The annual sojourn to Balmoral offers the perfect opportunity for members of the royal family to catch up and relax at the Scottish retreat before returning to London to begin an Autumn schedule of duties. No doubt Prince George and Princess Charlotte are having a ball exploring the outdoors with Mia Tindall and their other cousins. William and Kate adore the outdoors, and are likely soaking up the scenic surroundings on the estate.
I imagine the Cambridges have been there for almost a week as Prince William joined his father on Wednesday for the Edinburgh Tattoo and a special performance at the Palace of Holyrood.
Crathie Kirk is a small Church of Scotland parish church in the village of Crathie. The walls are built of local granite and the roof made of Scots Pine. Building materials were donated by the surrounding estates, and £5000 raised by the local population to fund construction. It is known as a regular place of worship for the British Royal family when they are staying in nearby Balmoral. The Princess Royal married her second husband, Timothy Laurence, at the church because she was divorced and, at the time, not permitted to marry in the Church of England.
Is Kate's Hobbs London Celeste coat her favourite? Judging by the multiple times the Duchess has chosen it, I think we can safely assume it's right up there. It's a very wearable and versatile coat perfect for everything from church with the royals to a day of engagements. The chestnut brown double crepe wool coat subtly flares from the hips.
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| Hobbs London |
Kate also wore the coat for service at Crathie Kirk in 2015.
Below we see Kate wearing it on Christmas Day in 2012 and 2016.
For fans of the brand, Hobbs London are offering 30% off selected lines for UK customers and 20% off everything with discount code ALL20 for US shoppers.
The Duchess wore her Lock & Co Tiffany drop-brim hat. The £325 hat is described as "Crafted from 100% rabbit fur felt, this 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' hat is a style saviour. The stunning, lipped drop-brim and wide Petersham band make this hat a real classic which is perfect for dressier social engagements."
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| Lock & Co |
You may recall Kate first wore it in March for for a service of dedication unveiling the new Iraq Afghanistan Memorial on Victoria Embankment Gardens.
We can also see Kate wore her L.K. Bennett Addison dress. The Duchess debuted the dress when the young royals hosted the Obamas at Kensington Palace in April 2016.
The £325 dress features a jewel-toned print, transparent sleeves and ankle-grazing length. It's described as: "Ideal for events both formal and casual, timeless in its style and fashion forward in its execution." It's available in very limited sizing.
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| L.K. Bennett |
Speaking of L.K. Bennett, I was browsing their website last week and was very impressed with the Autumn 2017 Collection. They have done a tremendous job of encompassing the staples of a versatile professional wardrobe whilst incorporating trends, colour, prints and statement pieces. Kate could stroll into her nearest store and easily leave with a wardrobe which would carry her through the majority of events on the agenda for the remainder of the year.
The camapign was shot against the prestigious backdrop of London’s imposing Old Royal Naval College. Entitled ‘A Modern Portrait’, the campaign is inspired by the authentic style and sophisticated elegance of the ‘L.K.Bennett Woman’. Capturing empowered, modern women’s lives and style in motion.
Shot by Spanish photographer Daniel Riera and styled by Tank Fashion Director Caroline Issa, the campaign’s "creative handwriting abounds with confident femininity, showcasing the season in a series of vibrant, layered portraits".
The Charl Cream Jacket and matching cream tweed skirt are very Chanel.
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| L.K. Bennett |
The Elva Blue Check Silk Dress is cut with a flowing skirt, high neckline and elegant bracelet sleeves. Its nipped-in waist complemented by a D-ring belt. It also comes in black check.
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| L.K. Bennett |
The Ria Blush Leather Coat would be another great addition to Kate's coats. We also see my favourite piece from the collection - the Shippa Pink Tweed Dress. I love the fifties silhouette and full skirt. You can view the full collection here. I certainly hope we'll see the Duchess in at least a couple of pieces in the coming months.
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| L.K. Bennett |
It's always nice to catch a glimpse of the royals enjoying their summer break at Balmoral. I expect we'll hear engagement announcements shortly for September. In the meantime, I've been very much enjoying putting your dream looks for the Duchess together. Prepare yourself for an array of stylish splendour and sparkle. We'll be back with that post in a couple of days :)
While these photos are seldom very good I always enjoy them very much. There is something sweet with the traditional family visit and going to church with granny!
ReplyDeleteI'm still unaccustomed to seeing Kate in a large hat like this but I think I like it. I like that the outfit seems more of a normal outfit not matched and manicured to perfection but the dress and hat match, throw on a pretty coat and so on. Nice :)
Hmm the duchess looks lovely in a sunday morning church day i love too see the whole outfit are princess charlotte and prince george
ReplyDeleteI think we have seen this entire outfit, dress rom LK Bennett worn when hosting POTUS/FLOTUS at KP, Celeste coat & hat was from earlier this year.
