Year in Review 2020, Part 1: The Year Before the Pandemic

Before I delve into tonight's post, I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year. While extending those wishes to loved ones in recent days, I was reminded of T.S. Eliot's 'Little Gidding': "For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice." A quote with poignancy like never before as we all hope for a brighter and safer 2021. In the UK, we're in the midst of an incredibly challenging period with the virus and have returned to a similar level of restrictions to those imposed last spring. With schools closed, George and Charlotte will not be returning to Thomas's Battersea as planned, nor is it expected Louis will commence nursery this month as was speculated. I anticipate a return to virtual engagements largely across the board for the Royal family for the time being -- with a strong possibility William and Kate will elect to remain at Anmer Hall.

I've pondered this year's Year in Review with the realisation a linear month-by-month look back wouldn't work as well as in previous years. Instead, I've opted to divide the year into two posts; the first will focus on the period before Covid-19 and the second will retrace central themes as showcased through Hold Still.

2020 kicked off with a traditional walk to Church at Sandringham ahead of Kate's birthday. As has become tradition, a number of close friends were present including James and Laura Meade. James is Charlotte's godfather and Laura was chosen as one of Louis' godparents. They were accompanied by George's godmother Emilia Jardine-Paterson and her husband David. The Duchess wrapped up in a past-season Roksanda coat in orange and blue tones with a fedora hat and Stuart Weitzman boots.

Following a sun-soaked holiday over Christmas with Pippa and her husband James Matthews, and James Middleton and his fiancée Alizee Thevenet in St Barts, Michael and Carole Middleton joined the Cambridges for the weekend too. It's understood they had hoped to spend Christmas with the Middleton family, but those plans were changed by the announcement of new restrictions in December.

To mark Kate's birthday, KP shared a lovely informal photo by Matt Porteous to mark the occasion.

Engagements for the year commenced on the 15th with a day in Bradford. The itinerary highlighted "a number of projects which support the community and promote cohesion within it, in one of the UK’s most diverse cities". There was a great deal of excitement following news Bradford was the "most improved city" in the UK, with an impressive work-life balance.

There were plenty of fun exchanges throughout the day with Kate discussing her plans to knit a jumper for George and telling a well-wisher who asked about more Baby Cambridges, "I don't think William wants any more." Kate wore a longline military green McQueen coat with a ZARA check dress, Aspinal of London Midi Mayfair bag and Zeen earrings.

The first (of a handful) of glamorous evening events came during the UK-Africa Investment Summit reception at Buckingham Palace. The Duchess was stunning in a fabulous sparkling red dress by Needle & Thread for the occasion. The brand has long been admired for their attention to intricate embellishment and sequin detail. Kate teamed the dress with her red suede Gianvito Rossi pumps, Jenny Packham clutch and Soru Jewellery earrings.

The day after the reception Kensington Palace released details of Kate's early years project which had been in the works for over eighteen months - a landmark UK-wide survey on early childhood. In 2018, Kate convened a steering group filled with experts across several fields including education, mental health and academia to focus on how to help families support children in their earliest years. The Palace revealed the project "aimed to spark the biggest ever conversation on early childhood that will ultimately help bring about positive, lasting change for generations to come".

The announcement coincided with a 24-hour, whistle-stop trip across the UK, beginning with a visit to MiniBrum at Thinktank Science Museum, Birmingham. Speaking about 5 Big Questions, the Duchess said, "Parents, carers and families are at the heart of caring for children in the formative years, so that is why I want to listen to them. As a parent I know how much we cherish the future health and happiness of our children. The Early Years are more crucial for future health and happiness than any other moment in our lifetime. I want to hear the key issues affecting our families and communities so I can focus my work on where it is needed most."

The next stop on the 5 Big Questions tour was Cardiff. Kate, attired in Massimo Dutti and ZARA, joined a baby sensory class at Ely and Careau Children’s Centre. Speaking to a group of mothers, she told them, "It’s nice to be back in Wales. I was chatting to some of the mums. It was the first year and I’d just had George - William was still working with search and rescue and we came up here and I had a tiny, tiny baby in the middle of Anglesey. It was so isolated, so cut off. I didn’t have any family around, and he was doing night shifts. If only I had had a center like this." I think it's so important for the royals to share their own experiences, it also offers a wider understanding of Kate's interest in this area."

