The Princess of Wales stepped out today to visit Royal Surrey County Hospital's maternity unit.
Kate's visit was scheduled to offer the Princess the opportunity "to hear about the holistic support it provides to pregnant women and new mothers to ensure they receive the best possible care throughout and beyond their pregnancies".
The Princess arriving.
Kensington Palace said: "Royal Surrey County Hospital’s maternity unit delivers and cares for around 3,000 babies per year. An exemplar of maternity care, the unit received a UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative Gold Award in May 2022 in recognition of its outstanding work in the support of infant-feeding and parent-infant relationships. The work of the unit is built around the understanding that the provision of high-quality maternity and early years care can fundamentally improve long-term health outcomes for the population, a concept which also forms the bedrock of The Princess of Wales’s work through the Centre for Early Childhood."
Upon arrival, Kate spent time with the hospital's Jasmine Team which supports women affected by mental health during pregnancy and offers postnatal mental health care in the first months after birth. It is estimated over 20% of women in the UK experience mental health issues during pregnancy or immediately afterwards.
Catherine in St Catherine’s Ward at the Maternity Unit of the @RoyalSurrey Hospital where the Princess of Wales is meeting new mums, midwives and talking pre-natal and post-natal mental health. pic.twitter.com/1yuM47MK0O
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) October 5, 2022
I remember some time ago my grandmother discussed 'baby blues' and women she knew (and an experience she herself obviously went through). There was no recognition then of post natal depression and women were often left very much to their own devices to battle through a very painful time. Thankfully, healthcare has evolved and offering proper mental health supports is a vital element of maternity care today. We know Kate went through a tough time after George was born in Anglesey; her mum Carole and William and Harry's childhood nanny Jessie Webb were seconded to Wales (Jessie was later invited to George's christening). To be clear: neither Kate nor anyone on her behalf has ever said she had postnatal depression, but Kate did speak about feelings of "isolation" following George's arrival and later said, "No mother is immune to experiencing anxiety and depression." I think, as we all know, whatever walk of life you come from, motherhood, despite the joys, brings challenges too and it's important to support new mums.
The Palace added: "The Princess is passionate about supporting the mental wellbeing of mothers, and recently became Patron of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance."
Whilst spending time with new mum Sylvia Novak, Kate asked about her experiences and held her darling baby Bianca.
'Kate said: "Am I allowed to?" before a member of staff helped Ms Novak pass the baby to Kate. As she cradled Bianca in her arms, Kate said: "She's very sweet." She then returned the baby to Ms Novak before continuing her tour of the hospital.
Afterwards, Ms Novak said: "I asked her if she wanted to hold her and she opted for it. I can't blame her. (Bianca) is cute. "(The princess) was lovely to speak to. I was really impressed. You don't feel like you have classes between you. It's really nice.'
Kensington Palace shared this very sweet photo of a mum and her baby waiting to meet Kate.
The Princess spent time at the hospital's Postnatal Bay to hear how staff have implemented a pioneering model of care at the hospital by working to ensure that as many mothers as possible receive continuity of care during pregnancy and childbirth.
Meeting baby Giles Talbot-Erasus, she remarked: "I keep thinking Louis is a baby but he's a big boy now. It just feels like yesterday."
Admiring his mittens, which covered long fingernails, she added of the newborn's scrunched-up pose: "George was so huddled up too, he spent quite a few days like that."
Speaking to second-time parents Hannah and Luke Culverwell who had a two-day-old baby boy and his older brother at nursery, she heard how the toddler currently had a little bump on the head just in time for the family photographs.
"They all get them," she reassured them, smiling. "They just seem to pick up these cuts and bumps, it's part and parcel of it."
Kate also joined the hospital's Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) which provides specialist neonatal care for tiny and premature babies, working closely with families to help the infants in its care grow and thrive. She met a family who have previously been supported by the unit and heard how the facilities in place at the hospital allowed them to begin to bond with their baby.
It is one of just a small number of units in the country with the facilities, equipment and setting for mothers to remain close to their babies at all times through the provision of round-the-clock, cot-side sleeping facilities.
Parents are encouraged to participate in the care of their baby as much as they can, including bathing, feeding and nappy changing. The evidence shows that the ability for families to develop close and loving relationships at this early stage in their journey is vital for maternal well-being and the long-term physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of their baby.
Meeting with staff.
'Kate was shown around by Amy Stubbs, deputy director of midwifery, who tells PEOPLE that the royal was easy for new parents to connect with.