DeleteAny chance george and charlotte were with them?
ReplyDeleteI don't expect to see them at church with the Queen for a good few more years. I have a feeling that the Queen is of the generation that feel that toddlers are better left with the nanny than taken to church.
DeleteI can't think of one occasion where family toddlers/babies attended church with HM. Except christenings and then only the siblings of the baby being being christened.
I agree with Queen of the South; the BRF does not attend church services like this with the little ones. IMO, *both* HM and Charles would not be very keen on the idea.
DeleteLooks like Kate is wearing the L K Bennett dress she wore to meet the Obamas. http://hrhduchesskate.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/william-kate-and-harry-welcome-obamas.html?m=1 I know it divided opinion but I always think that silhouette works well on Kate.
ReplyDeleteHow many times has she worn that coat? Six I reckon- still, it looks good and lovely to see her - Linda
ReplyDeleteLinda, I am wondering this myself. I think it might be the coat she has reworn the most.
DeleteIt strikes me as strange to wear the same coat in August and December - surely it's not cold enough today?!
DeleteYep Penny. It can be very cold in Scotland this time of year. I have been there in August and wished I had my warmest winter coat. I froze!
DeleteEvidently it is only 14 degrees Celsius there!
Delete14 degrees is t-shirt and spring jacket weather here...but I'm Canadian. :)
DeleteIn sun, I would agree Penny. But in wind and rain it could easily fall over into a thin winter jacket. Which is why it can be so hard to dress for work and school. Freezing in the morning, warm in the middle of the day and cold when going home :P
DeleteAnything below 15 degrees Celsius and I'm wearing my heavy winter coat.
DeleteI would love to see full pics(though I don't think we will). Something about this reminds me of pre-wedding days. Either the not matching or more likely, the angle of the shot makes her face seem far younger and more youthful.
ReplyDeleteI love both the coat and the dress separately (the hat, not so much)-- not sure they work together, but in a way I think it's relatable, how many of us have put together outfits that are a little jumbled when home with our family or away on vacation and don't have our normal closet to choose from? Also, I wonder if she keeps this coat in Scotland, given the number of times she's worn it there.
ReplyDeleteI love this coat & this dress, but not together, too! I thought brown & dark blue was an odd combination...I don't like this hat, either. I prefer Kate in wider brimmed hats without the drop-brim. Lovely to see her with the family.
DeleteKiwi Gal, I dint like the coat and dress combination either. I'm sure she has other coats that could match that dress. And I dint like the hat either, the first time she wore it, I think it's too wide brimmed for her head,, it almost looks like the hairdryer they have at the salons, IMO :)
DeleteStill, it was lovely seeing them all together and HerMaj looked simply lovely!!XOXO
Wait a minute. Someone here (anonymous?) mentioned that Kate had reportedly been in the hospital last week. Whoever mentioned that please list your sources.
DeleteDon't get me started on this outfit, lol. It just on so many levels does not work. Too many competing neutrals. Neutral on neutral. Mismatched and drab. (no offense Kate). And I hope you are feeling much better if the reports of a hospital visit for you were true. (are you pregnant?)
I just messaged a royal reporter and she said as far as she knows the hospital story is "a load of rubbish". The Cambridges have been in Balmoral since last week.
DeleteThank you SO much Charlotte. Thank heaven she wasn't in the hospital.
Delete@surfer girl. I wrote Chsrlotte a note here but she has not posted my comment. But I did ask her about the story I read on Facebook. There were several stories regarding Kate being in the hospital. Sorry but I can't remeber the sites. I will go back and see if theybarecstill there. I figured they were not true but you never know.
DeleteThanks, Pauline. :)
DeleteI had read more than one report from medical websites that Kate was infertile or something and would have trouble conceiving naturally. I was astonished. Those articles disappeared within 24 hours after I read them. That was right before the Royal wedding. So people do publish some provocative things. And articles do have a way of disappearing. Hopefully, the articles you read will still be available and you will be able to find them. If not, no big deal. Charlotte has gotten the skinny on it for us, thankfully. :)
The LK Bennett things are all very nice. I love the blue velvet, the beige coat, the Chanel-like suit, the Ivory window pane coat. All of the selections would look very nice on Kate.
ReplyDeleteDid you see Charlotte said ENGAGEMENT announcements in September? ;)
Deletesay what? :) Charlotte....... do you know something we don't know????????
Deletegoooood work Inspector bluhare. :)
Hahaha. She meant regular engagements, but I do think we're going to hear something soon!
