Kate surprised us with a Friday night appearance on behalf of The Art Room, one of her patronages. The Duchess attended a performance of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at Kensington Gardens.
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Show Facebook Page
She was joined at the performance by more than 150 children from schools in London and Oxford, the Art Room uses the arts as therapy for children with emotional and behavioral challenges.
Here we see little Suhani Kapoor giving Kate an Aslan lion stuffed animal.
Rebecca Naden/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Kate wore the Helena Blazer by Whistles.
Whistles 'Helena' Cropped Jacket
The piece is navy, with a waterfall-style front and three-quarter sleeves.
Via eBay.UK
This is the same jacket seen on Kate with the silly In Touch cover story of last week, we want to thank WKW Facebook friend Hannah, she noted this was the jacket last week when the magazine came out.
In Touch Weekly
Rebecca English of the Daily Mail was on hand for the evening,she has more in her story about the evening:
The Duchess of Cambridge enjoyed a secret trip to the theatre last night – leaving her husband at home, like millions of men, watching the football.
While Prince William sat in front of the television at Kensington Palace with a few beers glued to England’s European Cup match, Kate was taking 150 children from one of her charities, The Art Room, to see a production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Rebecca English Twitter Account (@RE_DailyMail)
Kate’s dress tonight was by Zara, some believe it is the same frock previously worn by Pippa Middleton, but I don’t think that is the case. When we know which dress it is we will update the post. This angle provides a better look at the back of the dress.
Rebecca English Twitter Feed
More from Rebecca’s story:
During the interval the Duchess chatted animatedly with the children about what they had seen in the first half.
‘Did you see all the animals on stilts and wasn’t Lucy cute?’ she asked.
Kate looked like thoroughly enjoyed herself.
Rebecca Naden/PA Wire/Press Association Images
No doubt many will recognize Kate’s Links of London Effervescence Bubble earrings.
Press Association/Links of London
By the way, Links just launched its US summer sale, everything is 10% off, including Kate’s Effervescence earrings as well as the Hope Egg pair she wears so frequently. (If shopping online use promo code JUNE10 at checkout to receive the discount.)
Links of London
Kate also wore an elaborate necklace.
PA Wire/Press Association Images
The Just Jared story offered this:
“What I want to know is has anyone tried Turkish Delight?†Kate asked the group of kids, referring to the sweet treat in C. S. Lewis‘s famous book.
“No screaming too loudly,†she also said. “I can now see your faces in the crowd so if you scream I know who you are!â€
She also carried her Anya Hindmarch Maud clutch and Prada pumps.
Rebecca Naden/PA Wire/Press Association Images
The show is a favorite for many, the CS Lewis tale.
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
It is being done in a new facility, the ThreeSixty Theatre in Kensington Gardens Park.
Via The Lion, The Witch
It looks like a fabulous venue and amazing production.
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
More stories on video and online:
- Rebecca English’s story in the Daily Mail is here
- The Telegraph story is here
- Just Jared’s story is here
- ITV’s video is here
ITV
- You can watch a bit of the show by clicking here
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
We’ll see you tomorrow for Trooping the Colour.
I’ll bet anything that dress is the Zara imitation of Kate’s DVF green dress from the North American Tour (and Zara Phillips pre-wedding bash). I bought it and it is that exact color, can tie front or back and has little gold buttons down the back with a higher front neckline. It looks infinitely better on her than it did on me!
The Dutchess looks great per usual. Those Prada pumps are KILLER! I’d wear those any day of the week!
That looks like the Zara dress that Pippa wore to me! I own it and it looks just like that.
The outfit looks fine and appropriate for the occasion. I’m more inclined to talk about her ability for small talk. I know that anyone could be great at small talk if that was their job, but wow…impressed with her ability to come up with the questions for the kids. I would be at a loss. No doubt she had some ‘training’ in those waiting years. Stuff like that doesn’t come naturally to most people.
Can we get more details on the necklace she wore to the Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe?
I’m tired of the old woman cracks. A woman can commit any sin in the world and be defended by somebody but as soon as she looks over 25 she’s fair game for all kinds of derision. We really need to get over this cult of youth. Kate is 30. She looks it but she also looks fantastic and elegant 90% of the time. Let’s celebrate a grown woman who looks like a grown woman.
Totally agree. She gets criticized for looking too old one day and dressing too “young” the next. She can’t win. Hopefully she doesn’t pay attention to any of it.
A good outfit for the occasion, though I’ve never cared for waterfall-style fronts on jackets. I find them messy and lacking in chic. I prefer a sleeker, more fitted look.
The colors are very “Duchess”.
I don’t recognize the dress, though I’m in and and out of Zara fairly frequently. Perhaps it’s from a much earlier season? I’d like to get a better look at that necklace, too.
How do you know that the dress is Zara?
That is the official information released to the media by Clarence House/Buckingham Palace.
How many navy blue jackets does she own? Olympics one, this one, Smythe one, I know we have seen others. Any idea? This is one we have not seen before. My mother always said, have one good navy blazer, but so many? Can you all identify the others again?