"She was very relatable. She talked a lot about how it felt for her when she became a mother," Stubbs says.
"She just really talked about her own children including how they chose their names. A lot of the new mums and dads are thinking about how to choose names for their babies, and they spoke with her about how Kate and William made their choice," Stubbs explains.
"She said they were their favorite names and that obviously the world was waiting for them to name their children — and that felt like quite a big pressure!" Stubbs adds with a laugh'.
Looks to me like the whole hospital is on pause waiting for the new Princess of Wales to leave…@RoyalSurrey pic.twitter.com/gQeotomyxE
— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) October 5, 2022
A wave from the Princess upon departure.
The Princess was elegant in Karen Millen's Ochre Forever dress (a great ID by Kate Middleton style). I've always been surprised the British brand hasn't been a feature in Kate's rotation. There are a number of fantastic designs -- ideal for day engagements -- and I hope we see her wear more in the future.
Made with recycled polyester as part of the brand's Ready for the Future Range, the dress is described as: "Called the Forever dress for a reason, this Structured Crepe midi style suits all kinds of special occasions. Designed to outlast trends and seasons, it shows off a notched neckline, elbow-length sleeves and pressed pleats." It's available in several sizes as of publishing on the website here.
The Forever dress is currently reduced to £175 ($300). Shoppers can avail of an additional 15% off with discount code DRESS.
Below, the Forever dress in white (a future Wimbledon contender perhaps) and blush.
The Princess accessorised with the Hera earrings by Suffolk-based jeweller Emily Mortimer (another smashing find by Kate Middleton Style). The £795 Hera White Gold and Diamond Pear Detachable Drops are a beautiful addition to Kate's collection.
The earrings are available for pre-order with a 4-6 week wait. They are described:
'As seen on the The Princess of Wales our Hera Gold and Diamond Earrings. Pear cut drops of polished gold surrounded by the sparkliest of pavé diamonds. We just can't resist how versatile these incredible earrings are, wear just the diamond hoop for the day and add the drop for the evening.'
If the earrings look familiar, it may be because Emily is a protégé of Kiki McDonough, where she spent five years honing her craft and skills before starting her own brand in 2015. Well-known faces supporting the fledgling brand in recent years include the Duchess of Sussex, Ellie Goulding, Vogue Williams and Fiona Bruce. Critical acclaim and high-street support have seen the brand grow with stockists including John Lewis.
More on the background of the brand:
'The eldest of four girls, Emily has carved a path as one of the UK’s most exciting and celebrated gemstone jewellers, born from the desire to create beautiful and stylish gemstone jewellery to suit each of her equally individual sisters. A turning point in Emily’s career came in 2015, when Emily decided to make her dream of designing jewellery for her own brand a reality. Emily flew out to India that year to begin her journey and as if by chance stumbled across an incredible, ethically run jewellery workshop specialising in semi-precious gemstones and diamonds.
Emily still works closely with her team in India, sourcing gemstones, designing new collections and pushing creative boundaries. All of her designs are responsibly manufactured and sourced and she takes great pride in creating everyday luxury jewellery and bespoke items for her many customers.
Today Emily’s brand is famed for stylish statement pieces to add a pop of colour to any look. Emily Mortimer Jewellery is versatile and vibrant, designed for both the everyday and extraordinary occasion. Emily designs from her EM HQ in Woodbridge, Suffolk and her collections have received critical acclaim, alongside converting the attention of countless fashionable famous faces'.
It looks very much like the Princess carried her midnight suede Emmy London Natasha clutch.
And wore navy Gianvito Rossi pumps.
Thank you all for your feedback and suggestions in recent days. It's wonderful to have a clearer view of reader interests.
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Hi Charlotte
ReplyDeleteThanks to you and your husband for all the work getting the new site up and running. I liked your explanation of your thoughts in choosing the name. Good to know that “Kate” is in a respectable informal reference to the new PoW.
So nice to see her back at work and in confident form in her first solo engagement since the sad events of September. I’m gonna say here that while she never looks bad, the color of this dress is not very flattering on her. Pretty style though. The navy accessories are sort of unusual with mustardy yellow, but I know a lot of people think of navy as all purpose neutral.
Margaret I disagree. I am one of the indeed few looking really great in mustard. All the best, Maria
DeleteMany of my friends look wonderful in mustard, particularly those with warm brown hair, brown eyes and warm complexion. And it is a lovely colour, very on trend.
DeleteIt is not bad on Kate but definitely not her best colour.
