a bit of a sense of humor to her. She is beautiful and always appears to have this effortless ease to dressing. Am loving the lighter color and style of jacket on William. A total win for the both of them.
ReplyDeleteThat is one beautiful dress - she just looks amazing - she is one lovely lady.
ReplyDeleteTHE cutest!!! Classic silhouette with a fashion-forward print and fabric - edgy, but sophisticated, LOVE it!!! I think she was inspired by her visit to the Duchess Rose the other day - her quirky sense of sophistication is very cool and I could see her in this print! Kate is just getting greater and greater, so at ease in her fashion and her life as icon, royal and down to earth mother.
ReplyDeleteI think this is my least favorite dress. It is at least in contention for that. Hope we never see it again. Too many disparate elements.
ReplyDeleteOh, oh, I didn't notice the skulls! Don't like that at all but I'm not buying it and it does look nice on Kate. Skulls are the rage now but I don't care for them. Otherwise, a fun dress.
ReplyDeleteHate the print of the dress. I don't think it is appropriate for someone in their 30s maybe when they are teenagers
ReplyDeleteHer hair looked fabulous though
I don't know what people what Kate to do. If she wears a coat, people say she is dressing matronly. If she wears a dress, people want her to wear dress pants. If she wears a youthful dress, than people say that she is in her 30's. I don't understand what people what her to do. We aren't Kate or her stylist. Sarah, this comment is in no way responding to your comment at all. I just had to voice my opinion. Please don't take it in a mean way. :)
DeleteAll of the fuss means she is doing something right. You only live once, might as well have fun.
DeleteTo be fair it's (hopefully) different people complaining about looking too young and too old Avery :)
DeleteI want her to dress her age. She usually dresses away too old for someone in her 30s but this dress print is something a teenager would wear that is all
DeleteNot with you on this one, Sarah. I'm older than Kate and I'd wear it. And I'd carry that tote too, although not with the dress!!
DeleteI really thought the cut and lines of this dress were lovely. When I first saw her in the morning - sitting down - I thought it might have been a Naeem Khan dress given the lovely pattern outlining the neckline, down the front and on the sleeves- just looked like colorful dots. And the color were great for a summer event.
DeletePrints are so hard to find when searching for blouses, dresses, etc. hence the reason I really liked it and my gosh - it fit her perfectly. Smart of her to lengthen the dress.
I haven't seen a tote until you mentioned it.:-) Probably because her shoes and bags are either nude or beige. You are right Bluhare, it is not a good choice here.
DeleteHow about just wanting her to dress to in what she likes and is comfortable.
DeleteShe has the wrong "job" for that 1524.
Deletesuch a lovely summerly dress ! I do like when she chooses joyous outfits like this one , whatever the skulls and other printings, the whole colours are so light and elegant ! and the dress seems to make her a very nice silhouette when she moves and walks . I wish she would "play" with the colour of her shoes and cluctch to make a flashy contrast, all these creme/nude/beige/things are boring ! and a few blings, small ones, but ... she used to wear quite a lot before she got married ! anyway, she really looked lovely !
ReplyDeletethat print on that dress is not "Joyous", IMO.
DeleteI concur 20:54.
DeleteCertainly didn't give me any happy feeling. Quite the contrary.
When will Kate be assuming the position at Wimbledon, next year?
as long as you do not ook at the skulls it is joyous ! and those sulls are not very visible ....and we are now in the XXI century, let youg people have different ways, even if they are royals ! she is not wearing photos of dead people on her dress, it is just a fantasy print !
DeleteNo comment on HRH the Duchess.....impeccable as always, unique print on dress. Good to see that HRH William wore a different jacket for a change. What I wanted to note,however, is that despite being 'run over' by Murray in the final game Canadian Milos Raonic had at least one supporter of note in the Royal Box......Canada's High Commissioner, who was not mentioned in your list of notables. Enjoy your blog....keep it up.
ReplyDeleteAnd probably more than a few supporters on this Blog too!
DeleteI think the Telegraph got a fact wrong...Queen is Patron. Duke of Kent is President...Kate is expected to take over the patronage and not the presidency, correct?
ReplyDeleteLots of confusion there - I thought the Telegraph said Kate would take over as President from the Duke of Kent (there being no younger Kents left as active royals although Amelia and her tattoo are making a splash) while Charlotte has said patronage, I think, which would mean taking over from the queen.
DeleteTime will tell but President makes better sense to me as then Kate would hand out trophies. But maybe the duke isn't ready to give it up. He's had some health issues but is looking quite spry at the moment.
I doubt the two posts will be combined as Rebecca suggested but again we never know until it happens.
