Thursday 27 May 2021

UPDATED: It's Gardening, Tennis & A 'Princess' Moment for William & Kate's Final Day in Scotland!

 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, styled as the Earl and Countess of Strathearn, concluded their tour of Scotland with a packed day of engagements in Edinburgh today.

Since Kate joined William on Monday, we've seen a number of appearances in North Lanarkshire, Edinburgh, Orkney and Fife. The itinerary was planned to include "a wide variety of people across the country, as well as charities and organisations who are doing incredible work on issues such as the environment, mental health, homelessness and addiction." A Kensington Palace spokesperson said the trip for the Cambridges was very much about "celebrating individuals who have gone above and beyond to support their communities over the past year".

The couple had the opportunity to hear how Fields in Trust are protecting green spaces across the United Kingdom, including at Starbank Park in Edinburgh.

The charity believes in preserving spaces for people to enjoy in perpetuity "because once lost, they are lost forever". They protect 2,800 parks and green spaces across the UK. The pandemic highlighted the urgent need to ensure wherever possible people have the ability to access the outdoors. It's particularly important for children and their wellbeing.

 A 2020 report by Public Health England noted, "Anyone who loves being outdoors might instinctively feel a boost from spending some time in our parks or woodlands, but it is now formally recognised that green environments are associated with reduced levels of depression, anxiety and fatigue and can enhance quality of life for both children and adults." As you know, this is an area Kate feels passionately about.

The charity has a prestigious royal history. It was founded by the Queen's father, then Duke of York in 1925 as the National Playing Fields Assocation, and he became the first royal president. In 1948, the Duke of Edinburgh succeeded his father-in-law in the role -- a position he cherished. It was Prince Philip's first major national charity commitment, and he promised to make up for his lack of experience with "effort and industry". In his youth, Philip is understood to have been deeply concerned by young children playing on the streets instead of green spaces and vowed to use his role to improve this where possible. Below, the Duke visiting Mile End Park in East London in 1952.

A rather fascinating nugget you'll be interested to hear: Philip was considered ahead of his time in terms of media relations and modernising patronage support. He struck up a friendship with none other than Frank Sinatra and delivered an introduction to a recording of 'If Only She'd Looked My Way'. It is widely accepted as the first charity single and proceeds supported Fields in Trust (then NPFA).

At a benefit for the charity in 1951, Philip was delighted to host Sinatra and his wife Ava Gardner.

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Fields in Trust revealed Prince Philip was involved in "every aspect" of the organisation. Working regularly in the office, he hosted a plethora of galas and charity events. In an article written for the organisation in 2006, he recalled, "I used to walk over to the office in Ecclestone Square each morning to take a more hands-on role in the organisation." During Philip's presidency, the number of fields protected by the charity grew from 430 sites covering 3,300 acres to over 2,000 sites covering 28,865 acres. The late Duke has long been credited with playing a pivotal role in this achievement.

In 2013, Prince Philip passed the role to Prince William. Fields in Trust is a member of the Charities Forum founded by William and Harry in 2006 to harness the collective power of the charitable sector and encourage collaboration to amplify the impact of shared goals.

What does Fields in Trust protection involve? More from the organisation: 

'In a nutshell, protection is a legal agreement between Fields in Trust and a space's landowner that they will retain it for use as a green space, usually a public park, playing field or recreation ground, in perpetuity. Over the years since our founding we have used a number of mechanisms for protecting land, from taking ownership in the early years, to restrictive covenants to Deeds of Trust.

In the mid-2000s we worked with a major legal firm to develop our own, unique instrument called a "Deed of Dedication". Due to the different nature of the legal system in Scotland we use a similar instrument known as a "Minute of Agreement".'

William and Kate heard about the organisation’s Green Space Index, which is an annual barometer of green space provision and distribution across the UK. Kensington Palace said, "The Green Space Index is an analytical tool that identifies inequities of green space provision and consequently enables the planning and protection of green infrastructure that can help mitigate climate change at a local level. Starbank Park is protected by Fields in Trust and run by Edinburgh City Council."


