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A New Engagement for Kate, Product Updates & A Special Honor for Kate

We are back with some news updates, a special honor for the Duchess, and some sale information.

We begin with word of a new engagement on Kate’s Calendar. Thursday, September 17th Kate will be at the Anna Freud Centre, a children’s mental health charity.  The Duchess will see plans for a new Community Campus and visit the organization’s Family School. More from Majesty Magazine:

The Duchess will have the opportunity to see and participate in a range of activities that are part of the usual Family School day, including the ‘SmartGym’ programme that combines technology and sports psychology. It aims to build resilience, develop emotional skills and improve academic performance in children with emotional and behavioural problems.

This engagement is very much in keeping with Kate’s focus on children’s mental health issues. It will be good to see Kate back out and about.

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Next, a possibility that William and Kate may actually do not one, but two tours next year; the news comes via a Hello! story this week. While speculation has been consistent the Duke and Duchess are likely to visit the Caribbean next year, we’ve not yet seen the possibility of two tours being mentioned. The Hello! piece *is* in sync with recent reports that contrary to some news stories, George and Charlotte are unlikely to accompany their parents on any tour. More from the piece, quoting a senior palace official.

“It was a one-off to take George to Australia and New Zealand last year and it is looking highly unlikely they will take their children with them on their next tour,” the Palace aide told HELLO! magazine.

“We are looking at either spring or autumn, but have not ruled out the possibility of them doing both.”

Looking at the Cambridges short-term plans, the family of four is expected soon at the Queen’s Scottish estate, Balmoral.  While there William and Kate are expected to join HM for dinner on a historic day, September 9th; that is when the Queen becomes the longest reigning monarch in British history. The record she surpasses is that of her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. How will HM spend the day? Like many others, with an official engagement, opening a new railway line. More from The Telegraph:

In a choice of engagement bound to invoke parallels with the reign of Queen Victoria, she will travel by steam train from Edinburgh to Tweedbank near Galashiels on September 9 to formally open the new Borders Railway, reviving a rail tradition dating back to the 1840s.

The journey, accompanied by the Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, will also be a powerful visible reminder of her love for Scotland on the day she surpasses her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria’s record for the longest reign.

The dinner on September 9th is a private family affair, I do not expect to see photos unless one or two official images are released. At this point I would put that possibility on the “Unlikely to Happen But I Would Love to Be Wrong” list. However, there is a chance we’ll see a photo of Kate and William driving to church while at Balmoral, see our photo below with the duo on their way to Crathie Kirk in 2013, that is where the royal family worships when at Balmoral.

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We have an update on the Katherine Hooker dress worn by the Duchess to launch the EACH Nook Appeal last November.

All photos by James Whatling/Splash News

All photos by James Whatling/Splash News

The frock is now available in the same color worn by the Duchess.

Katherine Hooker/i-Images

Katherine Hooker/i-Images

Previously offered in navy and black, the Ascot now also comes in a navy/brown check.

Katherine Hooker

Katherine Hooker

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We also have an update on a Moloh coat in Kate’s closet. You may recall Kate first wore the Workers coat when visiting Glasgow with Prince William in April 2013.

Kate Moloh Workers Coat Glasgow

Splash News/Moloh

She was seen wearing the coat again when attending church services at Crathie Kirk that September.

IKM /SplashNews.com

IKM /SplashNews.com

The coat has been updated, it is offered in black wool crepe with navy/silver trim.

Moloh

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Next, a story we shared on Facebook Saturday, it regards a royal order for Kate. Many are familiar with photos showing royals at formal functions wearing sashes adorned with pins, buttons and other ornamentation, as well as brooches with miniature portraits in them. More from the Royal Order of Splendor:

Sashes are part of the insignia that accompanies membership in an order of chivalry or merit. Most countries, even ones that don’t have a monarchy, have some sort of honors to bestow. Each order has its own specific rules regarding who can award it, what it can be awarded for, and who can receive it.

Below, HM fully accessorized with royal orders at a state dinner in October.

Michael Dunlea/Rota/GoffPhotos.com/Polaris

Michael Dunlea/Rota/GoffPhotos.com/Splash News

A closer look shows HM wearing the Royal Order of King George VI (pink ribbon) and King George V (white according to the British Monarchy website).  The Queen is the only surviving recipient of the Royal Family Order of King George V.

Goff Photo/Splash News

Goff Photo/Splash News

The miniature portraits are worn atop a silk ribbon. Here you see the royal family orders for (left to right) George IV, Edward VII, George V and George VI.

Medals.org

Medals.org

How does this all relate to Kate? The Daily Mail reports Her Majesty is honoring Kate with her royal order.

Kate will receive the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II – the highest honour that can be bestowed upon a female member of the family.

The 33-year-old Duchess is the only senior member not to wear a family honour.

It is surprising to see this covered in the media before it happens, a story like the Mail‘s is highly unusual. That is because the bestowing of orders isn’t something the Palace publicly announces; it isn’t an official event or occurrence, but a personal symbol of esteem. Historically the only way one knows if someone has received an order is when they are seen wearing it. More on the practice from the British Monarchy website:

The Orders are now worn on formal occasions by female members of the Royal Family only. The Queen and her late sister, The Princess Margaret, were given their awards by their father, George VI, and both wore them as young girls at the coronation of their parents in 1937.

The Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II is worn on a chartreuse yellow ribbon as seen here on Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

Robin Nunn/Nunn Syndication/Polaris Images

Robin Nunn/Nunn Syndication/Polaris Images

Sophie, Countess of Wessex has also received this honor. Below you see her wearing it when attending the wedding of Sweden’s Princess Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill with Prince Edward in 2013.

Aasta Borte/Robin Nunn/Nunn Syndication/Polaris

Aasta Borte/Robin Nunn/Nunn Syndication/Polaris

A better look.

Nunn Syndication/POLARIS Images

Nunn Syndication/POLARIS Images

Princess Anne and a very few others have received this honor from the Queen, including Diana, Princess of Wales. Presuming the story is accurate we can expect to see Kate wearing the order in October at the state dinner for China’s Xi Jinping.

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Two quick Sales & Savings tidbits, the first about the Dune Karley wedges, the brand’s replacement for the Imperia style worn by Kate; the style is on sale at Nordstrom.

Nordstrom

Nordstrom

The shoes are a great buy, discounted by 40%, from $98.95 to $59.37.

And there are some great bargains for US and Canadian LK Bennett shoppers, the retailer has an early jump on Labor Day sales, offering an extra 40% off sale merchandise.

LK Bennett

LK Bennett

Use the code LD40 at checkout to receive the discount.

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K

Friday 4th of September 2015

Months ago you mentioned that we hadn't seen Kate wear her Sledge heels for a while and asked for guesses on when she wore them last. Will you please share the answer? I haven't found it in the archive. Thank you!

Marie

Saturday 5th of September 2015

I think it was August 2014 in Belgium.

Lili

Friday 4th of September 2015

The Duchess did look quite nice in that Katherine Hooker dress; red is great on her, though I do admire the subtlety of the navy and brown version. However, there's something about the silhouette that doesn't quite work for me. In a sheath dress, I prefer a slightly slimmer and more tapered skirt. As is, the dress looks just vaguely juvenile.

That's partly a function of length. With a slimmer skirt and an inch or so of additional length, the dress would look more sophisticated.

I must agree that the family order isn't the most felicitously designed piece of jewelry I've ever seen. Royal women don't seem to worry too much about the ribbon colors, I've noted. The Countess of Wessex wore hers with a pink evening dress to a royal wedding. The pink and the yellow really didn't work together, but when it comes to decorations, perhaps you simply have to ignore such problems.

ElizaMo

Friday 4th of September 2015

I'd always thought pink and yellow were a pretty no-go combination, but then, out in my garden, I find the flowers tend to have minds of their own about any planned colour scheme and will cheerfully prove me wrong several times over during a season.

I also recall Diana wearing a Catherine Walker suit in that combination, not unlike the shades shown in Sophie's photo, with the main body in yellow and pink on the edgings. I'm sure it needs clever working of the right shades of both colours, and in Sophie's case above the impact is affected by the additional shades of bright blue, not least in that pseudo-military style sash. Such are the trials of royal dressing!

Lili

Friday 4th of September 2015

Oops, I see that the Countess of Wessex wearing her order to the wedding I mentioned is actually pictured in the post. That's what comes of trying to read too quickly.

Larissa

Friday 4th of September 2015

Completely agree with other comments about the Katherine Hooker dress. That entire look was so amazing. I've been trying to recreate the volume on that ponytail ever since but I just get a backcombed mess on the top of my head and nothing lies smooth over it. I hope my move away from Germany and its limestone-rich water in a few months will do wonders for my hair and help me finally nail that ponytail; sadly I still won't be able to afford the gorgeous dress to go with it! That navy and brown check pattern really is lovely for fall.

A part of me wishes the kids could tag along to the Caribbean, because I can't imagine how much the parents would be missing them while on the other side of the world, but on the other hand that adds a lot of stress for everyone involved. I suppose George only came along to Australia and New Zealand because that tour was unusually long by royal standards. Still, it was nice getting a glimpse of him and his cute facial expressions at the kid-friendly events.

I've loved those Dune shoes since Kate stepped out of the Lindo Wing with them, they just look so incredible with a summer tan. That sale price is really tempting but I know I'm going to have to spend some money updating my fall and winter wardrobe after having lost weight. Still...I'm keeping my eye on that sale. That's one item I've had such a hard time finding a repliKate of - the heel is just right, not too high or too low, which I've found so difficult to find with less expensive shoes.

mocro

Friday 4th of September 2015

Those ribbons and even the jewelry/setting are absolutely hideous. Even the portrait is awful and Elizabeth was an attractive young woman. I would love to be a fly on the wall as those 'honored' women decide in the privacy of their boudoir what outfit best 'works' with the ribbon.

That said, any honor Kate receives she well deserves. Long live the Queen!

The Way We Were

Saturday 5th of September 2015

I was going to comment on the appearance of those ribbons... The pin I made with ribbons from our local fabric store looked more sophisticated than that. LOL but it's the meaning and significance that counts, I guess.

Brenda

Thursday 3rd of September 2015

Depending on the tour, I bet the little ones go. Carole might come along and grandmother them at a central location. They'd be brought out for one or two select events.

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