Yeah, my suggestion was just an alternative. I'm not knowledgable enough to know if it's even a "possibility" :P I think this is a case of alot of stories and rumblings so it will lead to something but we just have to wait for it to get official to know all the facts.
DeleteThe Telegraph originally said DOK was patron. Don't know if it has been corrected by now.
DeleteNot a fashion note.....while Canadian Milos Raonic was 'run over' by Murray in the final you missed mentioning among your list of 'notables' that Raonic had at least one high profile supporter in the Royal Box....Canada's High Commissioner to the UK.
ReplyDeleteHRH the Duchess's clothes......impeccable as always. Loved the fashion forward print and it was good to see HRH the Duke in something other than his casual blue blazer.
Too goth for me. I am a happy person.
ReplyDeleteI am a very happy person, and I don't wear skulls that I can remember. But it's just a skull, just a piece of anatomy. Nothing goth about a small skull. Maybe 20 years ago, but not now.
DeleteSkulls are goth, Rebecca, no offense
DeleteA fun print and one that should please all the out of the box advocates. :)
ReplyDeleteRegarding any "skull issues", lol, it's the designer's signature and, in this case, Kate chose a fun print for Wimbledon. Mette Marit wore skull earrings when she attending a reception for the 75th birthday of Queen Margrethe of Denmark, and I was not aware of a fuss over it.
If the print had crosses some would complain. Can't please everyone. Might as well please yourself!
DeleteLoathed those earrings even more than the skulls on Kate's dress ( I like the dress otherwise, while the earrings had no redeeming qualities and seemed hugely inappropriate for the occasion - although I'm sure Margrethe was probably more amused than anything and probably relieved she has daughters-in-law with better taste.)
DeleteI don't think Kate's dress is inappropriate given where it was worn - and skulls are a symbol of the designer - one that could happily be retired to my way of thinking. But at a distance, the dress looks very nice on Kate,and at least it keeps me from regretting I couldn't afford to buy it. (While that cream dress she wore I would have loved - if I was twenty years younger and as thin as I was twenty years ago.)
I also didn't like the skulls on that otherwise beautiful blue suit Kate wore to the Trooping a couple of years ago - just not to my taste - ruined an elegant outfit in my eyes - I'm glad Kate had her evening bag done without them.
Queen Margrethe would probably like to borrow them.
DeleteI didn't like the earrings either Julia, at all.
DeleteRF, lol,
Deletewhat about the weird eyeballs, the not so cute lipsticks, and who knows what other things are on there. I can't tell what they are, can you?, but the graphics of them are less than attractive. It isn't just the skulls.
Those eyeballs gave me the willies, 0217.
DeleteGlad I wasn't the only one. The other graphics are not much better.
On a brighter note, someone mentioned the florals Pippa wore. She actually looked very nice for more than one day in a row, no cattiness intended. I wonder if her live-in has suggested some fashion for her or even sent her shopping. Definitely a more romantic dressing going on. I have a feeling Pippa might be willing to walk down the aisle soon. He is 41 and she is 32? She can't play around forever. They could get married at the Eden Rock Hotel that his family is said to own, or maybe a quaint church in Buckleberry. I don't think she would have McQueen do her gown. Be nice if she had Beulah do a bespoke gown for her. That would be so nice. The people there know Pippa and her style. Oops, I did get caught up in planning Pippa's not-even-happening-yet wedding didn't I. sorry.
I'm surprised by how the dress has become something you either love or hate. Very strong opinions on each side.
ReplyDeleteI'm on the love it side. It's a classic"Kate" silhouette. It's beautiful on her. I'm glad she lengthened it to her knee. Makes it much more elegant.
Real fun out of the box print in beautiful colors and pattern.
William - thank you for wearing something other than blue! You compliment your wife well.
Congratulations to the all the winners!
I'm pleased to see Kate in something new and offbeat. A lot of us never thought she'd wear something with skulls, but I'm applauding her for the bold move.
ReplyDeleteMy one complaint are the earrings. Such a light colored, lively printed frock could have used the Links of London Bubble Stiletto earrings or something similarly indistinct. I think the Brora earrings (though I like them) are too flamboyant for such a dress.
I like these earrigns :) they stand their own ground in her hair and heighten the cheery and "exotic" vibe of the dress in my mind :)
DeleteI like the earrings but kind of agree. A pair of here citrine earrings would look great. I'm thinking about the square drops.
Delete21:09, Rebecca,
DeleteI wouldn't call that print "lively" or "exotic".
I will be polite and not say what I would call that print.
Not my favorite dress for Kate.. but lovely to see William change it up with a different coloured jacket. Looked great!