Deletehmmph. Not funny, bluhare. lol, :)
DeleteWhy this heavy coat in August? I just checked the weather at Balmoral and it is 63 degrees F. Certainly not cold enough to wear the same coat that she would wear in December.
ReplyDeleteMay be 63 not, but at 9 am. It was probably in the 40's
DeleteI'm in the south of England and I can tell you we have had a day of around 63 and it's been cold. Home now with fire on
DeleteKeep in mind the humidity and possibly wind could create quite a chill! Also, it's reported Kate spent a night in the hospital last week - if it's true she may feel colder than usual due to feeling ill.
DeleteAH
Why was she said to be hospitalized?
DeleteI think she looks more youthful as well. I think she looks like she's wearing far less makeup which gives her a more yourhful appearance.
ReplyDeleteThe hat reminds me of the one that Audrey Hepburn wore in Breakfast at Tiffany's. I think it looks best when you don't see any hair at all. Just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI see that King Felipe and Queen Letizia attended a service in Sagrada Familia in Barcelona this morning. Horrible that there was a plot to blow it up, horrible that people were once again killed just enjoying themselves on a street. I was on Las Ramblas with my daughter, son-in-law and 12 year old grandson mid-July and my grandson was excited, running up to pose with the street performers. There is a young boy missing who probably was doing the same :(
That's why it's the Tiffany hat... :)
DeleteThey are cowards assesines but not going to scare us... All Spain is very sad though..
DeleteI love the larger hat on Kate. The photo of Kate in the Tiffany hat from the March unveiling of the Iran Afghanistan Memorial reminds me very much of Kate's Vogue cover where she wore the Beyond Retro Vintage Clothing wool felt fedora hat. The low brim of these hats sharpens her bone structure, bringing out the angles of her face and highlighting her beautiful smile.
ReplyDeleteThank you Charlotte for the post! I too would love to see Kate in some LK Bennett outfits. I really love the fall looks you have shared. Coats, dresses, suits, shoes....a lot of great choices that I could easily see on Kate! Thank you also Charlotte for your hard work on putting together our looks for the Royal Ascot and Royal Premiere...can't wait to see. :)
ReplyDeleteKate looks very youthful and pretty! Love these candid shots and that they are spending time with family. It must be a beautiful setting. It's funny how all these pieces separately wouldn't seem to work, especially since we have seen them differently styled, but think Kate has the ability to pull from her wonderful closet, a casually elegant look appropriate for a family visit to a countryside church.
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't usually like every thing in a new collection, this L.K. Bennett 2017 collection hits the mark. There really isn't anything that I don't like. The silhouettes, the fabrics are feminine, have movement, yet professional.....it is a "Modern Portrait". cc
I really like the "tiffany" hat with the LK Bennet dress. What a lovely look. In thinking about the coat Kate chose - can anyone think of another coat that would have worked? She needed a coat for the morning service. I don't believe she has a navy wool coat, maybe an ivory coat? Would you have worn one of the light blue coats with that dress?
ReplyDeleteThe Queen looks fabulous, I like the hat and the coat. Can anyone ID which brooch she chose?
Charlotte, love the LK Bennett pieces you chose and I'm guessing many of us can see her wearing several of those pieces.
http://queensjewelvault.blogspot.lt/2012/10/the-gold-filigree-brooch.html
DeleteA navy blue coat would've been so nice, Elle. She has so many light blue coats, I wonder if any of them would go with the LK Bennett dress...the hat does complement the dress.
DeleteDoes anyone recall Ever seeing Kate wear a traditional trench coat? I thought everyone in England owned one because of the climate.
DeleteShe has this one with a ruffle from before the wedding: https://hautespotter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/kate-middleton-burberry-trench-coat-Copy.jpg
DeleteAnd this navy one from her girlfriend Kate years: https://i.pinimg.com/236x/a2/da/d6/a2dad6214294ed9739643138224a8a90--duchess-kate-duchess-of-cambridge.jpg
And this classic one: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/00/4f/19/004f19f244709549d3b2e896c802d842--birth-pictures-baby-bump-pictures.jpg
Don't know if she has worn any others or if she still has any of them.
I believe it has been a few years since we've seen Kate in a traditional trench coat. Kate wore a blue trench coat by Ted Baker on her first tour of Canada and wore a Burberry trench on a visit to Belfast. Both are featured in this Kate Loves post:
Deletehttp://hrhduchesskate.blogspot.com/2012/12/kate-loves-coats-part-2.html
Thanks for sharing details on the brooch. It's lovely.
