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It’s Alexander McQueen for Kate at War Memorial

Hello everyone, and welcome to Day 4 of the Royal Tour.

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Rebecca English, The Daily Mail, Mail Online

This afternoon William and Kate made the short flight from Wellington, on New Zealand’s North Island, to Blenheim, located on the South Island. Their first stop was the Blenheim War Memorial where they launched a year-long series of events commemorating the First World War. More on today’s ceremony from Hello!

As William, 31, and Kate, 32, arrived at the town’s war memorial to attend the wreath-laying ceremony, residents cheered and looked delighted. The event was to remember those who had died in all wars, and to particularly commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the First World War, which falls in July of this year.

ITN’s Tim Ewart shared this photo of some of the veterans at today’s ceremony

Tim Ewart, ITV Royal Editor

Tim Ewart, ITV Royal Editor

The Daily Mail’s Rebecca English tweeted this photo of the couple as they observed the playing of the Last Post, a bugle call that is a British tradition.

Rebecca English/The Daily Mail/The Mail Online

Rebecca English/The Daily Mail/The Mail Online

More on the ceremony from Rebecca’s story in the Daily Mail:

The Duke and Duchess we both wearing commemorative poppy pins while William also sported his Gold and Diamond Jubilee medals.

They stood solemnly as the Last Post was played and the Ode of Remembrance recited and then approached the memorial to lay a wreath containing their handwritten messages to mark 100 years since World War One.

New Zealand Governor-General Instagram

New Zealand Governor-General Instagram

Tim Ewart also tweeted a photo of the wreath with the attached note from the Duke and Duchess, “Never forgetting those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, William and Catherine”.

Tim Ewart ITV Royal Editor

Tim Ewart ITV Royal Editor

Back to Rebecca’s story:

Thousands of flag waving royal watchers – some queuing from 4.30am to secure the best spot –  had turned out to catch a glimpse of the couple at the ceremony, designed to pay tribute to those who have sacrificed their lives in conflicts throughout the centuries.

Twenty veterans of the Second World War – as well as more recent conflicts – were also present and due to be introduced to the royal couple at the end of the event.

Stephen Lock / i-Images/www.i-Images.co

Stephen Lock/i-Images/www.i-Images.co

During the walkabout William was given a friendship bracelet, which he promptly donned. Kate was also given one of the wildly popular bracelets, more on that from Victoria Murphy’s article in the Mirror:

Lilah Bowers, 10, who had turned out in a home-made Union Jack tiara with her sister Claire, five, gave the Duchess a black bracelet made out of rubber bands and was told by the royal visitor that it “could start a trend”.

Lilah, from Blenheim, said: “We asked her about Prince George and she said she would have taken him everywhere but he would have been a bit noisy.”

New Zealand Governor-General Facebook Page

New Zealand Governor-General Facebook Page

Many in the crowd had waited hours to see the Duke and Duchess.Andrew Parsons / i-Images/www.i-Images.co

Kate was clearly in her element, enjoying herself while meeting people in the crowd. This picture was posted on twitter by KiwiMrsMac.

KiwiMrsMac Twitter Feed

KiwiMrsMac Twitter Feed

The couple enjoyed a private lunch at the Wither Hills winery in Malborough before heading to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre.Andrew Parsons / i-Images /Polaris

William and Kate were shown some of Sir Peter Jackson’s renowned collection of vintage aircraft at the Museum. Many readers will recognize Mr. Jackson’s name, he is the director of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and Hobbit prequel.

New Zealand Governor-General Facebook Page

New Zealand Governor-General Facebook Page

More on Mr. Jackson’s collection from Gordon Rayner’s story in today’s Telegraph:

Sir Peter, New Zealand’s most famous film maker, has been collecting First World War memorabilia since he was 12 and could not hide his enthusiasm showing the royal couple around the inside of the museum, which contains 20 of his planes displayed on dioramas depicting dramatic scenes from the conflict.

i-Images/www.i-Images.co

i-Images/www.i-Images.co

Here you see William and Kate chatting with Harcourt Bunt, a 92-year-old Spitfire pilot in WWII known as Bunty.Stephen Lock / i-Images / Polaris

Kate wore a customized coat dress from the Alexander McQueen pre-Spring/Summer Collection, a garment that we actually highlighted in a blog post a few weeks back. The style is called the Utility Coat Dress; it is offered in powder blue and black on the Alexander McQueen website. While there are differences between the off the rack versions of the piece and Kate’s coat dress, the similarities are numerous:
  • both are made from a wool crepe fabric that is a blend of rayon and acetate
  • both are belted with self-belt, both have “utility pockets,”
  • both have concealed buttons and snaps

The powder blue as shown at Alexander McQueen ($3875).

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen

And the black version ($3995).

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen

The blue version is also available at Net-a-Porter ($3875), as is the black version ($3995); the style name is a little different, ‘Belted Crepe Coat,’ not Utility Coat.

Here is what I ultimately came up with to try and graphically describe Kate’s bespoke version of the McQueen coat dress.

