Bits & Bytes: Prince William’s New Job, Origins of Kate’s Alexander McQueen Centenary Coat Dress, Re-Issued Items & More

We are back with several Bits and Bytes, along with some stunning photos we were not able to include in our previous posts covering Monday and Tuesday’s First World War Centenary activities.

We begin with news about Prince William. As long rumored and reported, he has taken a full-time position piloting emergency helicopters for East Anglian Air Ambulance. More from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge website:

His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge is to become a helicopter pilot with East Anglian Air Ambulance.

This job will be the Duke’s primary occupation, but his roster will take into account the duties and responsibilities he will continue to undertake on behalf of The Queen, both in the United Kingdom and overseas. The Duke will also continue his work with his patronages and with the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

The news release noted “The Duke will sign an employment contract with a civilian employer (Bond Air Services) and is believed to be the first Member of the Royal Family in direct succession to do so.” When he reports for work in September William will begin several months training so he can qualify for his Air Transport Pilot’s Licence (Helicopter).  This requires 14 separate exams and a flight test.

More from a story by Rebecca English in The Daily Mail:

There will be no such thing as a normal day for the Duke of Cambridge when he begins his new role as an air ambulance pilot.

Based at Cambridge Airport, he will work a four day on/four day off rota, either starting at 7am and finishing at 4.30pm or working the 4.30pm to 1am night shift,

While on duty he could take part in anything from no operations to nine or 10 flights a day

How does this impact Kate and William’s routine? Most notably, they are expected to make Anmer Hall (located on the Sandringham grounds) their primary residence, not Kensington Palace. They will continue to spend time at KP, but Prince George will be brought up in a setting somewhat more bucolic than London, at least for the next few years. EAAA has choppers on standby in two locations, William will reportedly be stationed at the Cambridge airport, located just about midway between London and Sandringham.

As noted on the news release, while the Duke will continue to have royal commitments, his position with EAAA will be his foremost responsibility. Kate’s number of engagements is expected to remain roughly what it has been since having George, there will not be an uptick for the Duchess as some reported earlier this year. One side note: buried somewhere in the stories I read today I *think* there was mention of a 2015 overseas tour for the couple, I shall continue to hunt for the site and a link.

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Many will recall stories about Kate’s inclusion on a number of ‘best-dressed’ lists, including several appearances on the roster published annually in Vanity Fair’s September issue. This week the magazine revealed Kate has been added to the International Hall of Fame.

From Vanity Fair:

Since its inception in 1940, the International Best-Dressed List—revealed in Vanity Fair for the last decade—has lauded the most polished, eclectic, and stylish of dressers. From royalty to politicians, athletes to fashion designers, the poll is comprehensive in the personalities it celebrates. Those appearing multiple times over the years are considered for induction into the Hall of Fame—the List’s highest honor.

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Next, several quick merchandise updates.

• Kate’s Lasa Poppies dress in the ‘snorkel blue’ colorway by LK Bennett is back in stock on the UK/International site only.

• Kate’s Crepe Dress with Navy Trim from UK brand Jaeger remains available and it is still on sale for £99 (roughly $165 USD). Dresses for smaller sizes are out of stock, but if thinking about a possible purchase and wearing a 12, 14, 16, or 18, you are in luck.

• Zimmermann has confirmed they are not re-issuing the Roamer Day dress worn by the Duchess in Sydney, Australia

Our next item involves the Smythe One Button Blazer Kate has worn. Following is a graphic shared by WKW Facebook friend Betty Wales, it comes from Lucky magazine.

The Lucky story is about Smythe’s plans to re-release its 10 best-selling syles this fall in a capsule collection dubbed ’10 x 10.’

….the style we expect to sell out first? The new black-and-white tweed take on the Duchess Blazer, a style named after—who else?—Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge. The royal’s been photographed in the navy version of the style countless times already, so now’s the perfect opportunity to snap up your own bit of regal chic.

I did a quick search for “Smythe Duchess Blazer” and the first link took me to Shopbop.