I think this one is black. and that would be her 2nd black one that we have seen (her going away jacket that has reappeared a few times). I think they are just nice staples to her wardrobe – we all have them – we just don’t get photographed and analyzed every time we walk out the door.
WKW specifically says it is navy in the post above our comments. I am curious how many we have seen, navy jackets? I know one was $1300 at least. This one is much less, and the Smythe was pricy. I know we all have pieces like this, but usually one. Yes, she is going to be queen, but there is a bit of a back and forth between, bespoke and high street and back again. We cheer no matter what she wears, but if we want to emulate her, most of us can only get one navy jacket, not 5.
What a perfect informal outfit — that’s such a pretty jacket and the clutch and shoes are both so neat and handy — and just plain gorgeous! What I can see of the dress shows at least that it’s a fabulous colour and is clearly comfy and loose which would be handy for moving around among children.
Kate herself looks in top form and I’m fascinated by that superb necklace. Lovely stuff.
It’s funny how things can look diff colours in pics as the In touch pics it looks a greeny colour. So do we have an id on the I touch dress? As someone posted oasis said it want theirs? Xxxxx
Can’t wait to see if the dress was borrowed from Pippa- regardless, sisterly love run deep!
Does it look as if Catherine has gotten a slight trim at the ends? Looks nice, curls look fresh!
She is great with kids!
I think she looks so much like Pippa in the close-up of her face! Also, her hair looks more curly than usual. All in all, I think it’s a nice outfit– very appropriate for the occasion!
I know I’ll get attacked for this, but it has to be said. She looks like an old woman. And that heavy, dark make-up just makes it worse. The dress and the jacket look at least one size too big and they look like they’re hanging on her. That dress is lovely and I like the color, but if it was fitted it would have been more flattering.
Well, it didn’t “have” to be said, but of course you have every right to your opinion. I think it’s exaggerated, however. She doesn’t look like an “old woman”. It would have made more sense if you’d said she looked 40 instead of 30.
Waterfall jackets do have a loose fit; and since we can’t really see the top portion of the dress, it’s hard to say exactly how it fits. The skirt portion may be designed to be a little loose, a little full. Zara clothing is inexpensive, not that closely fitted for the most part, and it doesn’t repay costly tailoring
She has to dress fairly conservatively; it’s part of the job. As for the make-up, I’ll agree, she does wear a lot, most likely with an eye to the cameras, though as someone who saw her in the flesh commented the other day, the amount looks rather jarring when you actually see her outside of a photograph.
To be more specific, she looks like a 40 something woman who has had a few kids. Not trying to be mean, just an observation.
As for the make-up, why does she wear dark colors for a daytime event with children? “Jarring” is the perfect word to describe it.
What’s wrong with being a 40 something woman who has had a few kids?
It was an evening event – not a daytime event.
bein one myself–absolutely nothing!! but I doubt I wanted to look like one whenI’d barely hit 30!
What makes her look old? I’m missing it. I don’t see wrinkles on her face. The dress and jacket are very appropriate for a 30 year old. Her hair is long and bouncy.
Is it that wearing black eye liner equals old lady? I’m 28 and don’t think she looks old.
Daisy, I humbly believe she looks old because of the wrinkles and pock marks on her forehead, the parentheses she has around her nose and mouth (Restylane or Juvéderm can solve that), and the overall shape of her face. And her overuse of eye make-up just makes it worse.
Wrinkles add character, and I’m not entirely sure what one does about the shape of one’s face. Change one’s bone structure? That could be painful. I’m 30 and I’ve got a few wrinkles and when I smile as widely as Kate is in the pic above, yes, I get “parentheses” around my nose and mouth…and most 30-somethings I know have the same “issues”. None of us have plans to do anything about them, and I’m going to guess Kate is embracing her maturity in much the same way.
Just wanna add one thing. If you have seen the dress, you’d know it is meant to be slightly loose instead of body hugging. Kate might not match her outfit perfectly every single time, but seriuosly she never picked a wrong fitting dress
casual and relaxed she looks wonderful and i love the neckclace and the colour of her dress.
I’m intrigued by the necklace. It seems well outside of her usual conservative jewelry choices. I’m wondering if it is a beaded neckline on the dress, as it seems to follow the neckline so exactly.
I’m not surprised she returned to the High Street for tonight’s choice: very appropriate and respectful of the Art Room members and their families and after the designer choices seen at the Jubilee, I think it was important for her to return to more modestly priced clothes. Not living in the UK, I was rather shocked to learn of the degree of criticism of Kate,not only regarding her clothes, but also her level of involvement in charities. Hopefully last night’s event will help silence the critics for awhile.
I agree with you I think the dress has a beaded neckline and she is not wearing a necklace at all. Have to say I feel a touch sad when I see her revert to such dark colours. Kate should wear more pastels and especially red which is just HER colour so why not wear it more? Blergh beiges/grey/dark colours are so dull especially in this miserable damp grey “summer” we are having!