During a return visit to HMP Send women's prison in Surrey, Kate reunited with some of the women she met almost five years before to discuss how they are rebuilding their lives. Over tea and cake, they discussed the challenges and hardships on families when a parent is in prison. Kate asked the group how much their experiences as adults were influenced by their childhood. Several of the women immediately replied, "All of it."

When I think of Kate's professional highlights of 2020, the focus on the power of photography to evoke feelings, memories and indeed the year as a whole springs to mind instantly. Memorably, the Duchess had photographed two Holocaust survivors, Steven Frank and Yvonne Bernstein with their grandchildren. The images were part of a project which inspired people across the UK to consider their own responsibility to remember and share the stories of those who endured persecution at the hands of the Nazis.

Steven Frank was photographed with his granddaughters Maggie and Trixie. Originally from Amsterdam, Steven survived several concentration camps as a child. It was heartbreaking to read Steven and his brothers were 3 of only 93 children out of 15,000 who survived Theresienstadt camp where life or death was determined capriciously.

The Duchess described the experience as a "privilege", adding the stories she heard "will stay with me forever". Kate continued, "While I have been lucky enough to meet two of the now very few survivors, I recognise not everyone in the future will be able to hear these stories first hand. It is vital that their memories are preserved and passed on to future generations, so that what they went through will never be forgotten." Below, the Duchess with Yvonne Bernstein.

The Duchess with Yvonne at the UK Holocaust Memorial Day Commemorative Ceremony in Westminster.

The Duchess of Cambridge stepped out in her Dolce & Gabbana bouclé skirt suit to join a creative workshop run by the National Portrait Gallery’s Hospital Programme at Evelina London Children's Hospital to see how the creative arts can support children’s health and wellbeing. Luke, a heart patient at Evelina and quickly asked to take a photo of Kate holding the wreath. She was more than happy to oblige and looked delighted to pose for the budding photographer.

Luke was thrilled with the results. He said would "take it home and keep it forever". :)

Kate continued a busy week with a visit to London Early Years Foundation (LEFY) Stockwell Gardens Nursery and Pre-school in London. The engagement was originally scheduled as part of tour of the UK to mark the launch of 5 Big Questions. Kate revealed that morning over 100,000 people had completed the survey in its first week. The Duchess said, "I'm so happy. I can't wait to see the results."

We didn't know this until a little later but during the visit Kate gave her first podcast interview to Giovanna Fletcher of Happy Mum, Happy Baby. Speaking about the survey during the conversation, the Duchess said, "I think ultimately if you look at who’s caring and looking after and nurturing children in the most vital period from pregnancy all the way to the age of five, you know parents and carers are right at the heart of that, and families are right at the heart of that, and although I’ve spoken to the scientists and the service providers, it’s so important to listen to families. What is it that they aspire to? What are their challenges? What we’re doing with the survey is asking people – what is it that matters for them in raising their children today. It’s going to take a long time – I’m talking about a generational change – but hopefully this is the first small step: to start a conversation around the importance of Early Childhood development. It’s not just about happy, healthy children. This is for lifelong consequences and outcomes."

When asked what parts of her childhood she would want to give her own children, the Duchess recalled memories with her grandmother and spoke of the importance of quality relationships. "If I take the experience from my own childhood, coupled with what I know now and what I’ve learnt from the experts in the Early Years sector, I think there’s a few things that really stand out for me. One is quality of relationships. So, those moments that you spend with people that are around you. I remember that from my own childhood. I had an amazing granny who devoted a lot of time to us, playing with us, doing arts and crafts and going to the greenhouse to do gardening, and cooking with us, and I try and incorporate a lot of the experiences that she gave us at the time into the experiences that I give my children now. There are also the environments you spend time in as well: a happy home, a safe environment. As children, we spent a lot of time outside and it’s something I’m really passionate about. I think it’s so great for physical and mental wellbeing and laying developmental foundations. It’s such a great environment to spend time in, building those quality relationships without the distractions of ‘I’ve got to cook’ and ‘I’ve got to do this’. And actually, it’s so simple."