They donned gardening gloves to join volunteers.

Hello! reports:

'William and Kate chatted to families who use the park, including new parents Natalie Randamy, 31, her partner, Rory Stewart, 29, and their nine-month-old daughter Penelope Stewart.

The Duchess cooed at the baby as she and William reminisced with the couple about their own children at the same stage.  

"We were just talking about Penny sleeping through. They were reminiscing about nine months being a bit of a game-changer for them," Ms Randamy said. "Kate was saying Charlotte has the same dress from Next as Penny but just in a bigger size."'

Kate dropped off a copy of Hold Still at the park's library before leaving.

From there, it was time for a spot of tennis at Edinburgh Leisure’s Craiglockhart Tennis Centre with Lawn Tennis Assocation Youth.

The programme endeavours to ensure children have the opportunity to enjoy and pursue tennis. William and Kate spent time with Scott Lloyd (Chief Executive, LTA) and Olly Scadgell (Participation Director, LTA).

They joined a group from Canal View Primary School in Edinburgh and tried their hand at fun games designed to help teach progressive tennis skills. Exercises included hopscotch, team cones and floor tennis.

William and Kate chatted with participants. The visit reminded me Wimbledon begins at the end of June. I'm sure the Duchess is incredibly excited to watch the action from the Royal Box again.

Scott Lloyd, LTA Chief Executive, said, “It was great to be able to show Their Royal Highnesses our new junior tennis programme first hand. LTA Youth is designed to be fun, inclusive and competitive and help children enjoy tennis whatever their age. Courses across the country can be booked via the LTA website."

Perhaps the most special moment of the day came when the Duchess fulfilled a promise to Mila Sneddon. Earlier this month, Kensington Palace shared a conversation Kate had with the very brave little girl as part of Hold Still. In 'Shielding Mila', the four-year-old was photographed by her mother Lynda reuniting with her dad through the window after the family took the decision for dad to isolate from the family. At this point she was only 4 months into her chemotherapy journey for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

While speaking to Mila previously, Kate was asked, "Do you have a costume?" The Duchess replied, "I'm not wearing a princess costume right now, I'm afraid Mila. Do you have lots of dressing-up outfits yourself?" Mila revealed she does and her favourite colour is pink, which prompted a special promise by the Duchess: "I have to make sure I go and try and find myself a pink dress so that, one day hopefully, Mila, we'll get to meet and then I'll remember to wear my pink dress for you. Would that be nice?"

Today, Kate did just that, looking every inch the princess as she hosted Mila for tea at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Mia's mom told her the good news yesterday. Her reaction ... :)

How darling was Mila in a 'princess' dress?

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When Kate saw Mila she told her, "I want to give you a big squeezy hug. It’s so nice to meet you in person. I love your dress."

The Duchess gave Mila a trinket box with a special message about bravery.

Later, William and Kate attended the Closing Ceremony of the General Assembly of the Church.

Prince William delivered closing remarks in his role as Lord High Commissioner. He said, "It was a great pleasure to spend time with you last Sunday discussing the Church’s year ahead. Catherine and I had a wonderful day in Orkney on Tuesday."

William added: "Catherine and I came here to listen, so we might learn more about your challenges, but also, to learn of your hopes and aspirations, so that we may serve alongside you with the combination of humility and conviction that speaks so powerfully to us. As I sat in Canongate Kirk last Sunday listening to Neil Gardner’s sermon, I felt particularly fortunate that my week as Lord High Commissioner coincides with Pentecost. A week that celebrates the way in which the Holy Spirit kindled within Jesus’s early followers a desire to learn from others – whose tongues they could now understand – and to share far and wide the Christian message of love and service. I have kept this message at the forefront of my mind all week."

