Kate repeated an Alexander McQueen dress for tonight’s dramatic arts reception, as she joined the Queen in welcoming members of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts to Buckingham Palace.
David Crump/Daily Mail/PA Wire
The Queen is the organization’s patron, many of the 250 guests could be considered acting royalty. The Mirror’s Victoria Murphy shared photos of guests arriving, below we see Joan Collins and Helena Bonham Carter, the latter played the Queen Mother in The King’s Speech.
Victoria Murphy, The Mirror Twitter
People magazine’s Simon Perry shared a photo of Dame Helen Mirren arriving; of course, one of her best-known roles is as HM in The Queen.
Simon Perry, People Magazine/Pathé Pictures International,
More from Rebecca English in the Daily Mail:
Elegant Dame Helen Mirren, whose uncanny portrayal of the monarch over the years even prompted Prince William to joke on Sunday that he should call her granny, was also in attendance.
The award-winning actress was introduced to the Queen personally, although it is not known whether the pair discussed Dame Helen’s regal role.
Victoria Murphy’s story in the Mirror has Kate’s comments:
Kate also met the actress and told her, laughing: “My husband called you granny last night.”
Below Kate chats with Dame Helen Mirren, Sir David Attenborough can be seen in between the two ladies.
Splash News and Pictures
Yui Mok/WPA Rota/Nunn Syndication/Polaris
Kate previously wore the dress during the Jubilee River Pageant in June, 2012.
Splash News/PA Wire
Tonight she accessorized with her Cassandra Goad ‘Temple of Heaven’ girandole-style earrings, she is seen wearing them to an event at the Imperial War Museum with Prince William in 2012.
PA Wire
Another angle from this evening’s function.
David Crump/NPA Rota/Nunn Syndication/POLARIS
She also carried her Anya Hindmarch bespoke Maud clutch.
PA Wire
A better look at the handbag.
Anya Hindmarch
The Duchess also wore her black Prada pumps.
My Small Obsessions
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Also today, an update on a necklace Kate was first seen wearing in late October of last year (Pop Sugar has the photos here.) There is a story in this week’s issue of Hello!with more information.
Hello!
Merci Maman Boutique reveals in the Hello! article it is their piece.
Merci Maman Boutique
The gold-plated necklace has three charms: one engraved with Prince Georg’s full name, George Alexander Louis, another with a “W” for William and the third in the shape of a little boy. “The Duchess Necklace” is for sale at the Merci Maman website, it runs £89, the site shows the USD price at $149. From the product description:
Order here the authentic Merci Maman’s necklace worn in public by the Duchess of Cambridge. This necklace was offered to her after the birth of Prince George in July 2013 and we are so proud to see her wearing it.
Kate’s necklace features 3 charms suspended from a gold plated long chain: a mini heart engraved with W representing Prince William, a disc with her baby son’s full name George Alexander Louis, and a sweet little boy charm.
Create now your own charm necklace engraved with your child’s name. This necklace is also available with a little girl charm, in sterling silver and on a shorter chain, giving you the option to replicate the Duchess’s necklace or order your own variation of it.
The company is sharing the news on their Facebook page.
Merci Maman Facebook Page
For anyone interested, it looks like the company will ship overseas, the fee for shipping to the US is £4.95.
‘Merci Maman’ translates to ‘Thank you Mum,’ the company was started in 2007. Founder Betrice de Montille tells Hello! that she considers Kate “the most inspirational woman of our generation.” All items are hand engraved, many offered in a variety of metals. It turns out Kate’s sister, Pippa, is also a customer. An enormous thank you to the always-intrepid Bella, who first noted the article and let Anna of My Small Obsessions know, she then shared the news on her Facebook page.
(For anyone curious about what Kate wore for that October shopping expedition, it was the ‘Debarn’ blouse by British retailer Jack Wills, a Zara cardigan sweater, skinny jeans and citrine drop earrings by Kiki McDonough.)
LINKAGE:
- The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts website is here, its Facebook page here, and Twitter feed may be seen here
- Richard Palmer’s story in the Express is here, Victoria Murphy’s article from the Mirror is here with a nice photo gallery accompanying her story, Rebecca English’s piece is here, The Telegraph’s story is here
EDITOR’S NOTE: The post has been amended, correctly identifying Sir David Attenborough (as opposed to Sir Richard). Many thanks to those letting me know about the error.