It was a star-studded night at the Royal Albert Hall for the annual BAFTA awards on 2 February. The event celebrated the very best in British and international contributions to film over the past year. Guests were asked to be more sustainable in their sartorial choices. Whether re-wearing items from their wardrobes or supporting sustainable designers. A spokesperson told Grazia magazine, "Sustainability is very important to Bafta, and we’re doing more than ever before." With this in mind, the Duchess chose a McQueen gown from her wardrobe - the white gown with gold embroidery she debuted for a State dinner during the Malaysia tour in 2012.

The look was completed with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels, Kate's citrine ring, gold Jimmy Choo pumps and the Anya Hindmarch Marano clutch.

For an away day in South Wales, the Cambridges focused on highlighting local organisations. Kate sported her navy Hobbs London Bianca coat with a red ZARA dress and Beulah London scarf.

Mike Sutton Smith shared a very sweet video of his father-in-law, Harvey Bentley, meeting the Duchess. Kate told him, "I hope you're keeping warm enough. It's very nice to meet you. Thank you for coming to say hello to us." Adding, "It's lovely to see the children out." Harvey kissed Kate on the hand and she told him she would send William over to say hello. Harvey's son-in-law, Mike, said his family would never forget the meeting.

Thanks to @mikesuttonsmith who shared this lovely clip of Kate meeting his father-in-law Harvey Bentley, 90, and got William to come and say hello too: pic.twitter.com/1Dq8Ijn8er

— Emily Nash (@emynash) February 4, 2020

I remember this 'moment of the day' brought a smile to all present.

It was a rare joint engagement for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall for a visit to the Defence National Rehabilitation Centre Stanford Hall, Stanford on Soar, Loughborough. The Defence National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) was the brainchild of the late Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, who led the £300m fundraising drive with a personal gift of £70m. Sadly the Duke passed away in 2016 and did not have the opportunity to see the project come to fruition. The Duke was Prince Charles' friend and close confidante for decades. His wife Natalia is Prince William's godmother and he has been credited with serving as a mentor to William over the years. The Cambridges have been loaned the Duke's jet on several occasions which has ensured family trips to Southern France and the French Alps were kept under the radar.

The Duchess of Cambridge continued her 5 Big Questions tour with trips to Northern Ireland and Scotland in February. 

Kate began the day with a visit to Ark Open Farm near Belfast, speaking with families about themes covered in the survey. Kate met a number of families. She thanked them for participating in the survey and said, "It's really interesting to get everyone's perspectives." Afterwards, she told two children, "Charlotte and George will be very sad not to have met you and see this really cool farm."

From there, the Countess of Strathearn travelled to Aberdeen, Scotland. Kate visited Social Bite café to speak with employees, support volunteers and regular customers who have experienced homelessness. When Kate sat down with a group of people involved with and supported by Social Bite, she said, "So often, many issues are caused by family breakdowns and that can have a huge effect on a child’s development in their early years."

The Duchess was elegant in Eponine London for a special performance of 'Dear Evan Hansen', which was held in aid of the Royal Foundation. I loved the sparkling addition of the Queen's chandelier earrings and Jimmy Choo's Romy pumps and Ellipse clutch bag.

As patron of SportsAid, Kate visited Olympic Park for a fun and sporty afternoon. The Duchess spent time with parents and guardians of SportsAid athletes, past and present, to hear about their experiences, the challenges that they face and about the impact of the support they receive from the charity. She was in her element participating in activities.

On 3 March, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in Dublin for a visit to the Republic of Ireland. The trip would be their only official trip outside of the UK in 2020. The three-day trip came at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. A meticulously planned itinerary saw William and Kate spending time in the capital first before travelling to County Meath, County Kildare and County Galway.