DeleteAppreciate everyone sharing memories of various coats. I remember the Burberry, the Ted Baker (I wanted that coat) and the two light blue ones. Perhaps we'll see a navy coat this coming winter? Or maybe she'll have one of the 'blues' she wore while pregnant tailored down - all depends on the style. The Max Mara might have worked if it had been re-worked.
I love Kate in a trench coat...my favourite is the Burberry one, I wish she'd wear that again. Her Hobbs Celeste coat has held her in good stead, it seems. It's nice to see her utilising older pieces in her wardrobe, since we saw so many new items on the recent tour & engagements.
DeleteI, too, would like to see a basic navy coat in Kate's closet. It would look great with this hat. I realize that khaki is often combined with a lighter blue, but I do agree with others who have stated that the *darker* colors here don't work together.
DeleteI think a beautiful navy blue coat or two would be very useful in Kate's wardrobe.
DeleteI agree with folks in this thread- the outfit pieces were all lovely, but together a navy coat would have been a nicer choice. I know Kate loves her chocolate coat, perhaps she could get it in a dark blue.
DeleteThat dress is much longer than the hem of that coat! Wonder how she made that work?
ReplyDeleteCatherine looks lovely in this hat! Like others, I was surprised to see her in a warm coat. While I'm sure Scotland is stunningly beautiful, I wouldn't care for the cold temperatures; I'm too much of a summer girl!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to browse through the L.K. Bennett which you linked to. Looks like there are several things which would be lovely on the Duchess.
Totally off topic...did Kate ever where the winning shoe design? It was royal blue heels with white lace embellishments. I was wondering if she ever wore these for a public event.
ReplyDeleteNot that I ever recall. It's unfortunate too. They were/are beautiful shoes
DeleteThanks Julie. I didn't recall seeing a post here.
DeleteI agree with Julie. She hasn't. And it would have been a very nice gesture to wear them at least once.
DeleteI'm stunned to see her in a coat and large hat in August, and it's not the first time I've been left wondering "isn't she so hot in that?!". I'm in Midwest of America so maybe I'm grossly unfamiliar with UK's seasonal weather?
ReplyDeleteIt is often very cool in Scotland. Even is summer.
DeleteI spent the month of August 1985 in Scotland. My friend and I joked that on "hot" days we could safely go outside wearing only *one* pair of wool socks!
DeleteMy feet had never been so cold in summer! (Then there was that one December in Segovia, Spain when we found out Spanish leather boots required more wool insulation than we had planned on.)
DeleteBBC weather report states 8 degrees Celsius for this morning. No wonder they wear coats. It said rain and 18 degrees Celsius later on. I would imagine that the afternoon would require a rain coat! On second thoughts ...maybe Kate has mingled with too much blue blood and she is feeling a wee bit chilly ;-)
DeleteI am sitting IN the house with thermal socks and slippers, sweatpants, a sweater and a furry scarf. And where I am in Ireland is supposedly warmer than Fife Scotland
DeleteMarci. hot day, only one pair of socks. funny.
DeleteI remember one of my son's soccer games played riverside near the waning of summer. The wind was blowing and it was cold, cold, cold.
It chilled me to the bone and it took me quite awhile to get warm again. I still get cold just thinking about it. And I was actually nearer to the equator then than Kate is now. I can so relate. As Patricia I said, Balmoral is by the North Sea. The North Sea. brrrrrrr.
We were in Edinburgh in mid-July about ten years ago, and while Scotland was indeed beautiful, I needed every coat and sweater I had brought with me! The breeze off the Firth of Forth was "brisk", to say the least. While I am used to our Canadian winters, which are much colder than those in Scotland, I am used to our warmer Canadian summers and was surprised by the cool Scottish July weather. I can understand why the Royal Family members would wear a coat to church in the morning. :)
DeleteThank you everyone!
DeleteIt wold appear to be quite a gathering of members of the Royal family at Balmoral
ReplyDeletethis weekend W & K usually visit Balmoral around this time each year last year William hosted a large shooting party of friends & Kate's parents many of whom attended church on the Sunday. I think some PR has been evident this week first William accompanied Charles to the Edinburgh Tattoo now Andrew drives W & K to Church normally W & K go together on their own. It must be rather upsetting for the older Royals to have all this Diana saga being raised in such minute detail and in a very one sided manner. I feel very sorry for the Queen & Prince Philip and Prince Charles the way Prince William has used the media has been way over the top it would seem he has inherited some of his mothers emotional instability judging from some of his interviews with magazines and programmers. He could well end up finishing the monarchy.
It was nice seeing the Tindalls there at Balmoral no doubt George & Charlotte will enjoy playing with Mia.