An update about the necklace. I went on the Merci Maman site, and the necklace is now prominently featured. It’s called The Duchess Necklace. I wonder how the palace feels about that, because it seems far too coincidental that we saw the necklace, heard the story about Pippi giving her the necklace, and then heard that the company made the necklace and “offered it” to Pippa to give to Kate.
Is this in fact a Pippa marketing effort? Is Pippa capitalizing on her sister’s position? You might say that of course she already has, as has James, but this seemed more blatant than other situations.
I know this is off topic, but I’ve been meaning to ask for ages: does anyone know the brand and color of Kate’s stockings? I love how transparent they are.
If this is something you have addressed before, please just direct me to the right link on this site.
Thanks!
Liz
I love her tights too. Does anyone know the brand?
I’m skipping to the “leave a comment” section so sorry if someone has already pointed this out… There’s been lots of comments about Kate’s hair. Can I just (kindly) point out that post-pregnancy hormones can play havoc with a woman’s hair (I lost mine in frightening amounts when both my babies were about 3 months old) and it often takes a long time for it to return to normal. So can we all please just remember that she might be royalty, and she might be an inspiration, but she’s also a woman who’s not long had a baby. Thanks.
The post natal factor has been discussed and acknowledged. I think what some people believe, myself included, is that her stylist is letting her down. If the condition of her hair has in fact changed, a good stylist could help work around these issues. Trimming several inches to give more body and lift, opting for a pulled back style, updo, or even sleek ponytail, and staying away from ringlets would be helpful options during this transition period. She still has great hair, but I think not a great stylist.
Well said!
I should point out that unquestionably Kate’s best fashion accessory in this series of photos is affordable and one we can all access–a smile. I think what I like best about her is that she seems to be truly interested in whatever it is she is doing and enjoying the process! If not, she needs to get a Best Actress award…
What Kate has done to her thumb? I believe I see a bandage on it… O.o
I’ve always thought this dress was very pretty and I love the red. Kate looks wonderful, as usual. To those who say the dress is not “dressy” enough for the occasion, I am confused. Helen Mirren is wearing a shift dress and coat and in other photos I’ve seen, other women are dressed in the same manner. Even the Queen’s dress appears to be silk and quite plain. This was not a “dressy” occasion just a meeting with movie stars and everyone seems to be dressed about the same. Joan Collin seems to be wearing a sparkly coat over her plain dress and, well, there’s always Helen Bonham Carter (love her) who dresses however she wishes. Of course, the Duchess can be dressed appropriately without any flaws and people on here will find something to complain about. Oh well. Everybody needs a hobby.
This dress is one of my favourites of the duchess, the colour makes it stand out and the cut is very feminine and suits her body shape perfectly. The accessories worked very well; given the high price of the earrings I bought the only replica I could find on Pinterest sent from Israel: they do look identical to the duchess but their weight is very light.
I, too, was worried that this was not “dressy enough” for a Palace reception, especially seeing the glitter in the Queen’s dress; however, it helped to see what the guests were wearing and that made me feel better about her dress selection.
The red McQueen has been one of my favorites since she first wore it so I’m glad to see its return! I thought her hair looked significantly better than it did a few days ago – its not quite back to where it was in the beginning, but apparently mother nature has her own agenda.
I’m not sure I can wait until April to see the Duchess again, so I really hope something new appears on her calendar very soon. Thank you for yet another wonderful post!!
I hope Kate’s thumb feels better soon.
I don’t mind what Helena Bonham Carter is wearing, she always dresses creatively, that’s her thing. She’s expressing herself and that is what fashion is all about!
I so agree with you about HBC! Doesn’t she look incredible when she gets dressed up in Westwood? As well as her dress sense, I also admire her waistline!
The Duchess looks simply stunning. I believe this outfit may be may favorite recycled look yet. I’m usually not a huge fan of red, black, and gold worn together, not that there is anything wrong about that color combination, just a personal preference. Often, as Elizmo phrased it, the combination simply appears too harsh for my tastes. However, I have to say that I love how everything works together here, especially those swinging gold earrings. As for appropriateness for the venue, I’m also of the opinion that this is sufficiently dressy, at least in comparison to the pictures of other figures present at the event posted on the blog. Everyone seems to be wearing clothing that is a step between smart casual and cocktail. Of course, it is important when appearing at an event with the Queen in attendance that the Duchess does not over-shine the monarch (such a fine line to walk… glad it’s her and not me!).
