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Kate Repeats Two Coats for Christmas Day, Royal Tour Plans Confirmed

For today’s Christmas church services Kate brought back two coats we have seen before, including her very popular Black Watch tartan.

Joe Giddens/PA Wire

Joe Giddens/PA Wire

William and Kate were among many royals worshiping today at St. Mary Magdalene. Prince Harry, just back from a South Pole trek, is still sporting the beard grown while he was away. (The Prince took part in a daunting trip that was a fundraising effort for Walking with the Wounded.)

Nunn Syndication/Polaris Images

St. Mary Magdalene is on the grounds of Sandringham, the royal estate, where four generations are celebrating the holidays this year.Splash News and Pictures

More from the BBC:

Among the thousands of people waiting in the winter sunshine there was one question; will Prince George be here?

They were – perhaps unsurprisingly – disappointed. But there was applause for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who – in a break with royal tradition – walked hand in hand to church.

Among the crowds was a young boy who comes to Sandringham every year. His persistence was rewarded – several members of the family spoke to him, including the Queen. “She said good gracious are you here again!” he told me.

We saw the Duchess in a new hat by Gina Foster, described by the milliner as being a hard shell beret with a large bow.Splash News and Pictures

The coat was first seen in November of 2012 when Kate wore it for a visit to her old prep school.

The garment is from the McQ by Alexander McQueen diffusion line, modeled after the label’s Black Watch coat. There are two essential distinctions between the two pieces: Kate’s print is much smaller in scale, and her coat doesn’t have lapels.

Prince George was not at church this morning. ITV reports that he seemed to enjoy the wrapping paper more than his gifts:

Cicely Howard, 75, from Great Yarmouth, met Kate and asked about the baby.

She said: “She told me he was having a lovely day but was more interested in the wrapping paper than the presents.”

For the morning’s earlier service the Duchess was in another coat we have seen previously.Splash News & Pictures

This is the UFO coat initially noted when worn in March of this year for the wedding of close friends in Switzerland.Splash News

The shawl or scarf is new; a reader at HRH Duchess Kate suggests it is the Tartan Wrap by Really Wild Clothing Company.

Really Wild Clothing Company

Really Wild Clothing Company

The dimensions seem to match (roughly 6.5 feet by 2.5 feet) and the colors look the same from what we can see. Perhaps more importantly, the fringed ends look the same. The piece is 95% wool and 5% cashmere, it sold for £135 (approximately $220 at today’s exchange rates) and is a fall/winter 2013 item.

In both instances today Kate wore her trusty Aquatalia Rhumba boots.

Rhumba by Aquatalia

Rhumba by Aquatalia

It looks like Nordstrom once again has the boots available in all sizes, retailing at $698.

Kate also wore the diamond and green amethyst (more properly known as prasiolite or quartz) earrings sold by Kiki McDonough for both church services.

Mirrorpix/Splash News

Mirrorpix/Splash News

Many will recall that Kate’s different ensembles from Christmas Day 2011. Below left she is seen in the ‘Angel’ Fit & Flare coat by Reiss, on the right Kate wears an aubergine coat made by an ‘independent dressmaker’.Splash News

Last year William and Kate did not go to Sandringham, opting instead to attend Christmas services with the Middletons. The Duchess wore her Hobbs ‘Celeste’ coat.

Jesal Parshotam

Kind Courtesy of Jesal Parshotam

In her Christmas message this year the Queen spoke about Prince George, more from a Telegraph story:

The Queen spoke about her great-grandson Prince George in her Christmas message to the nation, reflecting that the birth of a baby allows people to think about the future with renewed “happiness and hope”.

“After the christening, we gathered for the traditional photograph. It was a happy occasion, bringing together four generations.”

Her words were accompanied by behind-the-scenes footage of the baby prince sitting for his first official photograph under the direction of celebrity portrait photographer Jason Bell.

To see the Telegraph‘s video in its entirety click here.

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Also today, an update on plans for Kate and William’s tour of Australia and New Zealand. Following is what we know officially, as released by Kensington Palace:

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit New Zealand and Australia in April 2014. Their Royal Highnesses have been invited by the New Zealand and Australian governments. Further details on the exact dates and itinerary will be issued in due course.’

As Richard Palmer reports in the Express, this will not be a short trip:

The royal couple will spend between a week and 10 days on official engagements in both countries, beginning in New Zealand. But with rest days and travel, the entire trip will take the best part of a month.

Much discussion has centered on whether or not the couple will take Prince George with them, back to Richard Palmer’s story: .

William and Kate, both 31, have said they intend to take George but will wait to make a final decision nearer the time, depending on his health and what they think is best for him. Aides, however, think it highly unlikely that they will leave their child at home, unlike previous generations of royals who were often absent for months.

George is unlikely to accompany them on most of their public duties but aides anticipate that there will be occasions in both countries when George will appear before the cameras.

They will make a final decision on whether to take him nearer the time but a senior aide said: “It is anticipated and planned for that he will go.”