Over the last few years I cannot recall Harry ever being mentioned as visiting I certainly cannot recall him having been photographed going to Church. It surprises me how the Cambridge's have arrived without being photographed either at Aberdeen airport or arriving at Balmoral.
Let us hope it will not be too long before Kate undertakes some public engagements although I suspect the next time we may see her is when George goes to school and as her new Private secretary doesn't start work until Oct. I doubt if she will increase her work load very much until next year but I hope I am wrong on that.
Lizzie. I think it is his way of honoring his mother. After all the yucko circus stuff that the media has for years bantered about about his mother and all the inquisitions, I think it only fair that he and Harry have their moment and on the 20th Anniversary they should acknowledge their mother. The media would make a lot of it even if William and Harry said nothing because it sells. William and Harry's tributes and comments regarding their mother coincide with their premise of Heads Together. I think Harry, especially needed to open that dialogue about his grief process. And remember, Camilla did start the media wave with her endorsing the self-promoting and attempted Diana defaming book. Just my opinion. :)
DeleteWilliam may finish the monarchy by honoring his mother, especially given the extensive effort put into rewriting history and undermining her? And is Harry equally guilty? And what about C&C's use of the media? Please.
DeleteI agree with you royal fan.
DeleteLizzie K, I quite agree with you regarding William's emotional stage, and when I heard him speak of his mother so many times ( which I can understand of course, he was but a teen when she died, and he missed , and still does, so many years with her !) to the media, it reminded me of the way Diana had used the same media ........ I do not really approve of so much emotional things , he should remember : never complain, never explain ......
DeleteWhat an odd emotional response. Lizzie I remember you also had an issue with William saying he spoke to the children about Diana. Your exact words: " I think it is wrong of William to be indoctrinating G \7 C at bedtime with stories about Diana and all the photos he has around the house of her it is undermining Kate who is clearly a very loving mother in fact with all that is going on in the press and TV I feel very sorry for both the Queen and Kate."
DeleteWilliam and Harry are speaking of their memories of their mother because there is so much "noise" about her. They are NOT invalidating other viewpoints of her or attacking other people. They are talking about THEIR memories. And I've listened to their memories and they have the ring of truth. A very fun, vivacious, loving woman who nevertheless could be a handful is their description, and it very much matches up with other descriptions of Diana. Their reactions are perfectly normal for two children who lost their mother very suddenly and in a traumatic way, and have grown up reading so much about her. It's natural that they want to put in their memories. that they feel that those memories are important to remember as much as the eating disorders/mood swings/marital infidelities.
And if Kate has an issue with William speaking out about his mother, that's a private matter between them. But I don't think it's Kate's character at all to deny William his feelings and memories.
Yes, but his father and his father's wife are complaining and explaining all over the place about how terrible his mother was,letting their friends rubbish her memory (something they've been doing for years but which really came out in the latest biographies - a use of media.) - Can William and Harry truly be blamed for trying to balance the picture and put attention back on her work? I think they've showed far more restraint than many men would.
DeleteGlad to see William and Kate in Scotland.
Truly no offense but. Not a very good mantra "never complain, never explain" these days, especially for someone who is heading a grass roots movement about "let's get the conversation started" about feelings, experiences, and emotional and mental health.
DeleteAnd the boys experienced their loss and grief for years in such an acutely public way. Now it is their time to say "here is how the event and ensuing media circus affected us, and in addition, we want to set the record straight about our often very maligned mother. Our mother, whom we love so very dearly and who cannot counter the lies herself. We deserve at least that much. Now. When the world, upon the 20th anniversary, has her in the headlines even more than usual. We are not just political figureheads for mental health, we are coming at this from our hearts and we participate. We are sincere. We are helping to remove the taboo of transparency in sharing and reaching out. And hopefully, their efforts will prevent that often common event of presenting a perfect front and then having a bunch of garbage, often caused by unresolved issues, come out from behind the scenes in scandal.
Even here on this blog their efforts opened pages and pages of people sharing and connecting in sincere and caring ways. It was quite phenomenal really in the caliber of integrity that prevailed. And it has helped solidify a caring community here at DKB. So their efforts are valid and needed and their efforts are working effectively in my opinion.
Good points, ladies (SG, Julia & Ivy).
DeleteI also find it interesting that William is singled out for honoring his mother while Harry, apparently, gets a pass. Rather odd since BOTH W&H have shared their thoughts. It's also a bit ironic considering some of the criticism of William being too private and needing to loosen up.
Lizzie I think that you have very interesting ideas of how one is supposed to deal with the memory of a loved one. How do you feel one should honor one's dead mother ? I am genuinely curious because your comments are not mainstream.
