The Princess in Vibrant Red Trouser Suit for Windsor Castle Rugby Reception

The Princess brought back a vibrant red suit by Alexander McQueen for a reception at Windsor Castle today. The festive gathering honored the Red Roses, England’s Women’s Rugby team, winners of the World Cup last September. In this photo, you see John Mitchell, the team’s coach, in the center.

The Princess is patron of the Rugby Football Union, the governing body for rugby in England. She was in attendance when the team defeated Australia in Brighton in early September. 

We learn more from this Rebecca English piece in The Daily Mail. 

Ellie Kildunne, who was nominated for last year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year, spoke afterwards about how the princess had gamely sported a cowboy hat at one of the matches, in a nod to the team’s celebratory ‘cowboy’ dance.

‘She was a good sport and put the hat on, she did a bit of a cowboy dance, and it was a really special moment and she’s now officially a cowboy so I will have to tattoo her as well,’ added Ellie, who has her own tattoo gun and has inked herself, team mates and head coach John.

Below, the Princess in her cowboy hat, complete with a rhinestone tiara on the front.

It was gray and rainy in Windsor this afternoon. Players and staff arrived ahead of the reception and were scheduled for a tour of Windsor Castle, but Hello reports their motor coach broke down and that part of the celebration was canceled. Here you see Ellie Kildunne (L) and Emily Scarratt (R) as they arrived.

The rain did not appear to dampen anyone’s spirits.

Everyone was welcomed to the reception by the Band of the Irish Guards.

We return to the Rebecca English Daily Mail piece. 

The team, who were all wearing their winners’ medals, had been celebrating the night before with a ball to Grosvenor Hotel in London. ‘Was everyone there last night? Any sore heads this morning?’ the princess asked, to laughs. ‘Honestly, really well done. I hope you were able to celebrate last night and to really reminisce on what an incredible achievement. 

‘What does it feel like looking back on that time now?’

She added: ‘You’ve really inspired all the new generation [that] perhaps might not even have thought rugby was for them. 

More on some of the conversations at today’s get-together from this Hello story by Tracy Schaverien. 

Kate told members of the World Cup winning Red Roses England ladies’ rugby team that both Prince George, 12, and Prince Louis, seven, play the sport at school, while Charlotte, ten, joins in when the family plays together at home.

During a discussion about how schools often don’t segregate boys and girls for sport when they are younger, she said: “Charlotte is playing rugby but at home with the family, so she isn’t yet at school. Rugby is so accessible; Louis is playing touch rugby and it’s such a great game. Actually, they shouldn’t necessarily need to pigeonhole boys and girls in particular sports too early. 

“Obviously as they get physically stronger – George now, if we play at home, I do not want to get tackled by George! But, up to a certain age I think it’s great.”

In this image, the Princess looks at a scrapbook compiled by Maud Muir (R).

We learn more from this article by the UK Press Association. 

The princess was also shown a scrapbook made by Red Roses prop Maud Muir and marvelled at the items collected and stuck into the small tome, and before leaving posed for a large group photo with the players, England management and backroom staff.

Below is one of the posed group photos of everyone.

Here, you see the Princess with team captain Zoe Stratford and memorabilia the team gave her.

Another view.

In this image, you can see the team’s autographs on the shirt. 

We now move to our look at what Kate wore for the reception. 

Her Alexander McQueen separates are familiar to many readers. The Leaf Crepe Asymmetric Drop-Hem Suit Jacket (no longer available) and Leaf Crepe Slim Bootcut Pants ($990, available in black) are both done in a color called “Welsh Red.”

Both pieces are made from a viscose/acetate blend. The jacket features sharply angled front pockets, a double back vent, peak lapels, and an asymmetric front hem, while the trousers have a concealed front zipper, slanted front pockets, and a back seam. The suit was first worn for the Early Years ‘Shaping Us’ campaign launch in February 2023 and then again at the Coronation Concert in May 2023. 

Middleotn Maven suggests the white V-neck top beneath the suit may be a bespoke design, that perhaps custom designs have been made to go with . The Princess’s monochromatic look was accented by her Gianvito 105 Suede Pumps ($850). In the jewelry department, the Princess brought back her Pearl Earrings in 18K gold from Katherine James, first seen last February when the Princess visited a prison and a young offenders’ institution. She also wore her Auree Jewelry ‘Bali’ 9ct Gold Garnet January Birthstone Necklace ($677), featuring a garnet atop a gold disc, which can be engraved with a name or special date. The necklace was first noted in a video released in June 2022 of the Princess baking with the Wales children. 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Three quick notes, the first involving engagement in Scotland on Tuesday. 

• Tuesday, January 20: The Prince and Princess of Wales will visit Stirling and Falkirk to shine a spotlight on unique Scottish heritage traditions and how they are continuing to connect communities and inspire new generations,” per a Kensington Palace news release. The couple will visit the National Curling Academy in Stirling, and meet with Team GB and Paralympics GB Curling teams, ahead of the Winter Olympic Games and Winter Paralympic Games in Milano-Cortina in February and March. The couple will also visit Radical Weavers, a working handweaving studio and independent charity in the heart of Stirling.

The second involves our switch to a different system for delivering posts to subscribers via email. The new software is set up, and hopefully everyone will receive today’s post as they should. There may be a hiccup along the way, but we’re optimistic the new program will eliminate the problem of people being dropped from the list for no apparent reason. 

The third note is from our “Mysteries Solved” category and is an update on the diamond and sapphire eternity band the Princess added to her ring stack last year. Many thought it was by Cartier, but Victoria shared in a comment that G. Collins and Sons confirmed to her it was a bespoke design they created for her. Below you see the G. Collins Sapphire and Diamond Set Full Eternity Ring, the closest design I could find to the Princess’s ring.

Thank you, Victoria! 

I will leave you with one more photo from today’s engagement.