Helena Bonham Carter is a national treasure and she is welcome to appear at formal events in trash bags if she likes, in my humble opinion. I will add, however, that I’ve heard her say that she frequently wears actual costumes made by the costume designers for whatever film she is representing to events, so that costume designers receive recognition. Sigh. I love her…
Admin, I see that you’ve fixed the typo that originally appeared listing Kate as “the moist inspirational woman”. I have to say that was one of those typos that is so hysterical you are glad it happened… I had quite the chuckle when I read it 🙂
You can imagine the reaction here at WKW InterGalactic HQ upon being advised of that spelling! Don’t ever be shy of letting me know about the boo-boos, large and/or small. Signed, Mortified in Michigan
As a fellow writer, I’ve made some boo boos in my past as well. It keeps things interesting!
(And it has been very wet in England. I imagine describing her as a moist princess isn’t too far off from the truth at the moment!)
I saw my mistake as soon as I started reading your post — the earrings are in fact gold. I should never have doubted the Duchess! I’m still not all that keen on them, but at least they do tone in with the outfit.
And I agree wholeheartedly that Helena is a national treasure!
To be honest, I would never be drawn to purchase the “Temple of Heavens” earrings myself, but I really like the way they look on the Duchess, especially with this outfit. I can’t put my finger on why I find them so appealing here, other than the ever-present “Kate effect,” by which I mean the incredible allure she brings to every piece of clothing/jewelry she chooses to wear…
I wholly agree with you about Kate’s allure. In fact, those earrings looked fine with the grey dress she wore previously, despite my being picky about gold with warm colours and silver with cool. She even wore gold detailing on her belt! I might try with the lame excuse of a “cool” gold and a “warm” grey, but that really would be stretching it. So as I am in the process of well and truly eating my hat, it looks like the grey/gold combo slips through the net!
We’ll cut you some slack ElizaMo, and chalk it up to a hangover from the last post’s commentary, haha! Glad your happier self has returned. 🙂
Thanks for your kind words, JR, and your patience with the elderly and confused is much appreciated. I much prefer living with my happier self, too!
Remember when Kate’s hair used to look great? sigh
I agree. She used to have the nicest hair with lots of volume and be the envy of all! Wish she would go back to her old stylist …She’s a beautiful woman nonetheless.
The Duchess looks sensational in red! I love it she chooses from her closet. She doesn’t have that American phobia of appearing in the same dress twice in a Season or dropping it off at consignment shops when the Season’s over as the women in NY & PB do. I also think it’s sweet that she wears a gift even though it’s not solid gold. That says so much about her respect for the “common folk.” It’s a trait her late mother-in-law, +Diana, would have surely appreciated. One can easily see what Prince William found in her so much to love!
It feels such a relief to see a familiar dress and Kate in familiar surroundings. You can’t beat weatherproofing. I liked the Alexander McQueen very much when we first saw it in 2012, but did think then that the pocket-patch style of detail at the hip seemed oddly placed and awkward.
This time something looks different – either weight loss or the attentions of a dressmaker — and there is less distorting tightness at the waist, hence the skirt sits better and even looks a shade longer which suits Kate very well.
I like the black accessories; I think they work well for evening, having wondered before if they might be too harsh against the red. I’m relieved beyond measure not to see the LKB nudes again, not that I’m against them, I just don’t quite understand why Kate seems so slow to update her footwear, especially when wearing couture.
And her hair looks lovely once again. I’m afraid I’ve never liked those earrings much and I myself wouldn’t wear silver against a warm tone, usually opting instead for gold, it looks out of place to me. I don’t think the earrings help the outfit look like evening wear, especially given that this is so obviously a day dress and last time was practical enough to be worn aboard boat!
Thanks for another excellent post.
The earrings are gold, not silver.
I believe those actually are gold earrings.
Thank you both! Looks like my eye test must be overdue again. So sorry.
“…practical enough to be worn aboard boat!” – it’s not as if she wore it for a day of sailing on the lake…it was a major occasion (the Queen was hardly in lounging attire that day either) designed to occur on the water. Perhaps the sleeveless, mini-skirted version sported by celebrities could be considered casual or a day dress (though both looked inappropriate and unattractive to me, frankly), but this iteration is great for the occasion, time of day, and time of year. As for the accessories, I can hardly argue with them considering who she was accompanying. Better to get jabs of ‘boring’ from blog commenters, than a verdict of ‘showboating’ from William’s grandmother. 🙂
You are quite right — neither Kate or the Queen were in casual cruise wear for the big Thames regatta. I was simply intrigued by what sort of outfit one could possibly choose to adapt both to boating and to an evening reception.