ReplyDeleteAs a Canadian, was gutted Milos didn't win but we are all so proud. Great to note too that the Canadian High Commissioner, and former BC Premier, was sitting two rows up from Kate and William. Lovely to see his support there and Im sure is heavily involved in their hopeful upcoming trip to Canada. Would love to see them visit British Columbia as they didn't come this far last trip.
I'm not very familiar with sports, but I watched the game. And I assume that if nothing bad happens, Milos will hold that trophy in the future :)
DeleteHmmm, really not sure at all about this one. Usually I'm delighted when Kate wears something new, but, like a lot of other commenters, this one has left me cold and it's not one I'd like to see again in a hurry. Far more impressed by the yellow Roksanda repeat from the other day to be honest.
ReplyDeleteI think it was maybe a fun attempt by Kate to play on the title of the print - obsession - in association with her love of tennis, but while I love the shape of the dress and would really like to see it in a different fabric, I think this print is too fussy, too edgy and - far more importantly - doesn't strike me as being very "Kate" (whatever our own tastes are, she's never struck me as being a skull type of person). I do hope that she's not being steered in a high fashion direction she's not comfortable with.
On a happier note, William really surprised me today in a good way! The second time he's upstaged her sartorially in my humble opinion. The first was on the South Pacific tour when she wore a navy high street dress and he wore a bright pinky-red shirt. Good to see him wearing something lighter than navy - yay!
I like the style of the dress Kate is wearing, but I do not care for the print. This is obviously only personal preference. I was a biology/anatomy and physiology major in college, and skulls represented 2 things for me: 1) the study of the cranial bones and 2) the death of a person (after all, they are only found after someone has been dead for a long time). For me, the skull as an object is synonymous with scientific study and death. While there is nothing wrong with wearing skulls on clothing, I personally prefer not to.
ReplyDeleteSkulls are McQueen's signature and there have been (gasp) skulls on other McQueen garments Kate has worn. Everyone needs to relax!
ReplyDeleteI didn't find them appropriate or appealing then either.
DeleteSince McQueen left this earth the way he did,
DeleteI think the skulls and any other morbid graphics should be discontinued. Creepy, otherwise.
EXCELLENT 02:42. I am really surprised they haven't done that already. Like tattoos, people who wore them to rebel are finding out the real rebels are the ones who didn't follow the trend.
DeleteApparently his fashion house disagrees with you, 242. McQueen was a fashion showman whose aesthetic is not for everyone. But the skull is *his* aesthetic and one of the few things left about his house that is truly McQueen. Some people who adored McQueen when he was alive tend to think Sarah Burton has changed the look of the house and not in a good way. You almost certainly disagree. But skulls are to McQueen what boucle jacket is to Chanel, and the equestrian motif is to Hermes.
DeleteThe skulls do not endear me to the brand. Aside from the "creepiness", the "logo" is just plain cheesy.
DeleteMaybe McQueen went to Yale University and was a member of Skull and Bones.
DeleteMaybe her dress carries a secret message from beyond the grave. Ha!
As I have said before, this dress has become a sub-conscious revealing Rorschach
Test.
It is a well-designed, beautifully cut and fit pretty dress on her. The print is
really secondary to the design, but has been discussed because of the skull. Without the skulls, one would just say, "How nice." Someone mentioned it got people talking and what is really better-free advertising!
I think I saw possibly 3-4 skulls on her version of the dress, although it is
hard to decipher them-some are not in plain sight, upside down, etc.
Agree completely with your comment 04:25, bluhare. Yes, it's I, agreeing with you.
Those of you saying Kate should have had the skulls removed, that's like asking Chanel to remove the double C logo from her designs. It's an exclusive pattern designed by McQueen, not even a princess can pick and choose what elements she wants, unless she commissions a custom dress!
ReplyDeleteI don't think the skulls are a huge deal, but acting like it would be SO hard for Kate to wear a dress without them seems silly. First, it looks like this dress IS bespoke to begin with lol, and she gets custom stuff from McQueen all the time. Also McQueen doesn't have a monopoly on fun prints - she could have looked at dresses from many, many other designers. Like I said, I think the skulls are fine (although an odd sartorial "message" perhaps for cheering on Great Britain's athlete), but I do think it's unfair to respond to those who don't like them by saying she doesn't have a choice. ESPECIALLY when most of her McQueen outfits are decidely unlike what Sarah Burton designs for the public - so clearly the McQueen people are fine changing things to make them more "princess-like".
DeleteCee, It wasn't just the skulls.
DeleteThe fabric is littered with strange stuff.