DeleteI smiled when I saw the L.K. Bennett Charl Cream Jacket. If we had styled Kate for a "working" day, I was going to suggest this very jacket. I think it would look stunning with the matching skirt or even (and this would be my wish) a pair of pants. There are so many wonderful pieces in the Fall collection from L.K. Bennett that I would would love to see on Kate.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see them at Balmoral. It looks absolutely stunning, I would love to go there.
ReplyDeleteI feel a bit sad that her hat is made from rabbit fur. I hope the little bunnies did not suffer.. It is good looking hat however, and I like the coat. Thanks for the update Charlotte, you are very quick.
It is best for the royals when they are out and about. As soon as they go on extended breaks, the media come up with all sorts of strange news. That is the last thing they need right now. Maybe they should stagger their holiday breaks, so that there is always something "royal" going on.. Just a thought. Between the Diana/Charles/Camilla love triangle, Prince Harry's potential engagement/Which ring, Pippa's gym visit and Why William and Kate don't eat onions on tours (lol) there is too much rubbish in the media right now... I am over it. I need some real royal visits to keep me sane haha!!!
I too am sad about the rabbit part.
DeleteSince we have a pet rabbit, I'm sad too:(
DeleteAnother "George" expression. so cute. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat to see the extended family spending time together. One thing that still irritates me - the Daily Mail UK still call Catherine 'Middleton'. Urgggghhhhhh!.
ReplyDelete"People" magazine here in the US (probably elsewhere, too) calls her "Princess Kate." It annoys me to no end. I could be wrong, but I believe that, although technically, being married to William, she is a princess, it is nowhere in any of her titles. I think "People" is so anxious to replicate the success they had years ago with Princess Diana stories and covers and they think the word "princess" will sell more.
DeletePeople magazine actually had a vote among it's readers what they wanted her called and that one won :P
DeleteI'm not mad at the Middleton one though. It's all about clicks and search engine optimatization.
The problem is the absence of an easy title - she isn't Princess Catherine and Duchess of Cambridge is too easily muddled with Duchess of Cornwall - who mostly gets called by her first name too. Using Middleton separates her from other Kates out there. William gets called William too - more often than Duke of Cambridge.
DeleteWhy is it that no one complains about the Queen wearing a dress and coat every time she ventures to church at Balmoral? Her guests are similarly attired. Kate's coat needed a warm scarf or fur collar when she wore it at Christmas in England. Perhaps it is not terribly warm. Anyway, Scotland is very far north and very chilly, as well as very beautiful. Balmoral is mountainous and closer to the North Sea than to the Gulf Stream.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I don't think hats with large, low brims suit Kate. I felt the same way about her large grey hat. Interesting, however, that this time she wore a hat to Crathie Church.
I'm loving those LK Bennett pieces! I can see Kate wearing all of them.
ReplyDeleteIs anyone excited about the eclipse? Don't look at the sun without certified eclipse glasses. Do not look at the sun through a telescope or camera lens at all, unless certified sun filters are in place on those.
ReplyDelete(with my apologies for getting off subject!) surfer girl, are you in the area of total eclipse? Here in Boston we will be at something like 60 - 65%. At work we will be taking a break and my whole department will be trying to share the use of 2 special eclipse viewing glasses in the space of about two minutes. I should be able to look at it for about two seconds before having to pass them on to the next person!
DeletePAM, I remember watching the full 1999 eclipse, it was absolutely amazing ! Out off subject, so I shall not say more, I only wish you a very good (so short) time !
DeletePam, what did you think? I'm close to you in Cambridge and watched the eclipse with my children from our yard. I thought it was fairly impressive for a partial eclipse and the kids were pretty much awed. Of course a total eclipse would have been incredible but I'll take what I can get in our part of the world.
DeletePam, It was barely noticeable to me here in San Diego. Maybe just because I had so been wanting to be where I could view totality of the eclipse.
DeleteA nearby library was handing out free safe eclipse glasses and there were easily 300 people in line to receive those. Lots of families turned out and people were sharing the glasses here also Erika. A 7/11 type convenience store was selling the glasses for last minute shoppers. They were charging over $16.00 a pair. (Not fair. Let's hear it for the library)
I've also been following it on the science channel. They give such a thorough explanation of what's going on with the eclipse. There will be a Solar Probe launched in 2018 to go into orbit 4 million miles above the sun so they can study solar flare
up and the emissions those create so that one will not inundate our electronic technology anytime in the future. One wiped out our international telegraphic system in the 1800's and they had to rebuild the entire system. We cannot let a flare up surprise us ever again. Not with today's technologies and our dependence upon them. The technology necessary for the design and fabrication of the solar probe is astonishing. Lots of info available on that. Glad you three, and others here hopefully, got to enjoy an eclipse. Way cool, huh. :)
We had 92% here in Washington state. I couldn't get a good photo but it was like twilight for ten minutes or so. The best picture I got was of the shadows in the leaves. You could really see it there.