The young Prince will be just about the same age William was when taken along for his parents’ tour of New Zealand and Australia.

There is at least one engagement we can pencil in on the calendar: Australia’s Daily Telegraph reports the Duke & Duchess will be guests of honor at Royal Randwick Races.

THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be guests of honour at Royal Randwick’s $18 million festival of racing when they visit Australia in April.  The young royal family are expected to arrive in NSW three days before race day on April 19th, where monarchists will be keen to set eyes on Prince George for the first time.

And there will be no question which horse William and Kate will be backing on the day with the Queen’s Gai Waterhouse-trained Carlton House set to race in the Stakes.

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes are part of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival; in 2014 they will be held on April 19th.

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Finally today, we wanted to alert you to a one-day opportunity to save at Beulah London. The label is having a flash sale underway now.

Beulah London

Beulah London

Pieces in the sale include Kate’s Sabitri dress in her powder blue color, as well as the silver and navy rose print.

Beulah London 'Sabitri' Dress

Beulah London ‘Sabitri’ Dress

All of the sale items may be found here.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I have deleted the erroneous information saying the coat could still be purchased by special order from Net-a-Porter; it’s no longer available. Thanks to Jordan Fallon for sharing that information on the Facebook page.

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Allyn

Thursday 9th of January 2014

Loved the tartan shawl H.R.H. The Duchess of Cambridge wore at Christmas. Does anyone think the Really Wild Clothing Company Claret cashmere mix wrap, is similar to The Tartan and Clan Centers Robin Luxury Shawl?

The Really Wild offer is sold out, so I ordered the Robin Luxury Shawl. Not sure about the quality or the exact pattern, but since the other was not available, I thought I would give it a try.

AshleyOlivia

Sunday 5th of January 2014

Does anyone know why Christmas Day provides two outfit opportunities for the Duchess? I know she is attending church services, but are there two separate services? I'm grateful for the two outfit sightings, of course, but I'm wondering what motivates the wardrobe change. I'm very curious because it seems that the earlier event is as visible to the public (the photos are taken at a distance) and less formal.

admin

Sunday 5th of January 2014

There are actually two services every year. The first is very brief and Communion is served, while the second is a more traditional full-length service. :)

marianne

Friday 27th of December 2013

I also liked both looks, and like many commenters here, have some doubts with regards to the green hat. I agree it is bound to make an appearance on St. Patrick's day at some point, but I am not super fond of this shade of green.

I also love the original McQueen design and larger check - it is stunning, looks almost architectural in a way it is constructed. But we all know Kate tends to gravitate to more understated designs...she wouldn't be married to William if she preferred attention-grabbing, fashion-forward looks.

Finally, I wonder if anybody spotted what Kate was wearing under her beautiful coats. I thought something short and dark under the white one, and something light green and knee length under the tartan, but I am not sure.

katefanatic

Friday 27th of December 2013

First of all, I want to thank Susan for all her time and hard work on this blog---I so enjoy reading it, and I find it to be very informative.

I love both the McQueen quote and the UFO coat----I was so hoping she would wear green this year, so the hat was a happy surprise for me, and I think it matches the green in the coat just fine. The tartan wrap over the UFO coat looks lovely as well. Love the boots with both looks. My only tiny quibble is her hair in the early morning pics (with the white coat)---it looks so messy and unkempt; I am thinking that if the wind was that bad, that perhaps she could have worn a low ponytail.

All in all, the Duchess looks happy and the hand holding with William was delightful to see. So glad that all appears to be well in the Cambridge's world!

ElizaMo

Friday 27th of December 2013

Kate can wear that McQueen coat as many times as she likes – I think it looks wonderful on her, for cut and style, and for colour. The original is more stylish but I can understand not wanting such bulky lapels and the button-up neck is a neat alternative. I also prefer the bigger check on the original, but at least the same flattering colours remain.

It’s also very welcome to see Kate’s hair pinned back from her face and while a straighter style makes a change some of the close-ups show how much Kate has to deal with flyaway ends, and maybe why it helps her to have more waves to hold it all together. The hat is gorgeous and worn with her usual panache.

The UFO coat also looks gorgeous and every fresh glimpse of it is as welcome as it is intriguing, and the plaid throw looks perfect with it. And that’s a good pair of boots with both outfits, it’s a relief to see some footwear on the Duchess which isn’t looking the worse for wear.

It’s certainly lovely to see Kate and William in PDA mode – I had been wondering if Kate wasn’t looking at her newborn the way she used to look at her husband. Seems like the couple is back on!

Lili

Friday 27th of December 2013

I do agree that the original version of the coat is more stylish than the one produced for the Duchess, and it would be my own choice between the two, but the Duchess seems to prefer that designers dial down on the fashion-forward look when they produce bespoke pieces based on existing designs.

I've wondered whether this reflects just conservative and minimalist personal taste, or a fear that more progressive fashions won't suit her role (and might attract criticism), or both. However, while I largely share her fashion aesthetic, I'm hoping that she might become a little more willing to experiment with a more progressive look now and then.

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