Well, Kate could certainly have chosen to have the dress made in another fabric, there's no difficulty in that - but if she loved the print but didn't want the skulls, that would be more difficult. Designers either buy or commission fabric from other vendors for the most part - you wouldn't do a special run of fabric for a single dress unless it was for some truly exceptional occasion - that would take some considerable work - much more than just making a bespoke dress.
DeleteBut as Rebecca and others have pointed out - skulls are quite fashionable and accepted by the young. I could speculate that many young people including Kate may not have experienced death close at hand - Kate has lost grandparents but I don't know if she was there when they passed. But it may just be that what is uncomfortable for one generation isn't for another.
I actually have one of those Mexican Day of the Dead figurines which I find very unnerving but it was given to us and has to be produced when the giver comes to visit - I keep it out of the way the rest of the time!
Better than her banana dress she wore the other day, but still not a fav of mine today -
ReplyDeleteNo. No. No. The banana dress is uber-awesome. Still one of my top favourites. Today's McQueen doesn't begin to touch it.
DeleteI like the dress because it's more Kate branching out. I guess I'm in the minority though, because I like it much better at it's original length - Kate's dress being as long as it is makes it too busy for my eyes. Or I wish she had kept horizontal pattern at the waist to break things up. But I do agree the shorter length would have been inappropriate for this occasion.
ReplyDeleteAlso interesting that lately Kate has been debuting new and more expensive pieces more often! I'm NOT complaining - just an observation :). But a year ago I would never have expected Kate to wear a new, bespoke McQueen dress to wimbledon.
A very unusual print, but a nice one too!
ReplyDeleteIt was a change from what we have seen!
Great post and thanks for the extra information!
BTW, she's wearing her Gianvito shoes in Praline, I think
I shared a photo on Susan's page (What Kate Wore) :)
A $3,000 custom dress for a tennis match!
ReplyDeleteWhere do I sign up?!
Just marry Harry, Moxie.
DeleteRight behind me, Moxie.
DeleteSt. Andrews in 2001! Lol!
DeleteWhy not? Prince Andrew and Prince Harry are single. Apply at Buckingham Palace, London
DeleteNot interested at any price Moxie.
DeleteThe attached media circus and royal protocols make that dress cost ALOT more than $3,000.
wow. that's true. like a bird in a gilded cage. :(
DeleteI'm going to comment before reading the other comments (scary, lol).
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU WILLIAM for wearing something different than your usual!!!!! Not perfect, not your full potential,you handsome dude, but, a NICE CHANGE and appropriate. :)
Kate, you found a dress that matches your vibrant energy - full of flowers and butterfiles! Very nice! :)
Hope you two enjoyed the match and congratualtions Andy Murray! :)
What's with the skulls and other strange stuff in that dress?
ReplyDeletePippa had some truly pretty dresses (I was surprised) for Wimbledon this year. Sorry, Kate. Pippa out prettied you on the dresses, no contest. What were you thinking?
Handsome William looked even more handsome with the new clothes. William the fashion horse. I knew it.
He did look good. Let's hope he got lots of complients and keeps it going.
DeleteWilliam the fashion horse. Funny, 02:02.
DeleteI am sure Diana is getting a laugh from that one also. William used to chide her on being a fashion horse.
Obsession for tennis. It is an interesting looking dress. The skull on a clutch was more obvious and looked distasteful, It managed not to be as obvious on this dress which with busy and colorful images. PW nice and lite summer jacket change.
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of skulls, either. I was shocked when skulls became fashionable and am surprised they have lasted so long in the fashion world. But it does not ruin the dress for me. I think Kate looks nice in it and I am glad you cannot make out the skulls from a distance. But the real news is William. I love his sports jacket and I hope this is the beginning of a new age in fashion for him!
ReplyDeleteIt's just a dress. The print is being analyzed way too much .Then again that's what art is supposed to do. Kate, the history of art grad, knows that.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the dress!! It's fun, youthful and totally on trend. Wow Kate you look amazing!! As for skulls... They rock!!!
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly, the Kate and Wimbledon story was first reported by Roya Nikkah in the Sunday Times, it's worth noting she's an excellent reporter. She stated that the Queen was handing over her *Patronage* to Kate, and though it wouldn't happen until 2017, it would be announced this year. I think many subsequent articles in other papers then jumped to the conclusion that she would hand out the trophies, although that's done by the *President* of the club, the Duke of Kent. And my guess is he may not have taken kindly to those reports in the papers! It's a very high profile gig for a much lesser royal! Not to mention he may not have appreciated the feeling that he was being pushed out. After all, the Queen is going strong at 90.