DeleteThe event that I made reference to above was called "The Carrington Event". It occurred in September of 1859 and over 200,000 km of telegraph wire worldwide was destroyed by a solar flare up. "The Victorian Internet got fried" as they described it on the Science Channel's presentation called, "The Dark Side of the Sun". An Aurora Bourealis was seen all over the world at that time from the magnetism associated with the solar flare up. Also presented in that program is info on the design and mission of the Solar Super Probe that will be sent to orbit around the sun in 2018.
DeleteI live in a part of the US that saw the total eclipse, and we were lucky to have no cloud coverage to spoil the event. During the progression, the light slowly darkened, Venus appeared in the sky, the crickets began chirping, and the birds quieted. At the peak time we saw the "diamond ring", then a beautiful pink glow. It was an amazing sight.
DeleteWe actually traveled several hours down south to watch totality and it was completely worth it despite having to spend many many hours in the car. This is my second time viewing a total eclipse - the first time was when I was college and traveling around Europe with friends at the end of summer. We were in one of my favorite places on the planet - Lizard Peninsula on the Cornwall coast. Total solar eclipse is magical each time and hard to imagine and it is nothing like partial. I was surprised at how many details I had forgotten - but then again, I was probably not that into it the first time as I was this time. It is always much more special to experience something with your children the first time. We brought the kids to Lizard again a few years ago when my daughter was 3 and she screamed at the top of her lungs the entire 2 mile walk to the tip and back. So there's always that - unforgettable in a different way. Anyway, the traffic coming back up from watching the eclipse yesterday was bad though. We went with close friends with kids the same age as ours so we made a weekend out of it. I hope my kids remember the whole thing. Everyone is groggy and tired today.
DeleteBluhare, Kim and Nicole, so amazing that you got the "totality" experience. Nice to get to see that at least once in your lifetime. In 2024 there will be a total eclipse in the northern northeastern part of the country, so barring any unforsee circumstances, I will be there. You're invited Surfer Girl! We have to have the total experience!...and thanks for the astronomy info. Solar flares are really interesting.
DeleteSounds like a fun plan. :)
DeleteI really, really like the Ria Blush Leather coat. It looks so perfect as styled on the model on their website and the detailing on the back of the coat with the seaming and all is very nicely thought out. It looks like a lot more that the €995.00 they are asking for the coat. It is beautiful. I would like to see Kate wear this coat styled exactly like it is on their website. Again, I like most all of the LK Bennet selections shown.
ReplyDeleteNatasha. Are you rushing to their website? lol
I hope so. :)
I agree with you surfer girl, the styling is very nice! Would also love to see her in the grey Belize coat with a pair of trousers, it would be a change of silhouette for Kate. While I personally love the oxblood loafers, it would also look great with a pair of the oxblood suede shoes. (Oxblood is my new favorite color for autumn). Not much to dislike about the LK Bennett selections, and a I also agree surfer girl, the pricing is somewhat reasonable...hope to see Kate in a few! cc
Deletesurfer girl, the Ria Blush coat is sublime, I can so see Kate in it! I also like Charlotte's pick - the tweed dress. Most of their looks are very nice...I wish we had LK Bennett in NZ, so I could just pop in & try everything on! I do hope Natasha has her eyes on the collection ;)
Delete:)
DeleteI hate to say this but LK Bennett is one of my least favorite brands. Kiwi Gal - I really don't think you are missing much, honestly. I don't like their clothes at all. They look good but feel bad - cheaply made, polyester -ish. The only piece I do like is the Davina - THAT is sublime. Reiss and Hobbs are so much better, at a similar price point.
DeleteKiwi Gal, I am with Rosman here. I can only recommend to look at Reiss, Hobbs and Jaeger. I order quite a bit online especially from Hobbs and Jaeger and I was never disappointed. Living in Austria I didn't came across those brands until Kate put them on my fashion map and I have been a frequent shopper since 2012/2013 : )
DeleteAh, I see...I like your honesty, Rosman! I don't like the feel of cheap fabrics :(
DeleteBalbina, I'll have to check them out! Kate's opened up a new world of fashion for me :)
DeleteSorry, but this is a sad downcast outfit. Hello, it's August, not November.... Cherish summer, Kate.