The blazer is crafted of 100% wool, like the one Kate wore, with many of the distinct elements of Kate’s (cutout back, additional gold button above left pocket), but it is black.  If I read things correctly, the tweed reinterpretation of the blazer will be the same as Kate’s, but Smythe isn’t actually re-issuing the style worn by the Duchess as part of the 10 x 10 collection. Kate’s 100% wool navy version is still available at a few retailers, including Saks.

Also this evening, the case of the Cape Middleton Dress from New Zealand designer Trelise Cooper.

More from OneNews:

Opinions are divided over fashion designer Dame Trelise Cooper’s decision to name a new dress after Kate Middleton, without The Duchess’ approval.

Another look at the frock.

Dame Trelise has long used whimsical names for pieces, many lighthearted and witty. This season’s collection included ‘Dressed Friends Forever,’ the ‘Don’t Top Believing’ top and others. In this case however, the name involves an actual person. From the New Zealand Herald:

But this has appalled royal commentator and former editor of The International Who’s Who Richard Fitzwilliam, who says naming the piece Cape Middleton “sails very close to the wind”.

However, Monarchy New Zealand’s Dr Sean Palmer applauded Dame Trelise saying she was continuing an age-old tradition. He said naming a garment of clothing after a member of the royal family had a long, historical precedent. He cited the wide triangular Windsor knot made famous by the Duke of Windsor some 70 years ago.

Thoughts on the Trelise Cooper using the Duchess’s partial name? Or other retailers naming pieces the Duchess, like MaxMara did with the Belli coat, renaming it the Duchess…?

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We know a little more about the design of the Alexander McQueen coat dress the Duchess wore in Belgium on Monday: it was based on the label’s Bullet Pleat Short Coat dress from several seasons back.

The images above have been digitally lightened to better show the details on the garment. Below, a comparison from a side angle.

And a look at the yoked back and puffed sleeves of both pieces.

From the product description on multi-brand portal Lyst.

Light felt coat dress with bullet pleated skirt; the coat has a nipped-in waist, concealed button closure and pleated cape back

One interesting element – I’m not sure technically this is a coat dress, even though that is the style it appears to have been based upon.

It almost looks like that is a slip, the tiniest sliver of material seen above, or perhaps another garment beneath the coat. The original piece looks like it was done in the same bottle green color as the dress worn by the Duchess for the BBC Sports Awards in December of 2012. I believe the coat dress originally sold for $3725. Our thanks to both Perth Fashion Stylist and Kate’s Closet for sorting this one out.

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There are several photos from Monday’s functions honoring the Centenary of World War I that I wasn’t able to use in Monday’s post. Some did not become available until well after the post had been published (and updated…and updated…and readers had to scroll… and scroll…) it seemed a shame not to share at least some of them with you.

Below we see Kate curtsy to King Philippe again as she, William, Harry and David Cameron greet the King of Belgium at Saint Symphorien cemetery Monday evening.

Below we see (from left to right) Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland; Joachim Gauck, President of Germany; Belgium’s King Philippe; British Prime Minister David Cameron and Prince William.

On Tuesday we covered Harry, William and Kate at the incredible “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red” art installation created in the dry moat of the Tower of London. There are also several photographs I wasn’t able to include in Tuesday’s post. Tuesday night there were several ceremonial events at the Tower in honor of the exhibit’s official launch, including a gala performance by the Band of the Welsh Guards.

The Band played ‘Hymn to the Fallen’ and other selections.

The Honourable Artillery Company fired a 21-gun salute at twilight.

Lance Corporal Stuart Laing performed a ‘Last Post’ bugle call.

LINKAGE:

• you can read the Palace news release on William’s new job in its entirety here
• the Daily Mirror’s story is here and the Daily Mail’s story is here
• the East Anglian Air Ambulance website is here, its Facebook page is here, for insight into what William will be doing check recent calls EAAA responded to by clicking here
• read about the Tower of London exhibit at the dedicated Bloodswept Seas pages here
• read more about the Welsh Guards performance by reading the Ministry of Defence story here, or the Gov.UK website here
• learn a bit about the six military service organizations that will benefit from the sale of the ceramic poppies in this post (scroll thru to the middle portion, you will see them listed)