ReplyDeleteMy sense is it may still be announced and maybe they didn't want to take attention away from the tennis, but it would seem odd after the fact. Also when these stories come out, it's possible there are other motives :) They're often deliberately leaked as "trial balloons" to see what reaction will be, maybe to gauge the Duke's reaction as well! Or parties involved deliberately leak it to maybe push something they very much want! The royals have used the press to their own advantage many times, trust me! Kate may get the patronage now, and take over the trophy presentation whenever the Duke decides to retire from it.
As far as the fashion, I always think Kate looks nice in print dresses, she's not much for accessories and tends to wear the same bland shoes again... and again... and again... so a print dress creates visual interest where otherwise there may not be much! Most people will see this dress in photos, from afar, so I don't think the print will bother anyone. It isn't my cup of tea but I do admit it looks nice from afar, and so does she.
Claudia, your comments are on point regarding Kate and Wimbledon. I think she is laying the groundwork this year for that handover from the Queen. She had a decidedly more official appearance on Thursday then in years past.
DeleteMaybe the plan for her handover is still being worked out with the organization, the Queen, Kate and the Duke. Maybe they aren't ready to announce yet because there is more to it than just 1 handover to Kate. Who knows, I think there is something underway, we are just not aware of what it is yet. And are seeing some of the ground work for what is to come in the future.
Splendid comment all around Claudia. So level headed. Yeah, Nikkah is superb. I wasn't aware that she reported it for being in 2017. Seems like her story is holding up the best so far (as per usual). I agree that it's probably details being ironed out. Maybe they will announce it in the off season so she can go to some of the pre events and such I assume that there is before?
DeleteCharlotte,
Deleteanyway of finding out if the Patronage of Wimbledon was actually transferred to Kate yesterday? Sure seemed like that. The Patronage of the Air Cadets transfer seemed about the same as yesterday at Wimbledon. Was the Telegraph right in reporting that that has been transferred to Kate from the Queen?
oh the duchess looks great and fab I love the dress hmm mice too see the duke changing his style he looks good and more handsome I think he will keeping these suit thank for wearing your ordinary suit hmm love the clutch the duchess hmm kind mind hmmm its pretty intense game too raonaic did his job well done for them kim murray slays the fashion high too she bring sunshine in jenny packham dress love the behind the scene video after the game
ReplyDeletecongratulations andy murray winning the tittle Wimbledon
maybe milos raoniac will hold his hand the trophy next time
Like the silhouette, don't love the pattern, prefer the black jersey style from Nordstroms, would have loved to see the LK Bennett poppies/floral dress or the Naeem Khan from India. Silhouette looks great just not in love with the pattern but Kate looks great as always
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Andy Murray! It was a fantastic match and Murray truly owned the court today. I teared up as he got so emotional after winning. Bless him. Such a sweet moment and one he will not forget.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely seeing William and Kate there today. William branched out on his outfit today. He looked very nice. I loved the cut and style of Kate's dress. A perfect choice for a summer day at Wimbledon. As far as the print of the dress, I liked it except for the skulls. I've only read a couple comments and seems there are divided opinions with the readers. Skulls are popular right now, but I personally think they are an awful trend. It is such a fun print and would be perfect to me without the skulls. Kate obviously liked it and she looked lovely.
Such a great day for tennis fans and for Brits!
I've been thinking... is skulls really a "trend now". I see many people say that. But I don't see skulls as a trendy thing. Just a normal pattern that has been on clothes and such for the last 15-20 years. I've seen it on kids clothes and scarves and pillows and paintings etc etc. This is not specifically to you, but I don't think skulls can even be considered trendy or edgy by now, but just a pattern/symbol. (Ofc, everyone can and should have their own feelings about it. But it's just some general thoughts about it)
DeleteI'm not excited with the print, but maybe the reason she chose it is in the name, Obsession, plus the round pattern in a row: tennis balls? It becomes a sort of rebus, "obsession for tennis". The round pattern seems the reason for choosing those earrings as well. I cannot see what the round pattern represents in the print, maybe someone can tell.
ReplyDeletePaola,
DeleteI think you might have it right. I think Kate chose the dress for the rows of circles, thinking of tennis balls. And I think she ignored to rest of the print, unfortunately. I think she chose the earrings to repeat the circle/tennis ball theme with maybe a nod to Murray as the earrings are from a Scottish brand?
Paola, I believe that Kate chose the dress because of the vintage aspect of the print. And the round pattern you mentioned looks like gems and flowers (to my eye). I also noticed that the gem border is made up of blue and gold...Kate's favorite color (blue) and we know that she is fond of topaz as well.
Deletehttp://www.alexandermcqueen.com/us/alexandermcqueen/mini-dress_cod34637858us.html#dept=w_dresses
A lot of fuss is being made over the skulls (and I am not a fan of the trend), but it is AM's signature and does not dominate the print.
