Kate in Katherine Hooker for EACH Engagement & UFO Handbag Identified (The Duchess Does Vintage!)

Kate chose a vibrant red dress by Katherine Hooker for today’s EACH engagement.

The event launched a fundraising appeal for a new EACH hospice in Norfolk. Upon arriving, Kate was given a bouquet of flowers by an excited young lady.

More from Richard Palmer’s story in The Express.

Cerys Emeerith-Burley, seven, whose brother, Rhys, suffers from a brain condition and uses the charity’s existing Norfolk hospice.

She gave the Duchess a posey and said: “This is very important to me my brother uses the hospice as it gives my mum and dad a rest.

EACH currently has a facility serving the area, but it is one of the oldest hospices in the UK, with restricted accessibility and other constraints. EACH hopes to raise £10 million for the construction of a new hospice that would allow things like more overnight accommodations, more private family support areas, and treatments such as hydrotherapy. Below, a rendering showing how the hoped-for new hospice would look.

The fundraising kickoff was held at the Norfolk Showground. Below, Kate arriving.

The launch event was sizable, with about 700 guests at the Showground. Kate’s table was appropriately named ‘George.’ In this photo, you can see Kate’s personal assistant Rebecca Deacon either handing the Duchess her handbag or having it handed back to her.  (Shown here because there has been dialogue in the past about what Kate does with her handbag.)

More on Kate’s involvement with EACH via Simon Perry’s story in People magazine.

The chief executive of EACH, Graham Butland, told attendees that Kate ….”undoubtedly raised the profile not only of EACH but more importantly the cause of pediatric palliative care both nationally and internationally.” He also told Kate that the organization now has connections with delegates from Malaysia and Australia – “friends we have made as a result of your successful overseas tours.”

Part of the agenda included the unveiling of limited edition mugs by Britain’s iconic Emma Bridgewater pottery; the ceramic pieces will be used to aid in the fundraising for the new hospice. Kate is said to have been involved in the partnership between EACH and Emma Bridgewater.

There are two patterns, one called “Ladybirds” and the other “Insects and Flowers.” Below we show a closeup of what must be the “Ladybirds” motif, generally referred to as ladybugs in the US.

The mugs will become available next March; £5 from every sale will go to EACH.

From Kate’s foreword on the program:

“In addition to developing their care across East Anglia, the task of fund-raising for a new hospice in the heart of Norfolk begins.

“I have been fortunate to meet with a number of families receiving services from EACH.

“Hearing how much EACH’s support means to them reminds me what a wonderful organisation it is: I am enormously proud to be their patron.

The fundraising kickoff had its tough moments. From Rebecca English’s story in The Daily Mail:

A tearful Duchess of Cambridge hugged a mother who tragically lost her three-month-old daughter to a rare heart condition as she helped launch a charity campaign in Norfolk today. Kate put her arms around Leigh Smith, who had just given an emotional speech about the devastating death of her daughter, Beatrice, and told her that she was a ‘brave lady’.

Mrs Smith, a 33-year-old physiotherapist from Norwich, told how Beatrice died from a rare heart condition after just 89 days.

Leigh Smith today.

Back to The Daily Mail story.

She also revealed that she wrote a letter to Kate outlining her story in the days after her daughter’s death, and received a personal reply.

Had she lived, Beatrice who died in January following a battle against a rare heart condition called restrictive cardiomyopathy, would have turned one this Friday.

Kate appeared pensive as she left the event.

If so inclined, there are many ways to get involved with EACH; the group has always been creative with its fundraising efforts. If you’re located nearby, there are lots of events listed on its website. “From family fundraising days to quiz nights, garden fetes, sponsored bike rides and Santa Runs you’ll be able to find something to suit you. Taking part in an event is a great way to support us.” Events include things like a Santa Run.

For those unable to take part in any of the local events, there is always the EACH Online Store, where you can even find a bracelet just like the one worn by Kate.

EACH is still offering the bracelets for just £6, that price includes packaging and postage anywhere in the world. Of course one can donate directly to EACH, this page has more info on how to do just that.

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Kate was in Katherine Hooker’s ‘Ascot’ dress.

The dress is described online this way:

A classic shift dress with a high neck that works perfectly for a daytime or evening look.

The dress is offered in a navy silk dupioni (shown two photos above) or a black wool crepe (seen in the 3-shot just above), it is priced at £380, about $600 at today’s exchange rates. Kate’s dress was crafted in a custom material.

Kate accessorized with Kiki McDonough’s 18ct Gold and Diamond Hoops and Cushion Cut Green Amethyst Drops.

Along with her Mappin & Webb ‘Fortune’ necklace in white gold and diamonds.

The Duchess wore the Jimmy Choo heels now widely accepted as the ‘Aimee’ style.

Many readers will have recognized Kate’s clutch, the Stuart Weitzman Muse style as sold at Russell and Bromley.

In the US that style is known as the ‘Raz,’ and/or ‘Bowraz.’

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 Also today, an update on the black beaded clutch Kate was seen carrying to the Royal Variety Performance and Action on Addiction engagements.

A refresher look at the clutch, we show the front of the piece on the left, and the back is seen on the right.

Here you see the handbag in a digitally treated photo (to lighten it up) on the left, and the photo of a bag sent by an anonymous friend of WKW.

It turns out the Duchess was carrying a vintage piece.  The handbag above right is a vintage piece by a brand called Magid. The company dates back to the very early 1900s. The firm made upscale products and was quite popular for decades. Many a socialite carried Magid; the company’s beaded bags and straw bags were especially popular in the mid-19th century. Our friend notes that the bag she has was given to her by her grandmother. Below, the back of Kate’s bag and another photo from our under-the-radar friend, showing the back of her bag.

 UPDATE MAR 28 2018: It appears that Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, has also carried the bag. Kate M Cambridge shared that info on Twitter.

(Yours truly is familiar with Magid, there are a few dozen (cough-cough) vintage bags by the brand here at WKW InterGalactic HQ. We show one below, with apologies for the poor color, the beading is a lustrous gold.)

While the Magid name is still in use, the current company is not owned by, nor does it have any connection with, the original brand that started back in the 1900s. Our thanks to the lovely woman sharing her photos!

LINKAGE:

• Visit the EACH website here, follow EACH on Facebook here, or here on Twitter
• You can follow the EACH Nook Appeal on Twitter here, and read about today’s event at the EACH website here
• You can also watch the video here about the naming of the new hospice, or take a virtual walk-through of the plans for The Nook here 
• The official Duke & Duchess of Cambridge has more info on Kate’s involvement with children’s hospices, click here to see that page
• The Daily Mirror recap and photo gallery is here, The Daily Mail story is here, The Daily Express coverage is here, PopSugar’s gallery of photos is here
• For the Eastern Daily Press photo gallery click here, ITN’s video story may be seen here