I think the mustard is fine with her hair, but the color doesn't flatter her complexion, which is medium but verging on olive. Mustard yellow doesn't do it any favors. And the Princess's eyes are hazel-green, which also doesn't work wonderfully well with mustard.
DeleteI like the style of this dress so much on Catherine but very few pale skinned women look good in this harsh mustard color. It needs a richer skin tone to glow with it. It’s not flattering to her complexion. The cut of the dress balances her long waist and the pleated skirt works so well for her.
DeleteIsn’t she a natural in these settings though? Anytime she’s with children, it appears we see her most comfortable, relatable self.
- Karen in Virginia
I love the style of this dress, and the fit is perfect. I agree that it’s not Catherine’s best color, but maybe she has adopted the late queen’s habit of wearing bright colors for visibility. Just glad she’s out and about looking happy!
ReplyDeleteWell, this mustard-yellow color doesn't work for me, and I don't think it works for the Princess either. Not her color. I like the pleated skirt -- knife pleats like that always add movement and a touch of drama -- but not the puffed shoulders. Not something I would wear.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the navy accessories are an unexpected touch with the mustard. They add interest to the look. I appreciate the choice.
The Princess wore a terrific black-and-white lace Karen Millen skirt to a wedding she attended with Price William some years before her own marriage. I spent eons looking for a similar design and finally found one, at Banana Republic of all places. I took an interest in Millen after seeing that skirt but have never again found something by her that I liked as much.
Finally a midi dress that looks amazing on her. I don’t think we have seen her in a mustard shade before? Why not? It looks great- especially with the darker hair (can you tell I am not a fan of her highlights? They always look too yellow and take away the shine but make it dull). The dress has a flattering cut as well. She looks elegant and radiant instead of frumpy (which had been the case a lot in the last years). I hope she shows us more looks like this.
ReplyDeleteIs her hair darker? I think it is but I'm not sure, it depends on the lighting. Her hair was much lighter lately, I guess she did the highlights because she was going to wear black?
DeleteI agree with all of your comments. Love the cut and color of the dress and think her dark hair allows her to pull off this challenging color. Also so happy to see an outfit with two colors, The matchy matchy outfits we typically see where the dress, shoes, bag, earrings, and necklace are all the same color is a bit dated. This whole look is modern and hope to see more going forward on the beautiful POW!
DeleteI also think the goldish highlights detract not enhance.
DeleteMustard does not usually look good but I think she looks great! And it looks good with her hair. The dress is very flattering and seems a little longer than on the model, but maybe the model is several inches taller than Kate. A very pretty look today.
ReplyDeleteI disagree!!! I absolutely love this dress and I love the color on her!!! At least in Canada and the US I feel it is common to see mustard yellow paired with navy blue, I love it! Also her hair looks fantastic!!!! Still can’t believe she is the Princess of Wales!!! Love it! Thanks Charlotte!!! Oh
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. This color combination did not seem off to me at all. In fact, this is one of my top 5 looks from Kate this year. Lovely engagement and perfectly fitting attire.
DeleteI don't think the combination of mustard and navy is common in North America, partly because not many people wear that mustard hue at all. I live in a large, fashionable city, and I almost never see anyone in that color, even in summer. People tend to prefer lighter, softer yellows, which are more flattering to a variety of hair and complexion shades.
DeleteI join the bandwagon that mustard is not her color. And navy accessories would not have been my choice. However, knowing Kate relays hidden messages by her clothing, I looked at the website for the hospital. They have a little logo with figures holding hands - and mustard & navy are 2 of the colors. So hats off to Kate for wearing a dress more for the event than to showcase her own beauty. We’ll done. Missouri Girl
ReplyDeleteYeah, not the best color on Kate , or anyone else for that matter. But hey, it’s different so why not?
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this. She's worn a lot of suits lately, so I'm glad to see a pretty dress again. The color is fantastic! I wear it, though I think it washes me out a bit. But it looks great on her. And the navy accents are so unexpected, but a daring look!
ReplyDeleteI love this dress and the entire look and think she looks wonderful in it! I'm so looking forward to seeing more on how she takes on her new role as Princess of Wales.
ReplyDeleteMy apologies....meant to add my name to the previous "anonymous comment". Feel free to add it with your super admin powers, Charlotte. :)
ReplyDeleteGoodness, does that color work on anyone? I don't think so....
ReplyDeleteBut cute dress otherwise...