Paola, you WIN the prize, yay
DeleteMcQueen was Scottish. So, you have the "tennis ball circles" prominently in a rows on the (Scottish) McQueen dress, then the "circle/tennis ball" earrings from a Scottish company, and the junk in the fabric print as a mini-biography of McQueen's life and his "obsessions", and Kate's "obsession" with tennis.
At least now the weird dress makes some sense.
I don't like it though even at that. Good "where's Waldo-ing" Paola.
For some reason, the print on that dress reminded me of one of my mother´s kitchen towels.. - ok, minus the skull, obviously.. ;-))) Not the individual objects shown in that print, just the "pattern" and the colours.. Well, I guess I wouldn´t have chosen a dress with skulls on it for a Wimbledon finale, but there you are... ;-))
ReplyDeleteThe dress itself looked very pretty, I liked the colours, very "summery"....
Congrats to Andy Murray - although I would have wished to see another Murray-Djokovic finale - it´s always so emotional and "epic"..
Hee hee, I love the dress and the print but I agree it does remind one of "kitchen towel" prints, as you said it does not matter the symbols it clearly had that vibe. Too many it did look like gorgeous fabric and very well made and the fit great. Avid tennis players here so watched most of Wimbledon when we had time. Lots of good tennis. ali
DeleteKitchen towels! Lol! I TOTALLY see your point! Like it anyway, but, you're so right. :)
DeleteWhat a fab dress, skulls and all. Edgy, modern, refreshingly fun and it looked great in the summer sun. But how many times do we have to see nude shoes?? I long to see some CP Mary fashionable shoes on the DoC.
ReplyDeleteI was delighted that William & Kate were able to watch Andy Murray play the men's final & WIN!! I was also pleased that they stayed on to watch the mixed doubles especially as it was clear that quite a number of people did not stay.
ReplyDeleteI liked Kate's cheerful dress and it was nice to see William in a less formal jacket his attire went well with Kate's quirky dress. A fun day out.
On a slightly contentious note I was somewhat surprised to see Rebecca Deacon once again present on what I considered a couple's day out. Does Kate ever go anywhere without her in tow!!
I remember mentioning as many others did after she had somewhat surprisingly accompanied Prince William as his PA to Malta when he stood in for Kate and RD's somewhat inappropriate behaviour on one or two occasions on that trip that it was time Kate had a new PA and I must admit that I think Kate should change her PA. RD has become far too prominent when accompanying Kate on her own and at times when with W & K and I was astounded when arriving for the Heads Together Launch she walked in alongside W,K,& H chatting away to Harry. I don't know whether W&H had aides with them or not but if so they stayed in the background RD did not and this is becoming increasingly so as time goes by. I don't know whether other Royals, the Queen excepted regularly have a PA with them on a regular basis for instance I did not see anyone near Sophie Wessex when she was at Wimbledon with Kate there was however no missing RD in her attire and she was accompanied by a Wimbledon official on arrival and joined Kate & Sophie on the balcony watching tennis on an outside court. I feel she has become too close to the Cambridge family and Kate should have a new PA. I know there will be many who disagree but I do wonder about her relationship with both W&K and Kate's apparently total reliance on her accompanying her to every event even non official ones..
I, too, notice how prominent she is. Can they not do without her? Why does she attend every event?!
DeleteI agree with the rumored plan of "scaling down the royal operation" and having an aide be so conspicuous may not bode well if and when The Family is under scrutiny regarding their roles and worthiness. While many aides may no doubt BE close in actuality and inadvertantly be privy to very important "secrets", etc, it's the APPEARANCE of being that close that counts. It's public relations 101.
I feel like the Royal Family is a massive benefit to the UK and hopefully they will remain forever, however, they need to keep the appearance of it as just being them as much as possible no matter that people understand it takes lots of folks to maintain that ship, they need to keep up the illusion of a normal couple who can handle going to a simple tennis match on their own.
But, maybe she has skills we don't know about and works double as a body guard - still too conspicuous for my taste though.
Sophie Wessex had her lady in waiting sitting and standing right next to her at Wimbledon. All royals have someone with them. We are used to Rebecca Deacon because we follow Kate and are aware of all those surrounding her. This was more than watching tennis. They met a number of dignitaries and sports personalities which is set up by PA
DeleteAre there any photos of Rebecca at Wimbledon?
DeleteWould love to know what she wore.