I think both ladies managed to look regal for the four hour sailing trip, which had me a little puzzled at the time as to how on earth they survived as the middle of a wide river on board a moving boat is apt to be draughty to say the least, and that’s before we consider how they managed to stand for all that time, given the one was in high heels and the other in her late 80s. Astonishing.
I always thought the long-sleeved McQueen looked right for hiding a heavy duty thermal underlayer! And I always wondered if there wasn’t some extra heating on board, along the lines of the average patio heater.
And lastly I now also wonder if the choice of the McQueen that was draught-proof enough for the river sailing might also possibly reflect on the standard of insulation available in an 18th century-build royal palace.
As you see, I spend far too much time thinking about these things…
Another great write up but that is Sir David Attenborough, he stood in for his brother who is not Sir but rather The Lord Attenborough (or to be really technical The Right Honourable The Lord Attenborough).
FYI – It was Sir David Attenborough representing his actor brother Sir Richard who was unable to attend due to ill health.
FYI, that’s David Attenborough, not Richard. Richard was too unwell to be there.
Well, I never thought I’d say see the day I say this but I find these images a bit depressing.Kate is actually starting to look like the Queen – frumpy black shoes, frumpy black purse, monochromatic dress. And the Queen is starting to look either like George III or George Washington – can’t decide which.
This is the best comment I have ever read! I completely agree.
I don’t think she’s anywhere near the Queen’s level of frump yet, but I do think this look is a bit boring. However when you have to stand next to the Queen, “boring” is probably the look you want.
I think HM has an incredible wardrobe, terrific stamina and a good deal of style. Perhaps she isn’t willowy and young like Kate. But, she’s always true to herself.
Interesting wording in the website statement: “the necklace was offered to her.” It sounds like they tried to give it to her, and the Palace doesn’t accept gifts. I actually think it’s a little declasse when these companies tout their Kate-connected products. There’s no need to brag.
On another note: do royal women generally not get manicures? I remember that Camilla gifted Kate with a manicure for her wedding, but it seems like she rarely has one otherwise. I’d love to see her bust out and have colored nails sometime. Why not have some fun?
Maybe the Duchess doesn’t like colored nails. I don’t. I prefer my nails covered in clear polish. Not everybody wants loud color on their fingers.
It doesn’t have to be “loud color,” it could be a tasteful plum or a pretty pink even blue if she wants to be a little adventuresome. I wore only plain or pale pink or a French manicure for the first 40 years of my life, and I’m quite enjoying trying out something a little bolder.
(First time commenting except for a give-away – have been following WKW for a while now) Anyone else notice the bandaid she appears to be sporting on her thumb? (Ok, and clearly not fashion related but just a reminder for at least myself that she is human!)
I like Kate a lot, but I have to admit that I find it extremely depressing that anyone would describe her as the most inspirational woman of our generation. I think she has excellent fashion sense and is doing a nice job in a very scrutinized public-figurehead role, but I just don’t think that’s close to the best that our generation of women has to offer.
Agreed.
Absolutely agree.
I couldn’t have said better. Yes that is exactly how I feel about these statements…
Put me in the “concur” column.
I am never good at guessing games, but I actually did think about this frock when I was trying to guess what she would be wearing tonight. It is a stellar choice in many ways—British label, repeat, strong color that compliments the queen’s blue outfit, and dressy enough without being too much. I liked this dress the first time, and I like the styling even more this time—the black accessories are lovely (and would not have been seasonally appropriate in June when she wore it before). The cut shows off her tall slim figure.
Personally, I would probably have styled it with a yellow gold necklace, but that is purely personal taste. I love the earrings she chose tonight.
Two slightly less positive thoughts: still don’t love the hair, especially that short top layer that looks like grown out bangs and falls in her eyes
second thought—Helena Bonham Carter looks like she got dressed in the dark while dumpster diving! Dear Lord, what was she thinking?
meant to say that the necklace Kate was wearing appears to have four charms—a slightly smaller circle that is over the large one with George’s name on it. They only show three in the advertisement, so I wonder if she had one herself that she added or if Pippa purchased another from the same retailer and added it.