William continued: "Let me reflect on some of my conversations with Church of Scotland members: The Grassmarket Community Project and the compassionate staff at Crossreach’s Queen’s Bay Lodge Care Home, brought to life how the Church is not a building, but a community bound together by a common creed and a shared commitment to serve. While over a cup of tea in the Bichan family’s garden on Orkney, Alan and Wilma gave us an insight into how the Church is also a gentle, supportive presence in households across the nation. Indeed, be it the rapid move of services online, or the pastoral visits to neighbours to help with shopping or collecting prescriptions, or the support by parishes of their local foodbanks, the church has shown that -- even in a pandemic -- although we may be separated, we need not be alone."

A video from the speech.

Finally, the Earl and Countess of Strathearn attended a Beating Retreat by the Massed Pipes and Drums of the Combined Cadet Force in Scotland at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Kensington Palace revelead, "The Combined Cadet Force is an educational partnership between a school and the Ministry of Defence that aims to provide a unique combination of opportunities for young people to experience challenges, situations and activities that will enable them to develop new skills, confidence and resilience. The CCF in Scotland consists of over 2,000 cadets, and the Massed Pipes and Drums on parade this evening represent the sixteen CCF contingents in Scotland including cadets from Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh."

The Palace continued: "The Duke and Duchess have also invited individuals from local charities and schools to watch the event, which has its origins in the early years of organised warfare when the beating of drums and the parading of Post Guards heralded the closing of camp gates and the lowering of flags at the end of the day."

Mila and her family were special guests.

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It was a fashion feast today, with four ensembles worn.

The Duchess was in green this morning, bringing back her wool flannel Massimo Dutti blazer. Kate first wore it last autumn for a video released to share insights from 5 Big Questions.


Kate's blouse is Jigsaw's Spot Print Silk Blouse (with thanks to Emily Collins). The sold-out piece is described: "A polka dot spot design is printed on beautifully luxurious silk fabric. Detailed with a shawl collar and silk covered buttons."


Kate sported her Superga Cotu sneakers. They are in stock at John Lewis and Nordstrom.


Kate accessorised with her £15 Orelia London Huggie Hoop earrings.


And a G, C and L alphabet necklace by Daniella Draper (with thanks to Middleton Maven).


For tennis in the afternoon, Kate changed into her Ralph Lauren cable-knit cricket sweater.

Below, Kate wearing the sweater in Northern Ireland in 2019.

For her 'princess dress', Kate chose Me + Em's Colour Block Silk Shirt dress in bubblegum pink. The piece features a removable belt, pleated front and dipped hem. It also comes in midnight navy.

Middleton Maven noted Kate's belt is the Boden Lollipop Skinny Belt.

Kate accessorised with her Missoma Rhodochrosite earrings.

For their final engagements, Kate chose a belted blue Catherine Walker coatdress with striking jewellery.

Kate's Kiki McDonough Apollo blue topaz pendant in yellow gold is described as a "stunning contemporary piece". It's currently on order for £1,166.

The Duchess wore her striking floral spray brooch and matching earrings from the 2018 Commonwealth Day service.

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A closer look at the floral detailed earrings from the Royal Foundation Forum.

The Duchess carried the Strathberry Multress Clutch in navy croc (with thanks to UFO No More). Kate also owns the wallet in black croc. 


And sported a pair of Emmy London Riviera pumps (with thanks to the eagle-eyed What Kate Wore).

Kate wore a selection of Amaia Kids face masks, too.

As the visit draws to a close, a quick recap of the week. On Monday, Kate joined William in North Lanarkshire to visit Scotland's leading social care developer and provider, Turning Point. William and Kate heard about their work breaking down cycles of crime and addiction. From there, the Earl and Countess visited East Lothian to hear about violence reduction work and about the pioneering Scottish Violence Reduction Unit where Kate got into the spirit of music production. Then it was time to don aprons and make chapati with a Sikh community group preparing meals for vulnerable families in Edinburgh. The Duchess chose Scottish blue -- sporting a blue ZARA blazer, Hope Fashion pleated skirt, Spells of Love necklace, Hamilton & Inches Flora drop earringsMétier clutch and tan suede pumps.


