Kate in Aubergine for Christmas Day Services UPDATED

We have a brief post to share about what turned out to be a rather unusual Christmas morning for the Royal Family; it is the first time anyone can remember that Prince Philip wasn’t on hand to join everyone for services at St. Mary’s. The 90-year-old Duke has been hospitalized since Friday as he recovers from what is believed to have been a heart attack, followed by surgery to implant a cardiac stent. The church is located on Sandringham property; it has long been a tradition for members of the Royal Family to greet well-wishers along the way to and from church on Christmas.

There were two trips to St. Marys today, for the first Kate was seen wearing a grey coat and her Aquatalia boots, she did not have a hat on or seem to carry a handbag.

Ian Jones/Splash News

Kate, William, Harry, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall just after church services.

The Duchess was in a rich mulberry or aubergine coat with an elegant funnel neck and princess seaming.

The coat is said to have been made by “an independent British designer,” more from Richard Palmer’s story in the Sunday Express:

A royal spokesman said: ‘The Duchess is keen to use independent British dressmakers, whose skills and craftsmanship she admires.’

The coat also showcased a hidden placket with decorative pick stitching and angled front pockets. It was an outstanding look for Kate; the tailoring was impeccable and the shade ideal for her coloring.

©Robin Nunn/Nunn Syndication/POLARIS

UPDATED SHOE INFORMATION: We have heard from a spokesman for the company who made Kate’s elegant black suede heels, they were created at her request by Mascaro. Some readers may recall the brand name from our previous reference to the company, Mascaro is also responsible for the black velvet clutch Kate carried to the Sun Military Awards, that bag was a design from sister brand Pretty Ballerinas. (More on the clutch here.)

While not the same, Kate’s shoes are similar to this pair of open-toed Mascaro platform pumps.

Mascaro Black Suede Pumps

The good news for Kate fashion followers is that the Daily Mail reports the shoes will be re-issued, no timetable for this is provided.

Jane Corbett created the Duchess’s matching hat, a modified trilby with ruffled accents cascading on the back and the back and piped edges.

Allpix / SplashNews

Kate completed the look with a matching clutch in the same material as her hat.

UPDATED: It looks like the Duchess was carrying Mulberry’s ‘Bayswater’ clutch. Our thanks to Evangelina for the tip, and to Anna of My Small Obsessions for confirmation and photos.

Mulberry via My Small Obsessions

UPDATED: Also new today, drop earrings that appear to be bezel set clear stones suspended from gold or gold-tone hoops that WKW FB super sleuths My Small Obsessions and Thea L. have identified as Kiki McDonough jewelry. The primary stones are green amethysts (also known as prasiolite, or heat-treated amethyst), the other stones shimmering in the sun are indeed diamonds, all set in 18K gold. The earrings are not currently available; originally they were £1900, just under $3000 USD at today’s exchange rates.

Below we show a pair of Kiki McDonough earrings in the same design as Kate’s, made with citrines instead of green amethysts, on the very far right we have a different style of Kiki McDonough earrings shared only to provide an idea of the color in the earrings seen on Kate yesterday.

Kiki McDonough – Matches Fashion/Kiki McDonough

Thanks also to WKW FB friend Mallory, she suggested the stones might be green amethysts, and Ayvee of Diana’s Jewels, who was able to give Anna of My Small Obsessions information about Kiki McDonough stocking earrings in green amethyst earlier this fall.

Following church and lunch today William and Harry, Peter and Zara Philips, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice visited Prince Philip in the hospital; most presume spouses didn’t join them in an effort to avoid tiring out the patient and also minimize crowds at the hospital.

We’ll be back tomorrow to kick off the first of our “pick your favorite_____” polls.