Ahhhhhh, great point and good observation! Thanks :)
DeleteExactly anon 18.51. When Sophie and Kate was watching, Rebecca sat further away and more at the back while Sophies lady in waiting sat next to her on front row. It's just that we know how Rebecca looks that makes us notice her. I notices Harrys guy quite often at events. The queens ladies in waiting can be seen often as well. I remember her walking with some of the royals at the Christmas walk. So I think it's more a case of her being recognizable than her behaving odd.
DeleteRebecca Deacon is a personal secretary, not a personal assistant. Attending Wimbledon is very much a public appearance and not just a private day out for Will and Kate. Rebecca is there to make sure Kate is briefed on who she is going to meet and when.
DeleteThank-you for pointing out the facts in this matter. So let me get this straight, Sophie can have an assistant with her but not Kate? Sophie has been a royal for 17 years so it would seem to me that she wouldn't need a PA as much as Kate who is still growing into her role. Kate is married to a more senior royal and has far more scrutiny which is why she needs the assistant with her.
DeleteI am also uncomfortable with the suggestion that she has knowledge
that she is using to enhance her position. She is probably one of the few people in the world that Kate is really comfortable with. That is worth its weight in gold. Btw, doesn't Rebecca date photographer Chris Jackson? Nothing sinister about this woman that I can see. She is simply very good at her job.
PS I am sure she is on salary so she gets paid the same no matter how many days a week she works or doesn't work.
The queen always has a lady in waiting with her who acts as her PA. she just has several different ones, while Kate only has the one. They are there for what ever they may need. I guess I really didn't see Rebecca in the pictures on Sunday.
DeleteCongratulations to Andy Murray and wow how well did our young Canadian do. He will be back. Hasn't Catherine's dress caused comment. I thought the silhouette lovely and liked the edgy look and colours. I would love to see the print realyy close up and see the detail. Interesting mind that threw those elements together. What would you write if you were given a piece of the fabric and asked to create a story from the print? McQueen achieved his aim. We are all thinking and talking about his creation, the hallmark of a good artist. William looked great in the new bone jacket.
ReplyDeleteAnyone can create chaos. A truly good artist creates beauty.
DeleteAlimai, I agree.
Delete23:12, art is subjective. One person's chaos can be another person's beauty, and vice versa.
Alimai, what a nice idea: a story from the fabric! It would be like "Mamma mia" from Abba's songs. There are, as I can see: flowers, skulls, kisses, lipstick, butterflies, birds, watches, and some other I cannot distinguish.
DeleteRevising my opinion after looking more closely at the print and seeing the skulls. Not sure I like it. Not sure why I feel like I do about it. Why would skulls put me off?? Oh well, it's just a dress and I'm going to focus on its cute cut and the flowers and butterflies on it (and her shiny, perfect hair - and William in something other than a blue jacket!). :):)
ReplyDeleteFlorida girl,
DeleteThe print is bordering on the occultic, as were many of the things pertaining to McQueen. (That's common knowledge.) That may be why many are uncomfortable about the print even though they don't know why.
Amen Anon @ 19:41, Amen.
DeleteInteresting! I need to look more at McQueen (I'm not educated regarding fashion). Thanks :)
DeleteI have to preface my comment with the fact that I'm not very observant usually. Especially when it comes to clothing. I look at the big picture and the overall effect rather than the bits and pieces. But this is a blog all about the bits and pieces, which is why I love it. So, my impression here was a big win. I love this silhouette on Kate and it looks fresh and lovely. With the hair, the earrings and that gorgeous husband at her side, this is perfection to me.
ReplyDeleteOn closer look, after reading the comments, I still haven't changed my mind. There are very few skulls on the dress, at least on the top part that you can see in most pictures. With the overall pattern, I guess the skulls just don't jump out at me as they do for most others.
So, I'm crazy about this appearance on all levels. Canadian Milos Raonic proved that he belongs in the top tier and that he's still very much up and coming; Andy won the cup on home turf, and William was wearing a youthful looking sports jacket. What could be better?
Nice! Like this comment. Hear! Hear! I'm going to overlook the few tiny skulls. Too many other good things to appreciate! :)
DeletePleasantly surprised to see William in a jacket that's not navy blue! Way to go! I will echo others' sentiments, in that I am just not sure what to think about Kate's dress. Normally I give an enthusiastic thumbs up when she wears something new and different from her usual style. But I just can't bring myself to like this print. And again, suede pumps do nothing to accent this dress. It's middle of summer--dressy sandals please.