The Earl and Countess of Strathearn continued their tour of Scotland with a trip to Orkney. The day began with the Earl and Countess officially opening the Balfour hospital and marvelling at the circular design inspired by Europe's best preserved Neolithic village, Skara Brae. They visited a local family for tea. Kate was in her camel Massimo Dutti skirt, Hamilton & Inches earrings again, Temperley London Cordial sweater, Emmy London shoes and clutch, and a pop of colour in the form of Kate's Strathearn tartan scarf.


Following a quick change into her Seeland jacket, Brora Dobby blouse, See by Chloe boots and jeans, the Cambridges visited Orkney's European Marine Energy Centre. They met a group of children outside and there were fun moments as Kate was asked, "Are you a Prince?" William and Kate enjoyed a boat trip before travelling to St Andrews for the night.


On Wednesday, the day got off to an exciting start with land yachting on West Sands beach. The couple enjoyed a competitive race with Kate telling William, "Come on, granddad!" The Duke was victorious in the end. Afterwards they spent time with young carers on the beach. Kate wore her Barbour Longshore jacket, a pink sweater by Highlands firm, Campbells of Beauly, jeans, See By Chloe boots and Orelia London Huggie Hoop earrings.


Back at St Andrews University twenty years after they met, William and Kate planted the first tree for St Andrews Forest, an initiative in the university’s action plan to become carbon neutral by 2035. They also spoke with students about the impact of the pandemic on their mental health. During the visit to Pittenweem Harbour at the Firth of Forth, they met local fishermen from Pittenweem Fishermen’s Mutual Association and their families. Kate was in a blazer by Holland Cooper, an Erdem sweater, VEJA Espler sneakers and Freya Rose earrings.

And Wednesday night, the Cambridges arrived for a special drive-in screening of Cruella for NHS Heroes in a 1966 2A Land Rover which belonged to the Duke of Edinburgh and has been loaned to them for the evening by the Queen. The Duchess addressed guests, saying, "Over the last year or so, William and I have spoken to many NHS workers and have heard first-hand what it has been like to be on the front line fighting COVID-19; supporting those suffering from the disease as well as their families, and heroically putting the needs of others ahead of their own – day in, day out. And tonight, we have so enjoyed speaking to so many of you. You have all been chosen for going above and beyond over the last year - and to hear what you have been through is truly humbling."

Kate chose a striking heather tartanHolland Cooper coat, metallic Joseph Skirt, green velvet pumps and debuted the Queen's Dubai Sapphire earrings.

I want to thank everyone who has followed the trip on the blog. A year ago, I couldn't quite imagine reaching a place where we would be following a tour across the UK, and to have reached a place in the vaccination programme where groups can safely gather is something we'll never take for granted again. I know how much reaching this point means to my family and to all who can be reunited with loved ones after far too long apart.

I'll remember this Scotland visit as the first sign of a return to true normality on the royal calendar. I enjoyed the mix of engagements, highlighting NHS heroes, returning to St Andrews (with an impromptu stop for fish and chips at an old uni haunt), of course seeing Kate meet Mila and sharing more about must-see destinations such as Orkney. It was splendid to have the opportunity to include the late Duke of Edinburgh, especially today, to offer just a glimpse into his passion for Fields in Trust and the enduring legacy he created through decades of dedication. Another highlight was a brief speech by the Duchess at Cruella -- the first drive-in movie at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

On the fashion front, we'll stay with that event. Kate's beautifully crafted tartan Holland Cooper coat and her debut wearing the Queen's commanding Dubai Sapphire earrings made it the look of the week for me.  I'm looking forward to hearing your favourite style moments and engagements.