Yes, e g on me. :-) Maria
DeleteGorgeous dress, especially at that price, it fits beautifully so maybe tailored. The shoes look dark brown to me? Maybe my monitor. Navy would be a great color also. Agree that mustard is a difficult color but she looks good, as someone said her brown hair helps.Ali
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this dress. The details in the bodice and collar are wonderful and I love the color too. I think Catherine looks beautiful. The blue accessories are perfect!
ReplyDeleteBorder Terrier lover
Not many people ask a new Mom if they can hold a tiny baby who has tubes , this was a beautiful moment. I really liked the bodice on this dress and the color was great for a fall day.
ReplyDeleteWow, in this hospital there are lots of services for mothers and babies. Well done Kate on showing it to all of us. It's true Charlotte, motherhood can bring joys but anyone can feel the need to be supported; and there should be no shame or embarrass in asking for help.
ReplyDeleteFor the dress: it looks too "summery" to me but on the Princess it looks fabulous, of course. And it seems a perfect joyful color to be among children. Surprisingly, Liz Truss just wore a similar one in Birmingham, and she has others in royal-bue and dark green, with the same top style but different waist details and skirt.
Btw, a total win for Kate, of course!
Stella, good point about the dress looking summery. Even though I like the dress and colour, I did think would of looked even better on her in the summer with a tan. S. ☺
DeleteI think it's a 'summery' look because hospitals generally and newborn units in particular are usually on the warm side. So, I think it shows good insight on the new PoW's part to choose this outfit rather than a coat. I like the colour of the dress on her and the fact that she paired it with navy blue. Love the new earrings and I'm a bit of a magpie so love coming across a new brand - not that my budget stretches that far but I like dreaming! (Commenter name = ABCD)
DeleteInteresting, I find the mustard a very fall autumn leave color, I think it is a great October pick.Ali
DeleteI have to agree with anonymous. Mustard is a very popular late summer/autumn colour here. But I will say I can see this shade with the cut work all year round.
DeleteI love the color and the dress. A rich mustard is timely as an autumn coloor and I think she wears it beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited I caught up and get to check out the new site. I really appreciate all of your work to help us follow the happenings (and fashion) of our Princess!
ReplyDeleteShe would be at home in the University of Michigan Big House (football stadium) on game day! School colors are Maize and Blue!
ReplyDeleteGo Blue ! Ha ha. I always liked that combo (former resident of Muskegon Michigan )
DeleteI love everything about this look, especially the colour and the pleated skirt.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you commenting that navy accessories don't look good with the mustard dress: which color or colors do you think would look better? I'm not disagreeing, just genuinely curious.
ReplyDeleteI love this part of the blog - playing stylist, I would have gone w a deep brown with an interesting texture like croc or tortoiseshell, or maybe a copper metallic shoe. Personally, I can’t be bothered to change handbags, but I’m not a Princess. If I were, I’d have to fight my lazy tendencies and find a complimentary colored clutch.
Delete(Mine was the first comment about navy being an unusual combo with the mustard yellow, just didn’t realize the “anonymous” default when I hit “send.”)
Zipzipzippy, deep brown with texture sounds perfect!
DeleteI agree with your options here Zip to compliment the dress. I don't like the colour of the dress but I think the navy is what doesn't work I think the deep drown would really change the colour. I noticed the colour is called Ochre not mustard and ochre is a colour from the Australian outback and more earthy colours would compliment the ochre. Sue in WA
DeleteOoh ooh ooh, mustard is one of my favorite colors and Catherine looks fantastic in it. Wonderful choice. Mustard is a color that occupies my own closet, and what can I say? I LOVE it! I always appreciate your background info re the event. Thanks for that, as I'm an American and I lack the understanding of these charities so I truly appreciate your background info regarding them. The dress is fabulous. Simply fabulous. The color, the style, the fit, flow....really nothing more needs to be said. Thank you for another wonderful, thorough post. I love the combo of history, background, and style. I very much appreciate your posts.
ReplyDeleteI think the blue shoes are perfect -- I consider blue and yellow shades to be a good combo. Those other dress colors are lovely; I bet we see those, too.
ReplyDeleteShe looks absolutely lovely! I am thoroughly convinced she can wear a potato sack and still look stunning! Love the awareness she is bringing to this operation. I wish I could see her outfit in person as I never seen navy and mustard together. ♥️
ReplyDelete-FloridaGirl
Charlotte, thank you for your hard work getting this lovely blog up and running! I check daily and I’m excited for this new chapter. I really love her outfit today…color and style. At first glance I thought she paired it with black clutch and shoes, but I see it’s actually navy. Just lovely 👍🏻
ReplyDeleteGreat to see the Princess today. I like the colour and cut of the dress. I think it suits her well. The little baby in her arms was also a good look. 😉. It's great that she's supporting a up and coming jeweler. The earrings are beautiful and a nice addition to her collection. S. ☺
ReplyDeleteThe Duchess looks lovely. This is a beautiful crafted dress, it has some very interesting features. The color suits her beautifully. The pleated skirt is divine. The bodice and collar I love. I think the Navy shoes and clutch were the perfect choice..