ReplyDeleteOkay, am back to weigh in on the skulls debate. Like Marny I am all about the overall effect unless someone is standing close to me and I am bored so I am checking out the clothes. But the people who stand close to the Duchess probably don't analyze the print on her dress, they are too busy looking into her eyes (I hope!) and revelling in being with her.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the Southwest and for several years in New Mexico, I am quite familiar with the more "overt" examples of skull motifs. They are all over Santa Fe and no I don't care for them. Although sometimes they can be so subtle that I have actually bought a t-shirt and been told later that one of the designs on it was a skull!
Personally, I think the pattern on Kate's dress is a meh but it's not because of the skulls, it is because I don't really care for printed dresses period. But Kate's face and, as Marny said, the wonderful occasion, to me makes the dress fade into the background.
Even though I do love this dress, I must say that I have never quite understood Catherine's favoring of the McQueen label. Dropping the skulls, as she has done on the McQueen clutches in the past, really makes the designs very bland. Why even bother if you are not going to embrace some of the key design features of the designer? If you are going to redesign the clothes, just have them custom made, as the Queen does.
ReplyDeleteThe skull is not my favorite design feature, and I would not wear something with just a skull, but here, it blends in so well with the other elements of the print, that I find them unoffensive. And I really like the impact of the print. I think the shape of the dress is fantastic on Catherine. Obviously, she did go for a longer length, which is appropriate and more practical. But in general my opinion is, that if you are going to wear McQueen, you need to embrace the design elements that make it McQueen.
Marny,
ReplyDeleteha ha. To me, dresses like this just prove that the world is craaaazy. Have you ever looked at some of McQueen's seasonal shows. "Rape of the Highlands" was one example. I guess people truly are like sheep, IMHO.
I agree with you about Raonic. I think he will be holding that Wimbledon trophy sooner than later. Perhaps not next year though because the way Murray played I think he might just win Wimbledon again next year. Such a swift and decisive game today.
I think Kate looks fantastic in this dress..... the pattern isn't my favorite when I look too closely, but it has a lovely effect in the photos from a distance. The fit of the dress is absolutely amazing though. I'm not disturbed by the skulls at all- it's not my look, but it doesn't bother me and I certainly don't find it inappropriate for the venue.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think William looks fantastic. His entire ensemble looks great. It's cool but not flamboyant, and conservative enough without being boring which seems to be a difficult balance for some men to strike.
Cate
I agree with everything you said, the fit and style of the dress is beautiful. Don't know why there are skulls on clothing, even kids clothing if you don't examine the print closely.
DeleteRoyal follower from Canada
"Kate is known for using clothing to communicate messages when in public.", Alice Newbold, junior editor, The Telegraph, 6/10/16. She must have been reading this blog. She certainly isn't the first media
ReplyDeleteperson to make that connection though.
why did they call the air show a tattoo?
ReplyDeleteI would not give $3.00, dollars for the dress, let alone $3000.....
ReplyDeleteKathy Towers
USA Colorado
Did anyone else find the interaction between W&K and Andy Murray a little awkward? It must be great to be able to meet all these important, talented, and famous people, but the reality is that they don't really know one another. This interaction has a forced intimacy and was a little awkward to watch...
ReplyDeleteI love this dress, with the pleating detail and how the border print is worked into that detail. I don't understand the fuss about the skulls AT ALL. And to be honest, I didn't even know there were skulls on it until some close up photograph was posted of the textile (way closer than you'd ever get to the actual dress on the Duchess) showed it. The first thing I saw on the print was two different butterflies! She absolutely can't win, either she's dressing too old, too staid, not liking hair up, not liking hair down, whatever ... I've thought she's been spot on the entire year and am looking forward to what the next couple of months bring. I would never wear as high of a heel as the Duchess does, but she looks great in them and choosing neutral colors for the most part is a wise choice.
ReplyDeleteWilliam looked GREAT! Loved the jacket and the cut of the shirt collar, very trendy.
LOVE the dress. The classic cut and lady-like length is a great contrast to the unique print. Good fashion should make you feel something and this dress has us buzzing. No one can argue that Kate wears the look like a glove and if it were a pretty floral print it would be tough to find anything wrong with it, but the "make you look twice" print adds an edge that is often lacking in the Duchess' fashion choices. Let's celebrate this dress as a fun departure. Paired with William's smart jacket, these two ruled the day with style...an ace Wimbledon appearance.
ReplyDeleteA bit more information on the inspiration behind the print on Kate's dress...
ReplyDeleteFor Alexander McQueen's Pre-Fall 2016 collection Sarah Burton explored the obsessive collector at the heart of every women, creating the signature Obsession print made up of trinkets, charms and emotionally precious artefacts.
Love it!! So happy to see Kate in a print that is young and modern--especially on a dress with a relatively conservative cut. I've really been enjoying her choices lately. She seems to be getting much more comfortable experimenting with new styles and designers.
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