Ring O’ Fire is an annual 135 mile coastal ultra marathon circumnavigating the Isle of Anglesey, North Wales. This epic foot race is staged over three consecutive days and follows the rugged and spectacular Anglesey Coastal Path around the island.
Ring of Fire
It looks like a stunning (and brutal) course.
Almost all the coastline of Anglesey is a designated “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty” and runners will encounter a wide variety of terrain, including: estuaries, sandy beaches, cliff top paths, sand dunes, farmers’ fields and sections of forest.
It was Kate’s first formal engagement since the birth of Prince George in July, she was obviously enjoying herself as shown this screen grab via British Royals on Twitter.
The top, which some refer to as having a “hospital print” for its similarity to gowns worn when in the hospital originally sold for $59, but is long past its original season.
James Whatling / Splash News
Atop the blouse she was in her Ralph Lauren jacket, similar to these two; the biggest distinction is that Kate’s does not have a second pocket on the right side of the piece.
Ralph Lauren
It is a piece she had has for several years. Below we have a closer look at the garment.
James Whatling/Splash News
The Duchess also wore her trusty Pied a Terre Imperias.
Splash News/Pied a Terre
I’m not sure yet precisely which pair of jeans she is wearing, and will update as soon as that is sorted out.
UPDATED: One reason I was pausing on the jeans is because of the rolled cuff. It’s not how we generally see Kate styling denim.
A quick reminder for those who may have missed our previous post: don’t forget to enter our giveaway for a pair of Aquatalia Rhumba boots in a new, updated color: anthracite.
Today new photos of Kate, William and George were released.
Michael Middleton via PA Wire
In a break with tradition, the pictures were not taken by a professional photographer, but by Kate’s father, Michael Middleton. They are a delight to see, showing a sleepy Prince George in his mother’s arms, while William has his arm around Kate. Lupo looks happy, he is joined by another canine companion, Tilly, the Middleton’s golden retriever.
The photos were shot in the gardens at Carole and Michael Middleton’s Bucklebury estate, where Kate, William and Lupo stayed after George’s birth.
Two photos were released, here is the second picture with the couple standing. Little George appears to happily be snoozing away, unperturbed by any activity surrounding the family photo shoot.
Also today, a portion of the first interview Prince William has given since George’s birth was released.
CNN
The interview was conducted by CNN’s Max Foster, more from CNN’s story about the piece:
“He’s a little bit of a rascal, I’ll put it that way,” William told CNN’s Max Foster. “He either reminds me of my brother or me when I was younger, I’m not sure, but he’s doing very well at the moment.”
“He’s growing quite quickly actually. But he’s a little fighter — he wriggles around quite a lot and he doesn’t want to go to sleep that much.”
The new father also revealed that he is somewhat eager to return to work so he might get a full night’s rest and alos explained about that first diaper (nappy) change:
“I did the first nappy, it’s a badge of honor,” he joked. “I wasn’t allowed to get away with that. I had every midwife staring at me, saying: ‘You do it, you do it.’”
He also spoke about his passion for African conservation.
He told CNN he wants George to experience the same Africa he saw as a young man and spark a passion for preserving the unique wildlife there, much as his father, Prince Charles, did with him.
“I’ll have toy elephants and rhinos around the room,” William joked. “We’ll cover it in lots of bushes and things like that, make him grow up as if he’s in the bush.”
William shared that Kate has been handling more of the night duties with George, and said she is doing “a fantastic job” with the infant Prince. Below you see Prince William with Max Foster.
CNN
The interview that aired today is just a portion of an hour-long documentary Max has done, that program airs on CNN September 15th.
How do today’s images compare to some of the first photos of William? Here you see Prince William with his parents in December of 1982, when he was about six months old.
PA Wire
Below you the family in May of 1983, Prince Charles and Princess Diana are playing with a very young Prince William atop a blanket on the grounds of Government House in Auckland, New Zealand.
Splash News and Pictures
Kate is said to be wearing another dress by Séraphine Maternity, the brand’s Knot Front Dress.
Seraphine Maternity
It’s the identical style of the Lavender Print dress the Duchess has worn previously.
Seraphine Maternity
Séraphine says Kate is wearing their frock.
Seraphine Maternity
Kate’s frock shows up darker because of the bright sunshine, the dress is a signature style for the company, and very flattering. It hads an empire waist, a deep v-neck and cap sleeves. More on the piece from Seraphine:
Séraphine’s signature knot front dress is designed to flatter the silhouette before, during and after pregnancy. Silky soft and flowing, the Jolene dress features an intricate knot detail that creates gentle gathers to drape effortlessly over a bump or after-baby curves…
Seraphine
It is priced at £46, $79. Both the US and UK websites say the dress is back-ordered until September 16th. (For the US site, click here.)
The photographs are lovely. Kate still seems to be glowing and both look relaxed and happy, albeit tired. Clearly Mr. Middleton is not a professional photographer; for reasons unbeknownst to us the young parents preferred using his pictures as opposed to engaging the services of a professional photographer and doing formal shots at a venue like Kensington Palace. It’s said that Kate really didn’t the baby’s schedule upended with a formal portrait setting, an understandable sentiment.
“As far as we’re concerned, they’re a couple of gentle, informal family photographs. The time will come for more formal photographs around the christening later in the year.”
The publication of the photographs will inevitably be aimed at puncturing a market in paparazzi pictures of the royal baby but the palace was keen to stress that, although the choice of Mr Middleton to take the photographs broke with tradition, the couple and their infant will also be posing for press photographers in the near future.
It’s lovely to see William and Kate enjoying these very special first months with George.