Those grown-out bangs are really taking their time to get out of the way!
Glad I wasn’t the only one thinking that about Helena Bonham Carter!
Kate looks stunning. I adored this dress the first time and now the second!
Wow, I stumbled upon Merci Maman when I was looking for jewellery stores that Kate’s ‘C’ charm bracelet might’ve come from. I thought the boutique had some very cute pieces, but didn’t think she’d ever wear one of their charms. Looks like I’ve been schooled!! 😀
Isn’t she just looking fantastic tonight?
Kate looks gorgeous! Love the dress, the hair, the shoes — everything. But what on earth is Helena Bonham-Carter wearing? It looks like a costume from one of her husband’s horror movies.
I actually like this dress more after seeing it tonight than I did originally. I think the shoes with less of a platform make the length of the dress more flattering. I also thought her choice of accessories worked well for the occasion, and her hair looks appropriate worn down with the larger earrings.
It seems the only time that Helena Bonham Carter looks good is when someone else is dressing her, as in a film. Did anyone else wonder whether Kate’s red McQueen repeat was dressy enough for this occasion?
i’m with you – love the dress, but i think it’s too “day” for an evening reception. a necklace, or evening-y shoes and purse would have helped.
I agree, this is a beautiful daydress.not an ideal choice for an evening even – she has at least a couple of cocktail dress to recycle . Am I wrong or there’ s something different in the fitting of the dress from 2012? It seems a little bit larger
Agree with you that the dress is more day-wear than evening. Looks a bit odd when everyone else has dressed up for evening.
I love this dress. Kate can wear red and it looks good, especially as the Queen was in blue – a good contrast.
Doesn’t a hat make a huge difference though? Not that it would be suitable for this occasion.
Oh my goodness, that necklace is so precious. Someday he will be a grown-up king but she will always have that sweet charm to remember when he was her tiny babe.
Also, I love this dress on the duchess. It’s simple and understated, and perfect for the occasion. The length looks great on her too.
Perfect. She doesn’t overshadow Her Majesty. I love that dress. Red, a power color and adore the pleats.
Now, let’s talk about the side by side of Joan Collins and Helena Bonham Carter.
Joan, as always looks great. Helena on the other hand should be ashamed. Did she pick these clothes out of some grab bag from a dumpster somewhere? Someone needs to help me understand how this look is acceptable in the presence of your professional contemporaries not to mention royalty. I was brought up to dress respectfully. Well, at least try to look respectful. I know I’m an old fogey and I’m sure
someone out there is thinking that Helena is an Artiste (or some such nonsense) and she is being true to her inner, carefree self, with this look. I simply don’t understand it. I am embarrassed for her.
It wouldn’t be nonsense to refer to Helena as an artiste. She is literally a performing artist, so it is an incredibly appropriate moniker. That is her job, and she is excellent at it.
And there’s no need to be embarrassed for her. She often dresses in this manner, so it is obviously a choice, not an unfortunate accident. There aren’t bird-droppings in her hair, we cannot see her nipples. She’s wearing a jacket and a long skirt. She’s dressed in an appropriate manner, though it is not to everyone’s tastes.
I know I’d much rather see a Helena Bonham Carter dressed this way than any one of the starlets I see on the red carpet wearing sheer dresses which show off their granny panties!
Helena rejoices in the look of that perennial hardy better known as the English lady eccentric! It can be a shock to the system sometimes, but I’m afraid I secretly admire her anti-glam stand!
on the side note, I really don’t understand Helena Bonham Carter on her fashion choices…She’s such a great actress, but all those pieces she chose to wear from Oscars to event like this…I am at loss of words. 🙂
One of my favorite dresses. 🙂 I am kinda slow but finally become to understand the color choices that the Duchess has made throughout all these years…LOL
This dress is my favorite of all that she has worn. DM is wrong about the clutch she carried for the Thames festival. It was not tartan plaid. It was solid red. The scarf was a tartan plaid.
I didn’t originally like this dress, but for some reason it really shines tonight. Perhaps the torso is a less wrinkled? Or the simplicity of it without the hat and the pin make it look wonderful tonight.
I also really love Kate’s makeup today. It seems like she’s toned down the eyeliner, and it really makes her eyes pop.
It’s always great to see Kate & the Queen together 🙂