Their first port of call was a meeting with President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina. The couple had the opportunity to meet the Higgins' Bernese Mountain dog Bród. His partner in crime Síoda was under the weather with a sore paw, which meant extra attention for the adorable pet, especially from the Duchess :) Kate said, "He's lovely. How old is he?" Very sadly, Síoda passed away several months ago.

From there, the Duke and Duchess travelled to Government buildings where they met outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his partner Matt Barrett. The Duchess was in the first of several green ensembles for the trip in a bespoke double-breasted, forest green Catherine Walker coat, a green Printed Silk Peplum dress by Alessandra Rich and Emmy London pumps.

That night, the Duchess was in a shimmering emerald green dress by The Vampire's Wife. Vogue described the Falconetti style as the "dress of the decade".

Kate enjoying a pint of Guinness.

Kate brought back a piece from her pre-engagement days the following day. The timeless Reiss Olivia coat has an almost nostalgic feel for royal watchers. Kate wore it on several notable occasions including her 26th birthday (below Kate and Pippa arriving at Kitts Club for celebratory drinks). Kate also wore it for William's RAF graduation in April 2008, the Henry van Straubenzee carol service in 2009, and a pre-wedding rehearsal before the big day.

William and Kate travelled to County Kildare to visit Extern, Ireland's leading social justice charity at their respite centre, Savannah House. In 2019, the Duke and Duchess visited their Northern Ireland arm in Fermanagh. The Duchess was excited to join a game of ping pong.

William and Kate enjoyed a walk at scenic Howth and took in stunning views of the Irish coastline on the cliff walk.

The Duchess was in vintage Oscar de la Renta that evening for a reception hosted by Tánaiste Simon Coveney at the Museum of Literature Ireland. It was revealed Mr Coveney's three daughters Jessica, Annalise and Beth wrote letters for George, Charlotte and Louis which Mr Coveney was pleased to hand William and Kate. I thought it a lovely touch and very much in keeping with the incredibly warm welcome the royals have received in Ireland. The Duke and Duchess have continued to focus on the theme of reconciliation and looking to the future, which we've seen many members of the family echo since the Queen's State Visit in 2011. On the night I wrote, "A simple but thoughtful gesture like the children of the deputy leader of Ireland writing to the children of a future king of the UK represents how far relations have come. It struck me as a symbolic moment and perhaps something Prince George will remember decades from now when he visits in his capacity as monarch. It is moments like these I feel underscore the unique soft power of monarchy."

The couple concluded the trip with engagements in Galway. They attended a special event at Tribeton featuring a number of Galway 2020’s acts, including Livefeed, Hoops and the Galway Community Circus, and met young performers, young people and volunteers. Kate was in a green polka dot dress by Suzannah.

The Irish visit finished in sporting style as the Cambridges tried their hand at hurling and Gaelic football.

Kate loved every moment :)

Back in London, Kate repeated a Catherine Walker coatdress for the Commonwealth Day service.

Kate's final public engagement before our lives changed and strict restrictions were imposed was a reception to mark the 25th anniversary of her patronage Place2Be at Buckingham Palace. During a very nice speech, the Duchess praised the work of Place2Be and reflected on her own journey with them. "You taught me, right from the start, that the children in your schools are only as happy and emotionally strong as the adults in their care. That is why you take such great pride in the work you do with your teachers and your parents. You taught me the importance of creating safe and nurturing environments within schools, embracing a holistic view of emotional well-being which permeates through the whole school system. You also taught me that it's the simplest things that make a difference to children. It's the quality time that is spent with them."

The Duchess brought back the beautiful sapphire blue Jenny Packham gown she first wore for a Bollywood Gala in India in 2016. The dress features intricate beading and a train. It's a design which highlights why the designer is admired all over the world for her evening wear. With the addition of floral cluster earrings by Erdem and Jimmy Choos, it made for a very fitting choice for Kate's final gown appearance of the year, though we didn't know it at the time.

I very much enjoyed revisiting the months before the pandemic, glimpses of a normality we all look forward to embracing again.