ReplyDeleteYes, I saw the eclipse, we had a partial solar ecclipse. It was very cool to watch
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one who thinks some of her color combinations are just strange? I love this hate, but with a brown coat...I don't think so! She has ton's of black hats she could have worn...I think she has very strange taste sometimes!
ReplyDeleteI feel bad for Charles and Camilla with all this Diana coverage the past few weeks. I think it must be hard for them constantly rehashing the past, etc. Not that I condone anything the press does, but I often think if Diana had not given up her Royal protection she would be alive today. It was quite naive of her to assume she could live as a "commoner" again. Also, I find her brother to be quite hypocritical - since he did deny her a place to live on his huge ancestral home when Diana needed to get away from everything. How ironic that that is where she ended up.
I think that Diana thought that the Royal protection could be reporting everything to the Royal family, so her independence would be a total wash that way.
DeleteOh that she would have hired her own PPO's whose security opinions and directives she would have followed. Hindsight is 20/20. I think that is why Meghan has completely disappeared from the radar except for the occasional pop up. I think Harry has hired security for her. Upper echelon security that has clout enough to keep her secure AND off the radar.
Yes I think that this is a strange combination of colors. They don't go together at all. She looks like she just plonked things on and headed out the door.
DeleteAs for Diana's brother - I believe that he offered some other places to live, just not the one Diana wanted. But yeah, he is not the most savory of characters either. As for Charles and Camilla, they are always rehashing the past themselves every few years with a new Diana-bashing book being released regularly with their complete approval . Camilla's new biography, which was sanctioned by her does more of the same - more of the hashing of the past at Diana's expense.
Diana probably would have been alive if she hadn't been in such a ridiculously frenzied state playing cat and mouse games with the press that day or if she had been wearing a seat belt. It was like a perfect storm of events - almost like she was destined to die that day. It was like the crescendo of madness.
@Rosman - Agree...it was the perfect storm of events...bad protection, drunk driver, paps chasing them, no seat belt. Still so sad.
DeleteSG, I can appreciate Diana's concerns over having royal PPO's who would be in a position to reveal very personal information about her. And I agree with you regarding your theory on Meghan's current situation. Initially, it was my belief that there was too much exposure there and I was relieved to see it go in the opposite direction. It certainly increases the probability of an announcement ........ ;-)
DeleteRegarding Charles Spencer, I believe he DID offer another option but Diana declined. I will go so far as to say that their relationship was complicated (not completely uncommon, is it?), but I cannot dismiss him as a "terrible brother".
DeleteAgree royalfan. Sibling relationships are often complicated when they are close - and they must have been close, if you hear the stories of their growing up. There is no doubt that they did rely on each other and loved each other. It was just a normal adult sibling relationship.
DeleteI thought she looked just fine:). She put together an outfit of comfort for a trip to Church that was still respectable while being adaptable for the days changing weather and events. Is it a perfectly put together outfit, no, but is it clearly a suitable one and most likely one made up of versatile pieces that Kate loves, that work well in the country. I also am not a fan of her in overly large brimmed hats but it is a pretty hat. How lovely that so many of the family can get together for even a few days in the late summer in such a gorgeous setting. Lots of space and lots of privacy.
ReplyDeleteWorking or worshipping, please let Patricia I remind you :-)
ReplyDelete"Is everyone aware of the Load More button below the comments? You need to keep clicking it until it disappears, in order to see all of the messages. It appears when there are 200 comments, and continues in 50 message increments until the current number is reached."
Anyone else notice the Women's Day article about Kate being hospitalized this month? I'm sure it's rubbish, but jeez - what a crazy story to print. Just was wondering if anyone else read it besides me and thought - what the heck?
ReplyDeleteAs to her outfit, Kate is on vacation and enjoying it!! I love how she's embracing her natural curls too. You go Kate - you do you.
I have read this story in several sites. It might be old news from George. She was not in the hospital with Charlotte as one site has said.
DeleteBut if it is true it does not mean she is pregnant.
Great post Charlotte thanks so much
ReplyDeleteSophornitella , hat by Jane Taylor minus the feathers, is the exact color that I would love to see Kate in!! Look it up on the Jane Taylor website under new arrivals. It what I call a cross between a dusty rose and a mauve, I think she would look splendid in this color, from head to toe, a complete monochrome look. The hat is a beauty, well minus the feathers! She would need to pair it with her drop pears and some really nice eyeshadow in mauve from Bobbi Brown! The hat would look beautiful with the Mode-Sty Dusty Rose Rachelle dress on the Mode-Sty website, it's also on Pinterest. Anyway... my whole point is that this color would be fabulous on Kate and I don't believe we've ever seen her in it from head to toe!!! Check out Dusty Rose evening gowns on search, beautiful!!!
ReplyDelete