ReplyDeleteAva, yes she's a Duchess twice over but now she is The Princess of Wales. It's going to take all of us a while to get used to it. When I hear or read the Prince of Wales, I expect to see Charles. Have to agree with you and everyone else who said it. The navy is a perfect choice. S. ☺
DeleteAt first I too wasnt big on the colour and with the navy, but I have to say it has grown on me and Im now liking it.
ReplyDeletePostpartum depression is a thing. So is postpartum psychosis. A book called "Once a Month" by Dr. Katharina Dalton lists many PMS-induced diagnoses that this doc discovered. I hope this helps someone! DWLee333 in Oregon.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating cut and patterning on this dress!
ReplyDeleteLooking at the version on the model and on K, I suspect it's a slightly customized version. The seam treatments on the darts appears to be smoother on K's dress. The color is a bold one (and seemed appropriate for handling infants, based on my children's earliest accidents, if I remember that color as well as I remember the rest of the experience!)
I tend to agree that mustard is not my favorite color but I do like pairing it with navy. My daughter was born 43 years ago today (October 5th) down the road from that hospital, in Middlesex, so seeing her visiting this one brought back memories of caring staff but a much busier environment, sharing a room with 6 other new mums. Oh those earrings! I have bought some of her less expensive styles in the past and would so, so, SO love to buy these! Valerie in Arizona
ReplyDeleteLove the dress! I also have an observation, and I'm curious if I'm alone, it seems like the last little while her arms and legs have been more muscled. I'm wondering if she's changed up her fitness routine. It's nice to see her looking so fit an healthy!
ReplyDeleteI love everything about today's engagement!!! Thank you, Charlotte. Zora
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI really like this dress and style. Color is definitely different but it does make it stand out since we’re not used to seeing her in this color. Great outing today for an important cause. Love the photos of her with the newborn. :) thanks Charlotte! I also love suggestion above with textured shoes (in an animal print?) it’s fun to imagine how she could change up the outing for a second wear!
I forgot to write that it’s sue!
ReplyDeleteLiz Trish wore same dress different skirt today
ReplyDeleteI recall reading a fashion magazine article recommending the mustard-navy color combination. I don't think it's really an unusual choice like a few comments suggest.
ReplyDeletethe princess of wales is a real sunshine I think it suits her well. The little baby in her arms
ReplyDeletei like the dress and her hair looks lovely but i hate the colour of the dress
ReplyDeleteI don't think the color is a flattering shade on Kate.
DeleteOn a positive note, the baby on the mother's lap, is completely adorable.
The PoW is always in her element with babies around, looking lovely as usual. And by the way Charlotte, the e-mails are working. Thank you for that!
ReplyDeleteApologies, I see with the e-mail one can choose your account
ReplyDeleteI think Kate did a Wonderful job choosing this dress/outfit for today. While many can not wear mustard (definitely me) Kate is able to pull it off! She looks beautiful in her whole ensemble! Her highlights really seem to bounce off the color of the dress, giving them an almost copper look to me.
ReplyDeleteThank you to whoever (I'm sorry I forgot) pointed out the colors of the organization! Knowing that, once I watched the videos, I totally picked up on the fact that much of the outdoor signage was in that mustard color & many of the workers (nurses?) wore navy. Kate is just so on top of these things!
I can't get over how much things have stepped up for her & Will! I'm writing this, while I still have to go read the post about the visit to Belfast today! Charlotte.... what an increase in work for you, but it only serves for us to appreciate you & your hard work even more!! :) xoxo
The dress seems like an autumn shade, being the shade of some autumn leaves. Summer makes me think of bright yellow.
ReplyDeleteI love the color of this dress, so fall!
ReplyDeleteI love it. Dress, shoes, all. Perfect for autumn, cheerful and bright without being too summery. She glows, as always. She just seems so happy and content, and is a joy to see.
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this, the dress is really attractive on Kate, the cut and fit is beautiful and her hair is gorgeous as always. I have to wonder if people object to the mustard color because it's not very common?
ReplyDelete