LINKAGE:
Click here to see the portion of William’s interview that aired today on CNN
EDITOR’S NOTE: Many thanks to those emailing and messaging to let me know about the early leak of these pictures, I very much appreciate it. I have had them since mid-afternoon but wanted to abide by the embargo on the photos that ended at 7pm EDT.
Now that some of last week’s frenzy has diminished it seems a good time to share a few updates and also wrap up our polls on what Kate wore during her pregnancy. We begin with our newsbriefs.
Upcoming engagements:
It’s believed Kate, William and Prince George continue their stay in Bucklebury at the Middleton’s 18-acre estate. William has a week+ remaining of his paternity leave before he returns to RAF Valley in Anglesey.
There are no formal engagements on the calendar, but there has been chatter about a possible photocall with selected media to allow pictures of the newborn and his parents.
Christening:
An autumn christening continues to be the expectation, after the Queen and Prince Philip return from the couple’s annual two-month trip to Balmoral. The precise location remains unknown; Richard Palmer’s story in the Express offers more information.
Prince William was christened in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace and Prince Harry was baptised at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Those two venues remain a possibility but other options under consideration, according to sources, are the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace and the Queen’s Chapel across the road.
We’ll keep you updated on the plans for this, as well as any other events.
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Next, news sure to please those who like to ‘repliKate’ styles seen on the Duchess. An abbreviated lookbook for the Issa-Banana Republic collaboration was released this week, and there are several dresses that will hold appeal. One design sure to delight many, a frock very similar to that now-iconic blue engagement dress.
Courtesy Photo/ /Courtesy Photo
With apologies to those who already read all of this on our WKW Facebook page last Thursday, the Banana Republic version shown above will sell for $130. There are two other dresses in the collection with very similar lines: a short sleeved style in blue and a maroon piece with three-quarter sleeves.
The collection launches August 8 online and in Banana Republic stores. The marketing thus far includes efforts to capitalize on the Issa connection to Kate. Below, a snippet from an Elle interview with BR’s creative director, Simon Kneen.
It’s more-than-unlikely Kate will wear anything from this collection, or any other Issa creation, past, present or future.
Not only has the label’s founder, Daniella Helayel, left the company, but prior to her departure she sold a controlling interest in the brand to Camilla al-Fayed. Why should that matter? Because her father, Mohamed al-Fayed, previous Harrod’s owner, has been vocal in his belief the Royal Family is responsible for the death of his son, Dodi al-Fayed, along with Princess Diana. That topic is the subject of a film he financed, Unlawful Killing. In the movie the Queen is referred to as ‘a gangster in a tiara’ and Prince Philip is called a psychopath.
Regardless of that baggage, it appears there could be a lot to like in the upcoming collection, with price points sure to please many a pocketbook. To see several more styles, click here to visit She Finds.
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One other quick shopping update of note: Nordstrom is holding its semi-annual Anniversary Sale, one of the few times I see Aquatalia discounted. Below, the Royal boot, it is on sale for $298, 25% off its regular price of $398. Sale prices run through August 4.
Aquatalia ‘Royal’ at Nordstrom
The style is known as the Ruby Dry at Russell & Bromley, where it is priced at £245, roughly $380 at today’s exchange rates. There are other Aquatalia designs on sale, but not all are marked down. Nor do I see Kate’s Rhumba boot available at Nordstrom, known as the Hi & Dry on the far side of the pond .
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Next, a look at results from those polls that kind of got lost in the shuffle of all the goings-on this past ten days, as well as one final survey to determine the most popular style worn by the Duchess during her pregnancy.
I don’t think anyone will be surprised by the look you selected as your favorite for Kate’s first trimester. Capturing almost 24% of your 3049 votes, the runaway winner was Kate’s McQ by Alexander McQueen Black Watch Coat, worn for a visit to her old prep school in November of last year. The blue blue plaid Simyonette coat by Diane von Furstenburg Kate wore when released from the hospital received the second-highest number of votes.
Our fourth poll included looks worn on occasions when we had poor photos, or none available that I could license for the site. The big winner in this case is the Séraphine Wrap Dress with Tie.
We have combined these four ensembles into our final poll on Kate’s maternity style. Here are visual reminders of your top choices, beginning with the McQ Black Watch coat and Aquatalia boots.
PA Wire / Aquatalia Courtesy Getty Images Courtesy Photo
Today’s final note, a mention of our current Baby Cambridge Fundraising auction currently underway on eBay. All proceeds from the auction go directly to one of Kate’s patronages, EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices). This is an amazing auction, with a bit of a twist for us (the four bloggers running the Fundraiser): we are showcasing items and brands Kate’s younger sister is fond of, although they are sure to hold equal appeal for anyone who enjoys beautiful jewelry and elegant apparel!
eBay Giving Works Auction (Ends at midnight Sunday night)
The auction includes a dress not even available for purchase yet from a brand Pippa is frequently seen wearing, Logue London. The garment is 100% silk jersey, crafted in a shirtdress style that is part of the label’s upcoming fall/winter collection. Also part of the auction, an item that is available now and something Pippa has been seen wearing: the Peapod Necklace by jeweler Argent of London.
Logue London & Argent of London
The third item is an autographed copy of Pippa’s book “Celebrate”. This copy is actually signed by Pippa herself, originally purchased from a stock signing at Foyles for Books, and kindly donated by Pippa-Middleton.co.uk. We want to thank Carly of Pippa Middleton Style, along with Argent of London and Logue London for their generous donations!
We are making great progress, as of this evening (Saturday, July 27) more than $6100 has been donated via our Just Giving page.
Thank you to everyone who has so generously donated thus far.