39 comments:

  1. It is so nice to have semi-normal royal engagements back. And this week was filled with lovely events. I think W&K will be well served to make a Scotland-week an annual event in their diary. Meeting lots of regular people is always a good look for the future king.

    On a satorial level, while I don’t always love every single outfit, I do like the new balance Kate is striking between her “princess costumes” and more regular work clothes.
    Not only is it more relatable, but the fact that she doesn’t feel the need to be the picture perfect image of a princess whenever she is out in public, is just another sign of her growing confidence in her role.

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  2. Wow I love all her looks today. I love her pants -- they're fitted and not too baggy. Love the trainers with suit look -- it's so in fashion. And the blue coat dress is beautiful. And yay, it's shorter and not midi length. I also can't believe I'm saying this but I love her blue suede shoes. You all know I think Kate could up her shoe game but her shoes today are great.

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    1. Wow, Ivy Lin, progress on all sides, but it's hard to not like a good 'blue suede' shoe. :)

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  3. The bedt coverage as always, thank you Charlotte. It’s been so exciting to see K&W out on tour again after so long, they have been much missed!

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  4. I love the plaid coat! The colors are unique and beautiful. The meeting with little Mila made me teary. How wonderful that the Duchess met with this precious little girl. Thanks Charlotte as usual for your great coverage of the tour.

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  5. I love Kate having tea with adorable Mila. Mila looks fantastic head-to-toe with her great fashion.

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  6. Thanks for the great coverage of the first royal tour of 2021. It was enjoyable seeing Will and Kate on a tour again and there were many fun moments along the way.

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  7. Thank you Charlotte for this wonderful post (and all the rest on this tour)! But mostly for including the history of Prince Philip and the Fields of Trust. Slowly the dots begin to connect and we see the threads of continuity in the patronage of the royals. Prince Philip really was a man ahead of his time and recognized where he could most make a difference. William and Kate are perfect for carrying on his 'green space' initiative, and I see where Philip and Kate seem to have many shared ideas about the outdoors and how mental health can be intertwined as well as their love of physical activity and its positive effect. She will make a perfect Queen Consort. To me this tour is not just a sign of return to normalcy, but a beginning for William and Kate to personalize their their royal style and tours, while respecting the history and legacy that came before them. Think this was very well done.

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    1. Zora from Prague27 May 2021 at 21:01

      So well said, Anonymous!
      For me, too, the connections with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, stood out. Continuity is the word. As William said: "He would want us to get on with the job". That's exactly what they are doing. 🌷

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  8. Wow - all these engagements and outfits, it feels like old times again!

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  9. Caroline in Montana27 May 2021 at 19:14

    omg she met Mila!! just when i thought it couldnt get any better, i had goosebumps and darn near cried. so so wonderful. so many other things i want to comment on but for now i am just full of good feelings about the "princess" meeting. happy sigh

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  10. Interesting looking jewelry with today's blue dress. Anxious to see the pieces up close, especially the earrings. They look vintage, as does the pin.

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  11. Kate is such a lovely genuine woman - what a lovely thing to do and I loved both their pink dresses

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  12. Nice to watch them visiting Scotland for a few days. Their interaction with the people in real time is great. I am so tired of seeing all these video meetings, they are getting boring. I think it was fantastic for Kate to meet little Mila. Hope the little one is on her road to recovery. Love the pink dress and the blue one Kate wore on her last day there. Pss Mila isn a beautiful dress, she looks so happy.

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  13. ILoveElephants27 May 2021 at 21:04

    I love the pink and blue dresses Kate wore today they had a very “princessy” look to them. I hope once Kate becomes the princess of Wales she wears more princessy type dresses and tiaras.

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  14. Today was a treat for Kate watchers. The meet up w Mia was so sweet. How lovely that Kate followed through on her promise to wear pink, and I’m glad she didn’t go overboard w her outfit.