McQueen/McQueen/Gordon Raynor, The Daily Telegraph

McQueen/McQueen/Gordon Raynor, The Daily Telegraph

Alexander McQueen also offers a Flocked Jacquard color ($7460) that is 100% cotton; there is also a creamy off-white color called ‘sand,’ that Sophie, Countess of Wessex has worn. The HRH Countess of Wessex blog has several pictures of the Countess wearing it, click here for that post.

Today the Duchess accessorized with her navy suede Stuart Weitzman ‘Muse’ clutch, available at Russell and Bromley (£245).i-Images/www.i-Images.co

She also brought back her blue suede shoes.

i-Images/i-images.co

i-Images/www.i-images.co

Kate’s hair was styled in a high ponytail, the photo on the right shows the intricate way the ponytail is wrapped.

© i-Images/ www.i-Images.co

© i-Images/ www.i-Images.co

This was an outstanding look for the Duchess, sleek and elegant. The blue selected for the bespoke piece flatters Kate’s coloring and the ponytail was a welcome change.

We’ll be back shortly with a post on what Kate wears for tonight’s State Reception.

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Mandy

Saturday 12th of April 2014

I think it is really sweet that she put on and wore the bracelet that the little girl in the crowd gave her. You can see it in the twitter picture. I think I saw pictures of William wearing one that was made for him, too.

April

Friday 11th of April 2014

Um, I'm starting a campaign called "Free Kate's Knees!" It's the 2014 for gods' sake, and she's way too young to be wearing such dowdy hemlines. I'm sorry, but I feel like the Queen fussing over Kate's hemlines is a sign of how out-of-touch the monarchy is--I can't imagine anyone else caring about seeing her knees. Tell her to sew some weights in her floatier dresses, but please, let her dress her age.

Anne

Friday 11th of April 2014

Interesting to see Sophie, Countess of Wessex, at a Commonwealth Observance Service last month in the original version of Kate's Alexander McQueen coat.

http://www.gettyimages.co.nz/detail/news-photo/sophie-countess-of-wessex-attends-the-commonwealth-news-photo/477690009?suri=1

My personal favourite version of this coat is the original with the top flaps down over the belt.

Elizabeth G

Thursday 10th of April 2014

Perfect look! I absolutely adore this McQueen coat! I can see why some see it as matronly, but to me the details such as the peplum flaps, large pockets, and belt keeps it young and modern. I think the longer hemlines look great on her because she can pull them off with her height. I am only 5'2" so longer hemlines can easily swallow me up and forget about maxi dresses! LOL The pictures of William and Catherine in the old airplane are some of my favorites. They seem to be having such a good time. Catherine's ponytail was also one of my favored looks of hers as far as her hairstyle. Thank you as always for the great posts that are informative on everything they are doing, not just what she's wearing.

Tracey

Thursday 10th of April 2014

Feeling mixed but generally more positive than not on this one, and sensing that I'm in the minority with all of the praise below!

The good: the longer coat length seems (whether it's the Queen's edict or sheer pragmatism geared toward avoiding more upskirt events) seems in keeping with a dignified event and a plane exit, as does the pony tail -- the latter of which (along with her bright and cheerful demeanor) is what is saving this outfit from aging her irretrievably as per....

The bad: high, demure collar, tightly-bound, self-belted waist, and muted powder blue scream "60's" so much, and "60's woman trying to look business-like but be taken seriously in her job" (refer to first few seasons of MadMen and you'll see what I mean), that I am puzzling what is prompting her new retro aesthetic, especially as it doesn't come off fun, modern with retro flair (which I'd welcome) but 60's buttoned-down business woman retro -- as we first saw with the red coat/Jackie O pillbox we saw on Day 1 of this tour.

I think the overall feel is very mature for her years, and leaning dowdy, even, in how "buttoned-up" the overall look is with the long skirt and high neck, but I am not wanting to criticize the long skirt because of its practical use. However, if she was going to go there with the long skirt, more reason to have more fun/pizazz happening with the collar and rest of the tailoring, as much as possible.

I think some of this matronly effect could also have been alleviated or minimized had the color been more alive and modern, like the electric blue of the Stella McCartney dress she wore to gallery event around the Olympics season or a vibrant bright violet? even Kelly green?

I think if she is going to retain elements of the original McQueen (or whomever's) coat or dress when she customizes it, she then needs to take the overall new look into account. The demure neckline in the original McQueen was saved by the edgy detail around the belt and the short skirt, but when she lengthens the coat, drops the belt detail and retains the high, prim collar -- effect is matronly, cautious, and conservative to me -- not words I usually associate with her typically-radiant style!

Am I alone on this one?

Donna

Thursday 10th of April 2014

I don't see dowdy, matronly, or retro. I see traditional, elegant, and timeless. It seems to me that by being less "edgy" in her fashion choices, the focus is more on her and less on her outfit. She has said she doesn't want to be considered a fashion plate. You make good points from a strictly fashio point of view, but I see Catherine really going for timeless designs lately. IDK, just my opinion.

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