    All in all, a packed not-quite-week of engagements. She did a wonderful job with her wardrobe, I think, excluding the first and last outfits. The cobalt blue ensemble has already been discussed at length. Today’s coatdress, to me, was a surprising miss. I’m not sure I’ve ever panned a Catherine Walker coatdress, but this one looks a size or more too large and wayyy too much fabric on the bottom half. Pretty necklace and fun shoes though.

    Thanks Charlotte for all your hard work!

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  15. Excellent coverage as usual. Loved it all. Thank you.

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  16. I realized how really great Kate looks in those green and black jeans -- for gardening and tennis. Just great -- they're not super tight, not too long. They look perfect. She had a wonderful smile in those images of her with William in the baby blue dress -- it's not just the lack of masks. It was a really beautiful smile. And I expect new jewelry when I do Royal watching and are usually disappointed. Not this trip! The citrine earrings, the sapphire earrings, and now the blue topaz necklace were probably added just to make me happy. They are all jewelry I would love to wear! Little Mila looks incredible in that photo of her by herself! That dress just fits the background -- she is beautiful. Most important, she appears to be healthy. This tour was a lot of fun and I think W&K really enjoyed it. Thank you, Charlotte, for all the extras!

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  17. Williams speech! Wow....

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  18. It would be interesting to see the color of her latest blue dress from today compared to the blue Emilia Wickstead when they meet with the President & First Lady of the Ukraine. They seem very similar? I think I prefer the other dress with the sapphire necklace. I guess I prefer a sleeker look? I also think today I would’ve skipped the necklace since she wore a brooch. But she always looks good, mostly because she has a smile and puts such a warm effort into everyone she meets!

    I loved seeing them out & about, learning about so many wonderful organizations. I couldn’t wait to see where they’d go! The fashion on the tour, in my opinion, hasn’t been my favorite. A lot of similar looks to what she has, so why not just do an actual repeat? I do get that it helps stimulate the economy. I adored the tartan trench and think it’s one of her best looks ever! I also liked the pink sweater and black blazer. Thanks again for your incredibly thorough coverage. A real treat with so many events! I do agree that KP would benefit from you on their team! :)

    Susan

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  19. Tammy from California28 May 2021 at 00:22

    Charlotte, is there an ID and close up on the earrings Kate wore with the Catherine Walker coat?

    I loved Kate's looks today, I think the CW coat was my favorite-the color of her pumps was to die for!

    As for the Mila visit... #Imnotcryingyourecrying

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  20. Thank you for the wonderful post throughout this trip. I also think Catherine nailed each look for each outing spectacularly.

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  21. So exciting to have a Royal tour and a feast of outfits to comment on : )
    I love the pink dress and tea with Mila, I'm not sure about the blue Catharine Walker coat dress I think it is too flared at the bottom and the tartan coat looks lovely on Kate. Her smart casual outfits have really come a long way. so looking forward to seeing the Royals out and about more and some lovely summer outfits that we missed seeing last year!

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  22. Oh my goodness love the duchess and duke theit last engagements in Scotland hmm love to comment about mila she absolutely looks like a princess the duchess cambridge as promised she wear pink dress they are lovely m sure mils when she old enough she will be remembered these day what fantastic day. To end these

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  23. what a lovely tour and very cool to read about prince philip's connection with Frank Sinatra. Kate looks very happy on this nice relaxed tour

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  24. Thank you for the extensive coverage of the tour! The takeaway fish & chips was my favourite moment. Duchess Catherine looked so radiant and happy at every event....delightful to see. The pink "princess" dress was perfect for tea with Mila! And I loved all the suede shoes.

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  25. Great to see different points of view. I thought the pink dress hideous, although I loved the sentiment. Too much fabric that swamped the Duchess, imho. I loved the CW coat and was so glad to see something knee length. I didn't care for the tartan coat--the buttons, shoulders and length all seemed too much to me. The earring game was great this trip--nice to see some borrowed serious jewels!

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    1. Agree with your MG about the pink dress and tartan coat. I know I’m in the minority but I found with both those pieces the clothes definitely wore her. Love her business casual looks though!

      Mary-Anne

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  26. This tour was such a treat! The tartan coat and pink "princess" dress were my favorites on Kate. Thank you for your wonderful coverage, Charlotte, as always!

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  27. I absolutely loved this tour and thank you Charlotte for covering it! To me, this was one very sentimental tour with a trip down memory lane at University, but also paying tribute in many ways to the late Duke of Edinburg. ♥️

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  28. Caroline in Montana28 May 2021 at 15:00

    I for one loved the CW coat and agree with MG, it was very nice to see something knee length again!! my second look of the day would have to be the tennis, i just love that RL sweater - id buy it but that would never work with my figure, lol. Glad she wore a belt with the pink princess dress, i though it was a good choice for meeting mila, who looks very happy and i hope she is getting better. not a big fan of the short trousers. was also happily surprised with the new jewels!! this whole tour was wonderful, what an asset they are. i believe they will make a wonderful king and queen. the queen must feel quite good about the future with these 2 taking over. charlotte, will you be doing tour fashion polls? Wonderful coverage, thanks charlotte for giving us a great place!!!

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  29. What a wonderful tour! So many great stops and memorable moments.
    Thank you Charlotte for all your hard work to cover this!
    On the fashion front I think Kate really nailed it. In my opinion I think all the outfits were well put together and suited the events.
    My favorites though the coat from the drive in movie,just perfect! and the camel Massimo Dutti with the tartan scarf.

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  30. I loved, loved, loved every aspect of this trip and I’m so happy for little Mia. How wonderful for her to me a princess in a pretty pink dress.

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  31. I just had some thoughts about Kate's choices -- we need to remember that she is doing her job. If she was a friend, I think she would grab some jeans or a fun simple dress. I imagine that one way to keep her mental privacy is to separate her real-life clothes from her work clothes. Also, she should not attempt to outshine the "people" except for when she IS expected to do so; she has to walk a fine line while trying to be true to her personal style. The Queen has preferred clothes (as we saw when she met little Archie) but then has her "uniforms." Sometimes Kate wears a simple sweater or blouse but the focus is then on the topic at hand. Sometimes she wears things I don't like, like dresses with flounces and ruffles), but I think she likes them and feels good in them

    Regarding the very long skirts (which are in style or they wouldn't be available), remember the times she wore something short and had "wind" issues. No big deal except she gets her photo taken and people see it for for eternity. If I were her, I would feel relaxed in a long skirt.

    She knows her job is to look good and special but not appear to be focused on the latest styles. I think she does that well.

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    1. I think you are spot on. Catherine has both her public and private life. I suspect since we haven't seen her natural curls since the South Asia trip, that she saves natural for home life. I think it's a shame as it would build self esteem for girls to show curly hair as appropriate for special occasions. I know I struggled for years to go to work and special occasions with blow outs that were frustrating, both time consuming to create and frizzed up in humidity. Further, I often find that people measure Catherine for what is appropriate as Queenly dressing. But that measures her against an over 90+ year old Elizabeth. Not only did Elizabeth dress trendy to the times at comparable age when she was already Queen, but there is a missing generation. Diana dressed appropriately to the occasion, but also set design trends. Long and short styles, turtle necks and deep vees. Innovative color combinations and designs. What would Diana be wearing today if she were still with us?

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  32. I loved the pink "princess" dress! It seemed to me to be perfectly matched to the occasion. Little Mila is so adorable, I loved everything about her sweet little person. I thought the tartan coat simply stunning! Thanks to you, Charlotte, for bringing such pleasure and delight to me in some of my hardest moments. Thank you !!!

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  33. Lovely to follow a tour once again.

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  34. Enjoyed seeing them on the road again. Thank you again for your intelligent coverage Charlotte.

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