It’s Purple for Queen’s Christmas Luncheon & Kate is the New Wimbledon Patron

We are back with a brief (*very* brief) post on today’s luncheon at Buckingham Palace.

As you can see in the photo, the Duchess was not the lady in red for the annual Christmas party hosted by the Queen and Prince Philip, as she has been in the past.

© i-Images, Polaris / James Whatling, Splash News / Ben Stevens, i-Images

Below, Prince George seated behind Prince William. It looks like he is in his Neck and Neck shirt worn in Canada to the children’s party. For details on Prince George’s shirt and snappy new jacket, have a peek at today’s What Kate’s Kids Wore post.

Not nearly as visible as George, Princess Charlotte. From The Daily Mail’s coverage:

Eagle-eyed royal watchers may have caught a brief glimpse of Princess Charlotte who appeared to be sitting to the left of her mother in the back seat

Here is the one other photo we currently have available, and it offers no better view.

It appears the Duchess is wearing magenta or purple, with a black scarf or shawl. (I’m not 100% ruling out the possibility it is a black garment topped by a purple wrap or scarf, but I don’t *think* that is the case.) Anna of My Small Obsessions writes on her HRH Duchess of Cambridge post that she believes Kate is wearing her Kiki McDonough Morganite Cushion Drop Earrings with the White Gold Classic Hoops with Pavé Diamonds. (The center photo is not from today, it is from World Mental Health Day engagements in October.)

Kiki McDonough / Splash / Kiki McDonough

Several people have wondered if it might be the Issa dress worn during the 2011 Canada tour. 

Canadian Heritage

The color match looks good, but if Kate elected to start wearing the label again I don’t believe it would be at a function hosted by HM and the Duke of Edinburgh. (Here is a brief refresher on why I think Kate doesn’t wear the brand, from a previous post on the topic:

It’s more-than-unlikely Kate will wear anything from this collection, or any other Issa creation, past, present or future.

Not only has the label’s founder, Daniella Helayel, left the company, but prior to her departure she sold a controlling interest in the brand to Camilla al-Fayed.

Why should that matter? Because her father, Mohamed al-Fayed, previous Harrod’s owner, has been vocal in his belief the Royal Family is responsible for the death of his son, Dodi al-Fayed, along with Princess Diana. That topic is the subject of a film he financed, Unlawful Killing. In the movie the Queen is referred to as ‘a gangster in a tiara’ and Prince Philip is called a psychopath.”)

Having said this, there is an interesting side note via Anna of My Small Obsessions. She writes the Sophie, Countess of Wessex blog, and Anna tells me Sophie has continued to wear Issa on occasion. Most recently the Countess wore the Issa Bay Knitted Dress in June when on tour in Canada.

The label is out of business; founder Daniella Helayel has done a capsule collection for Monsoon and is launching a new line of her own called Dhela. If a fan of the brand there are some great deals on remaining pieces. The UK Outnet site offers 42 pieces; among them, Kate’s Phylis Dress in a black & white print (£285, roughly $350); the Robbie Brushed Wool Blend coat (£397, about $500); and the Chrissy Jersey Dress in black (£193, about $240).

The Outnet UK

The Outnet US also has a selection of styles, including the aqua Mills Metallic Stretch Knit Jacket ($170), the Cropped Stretch Knit Cardigan ($81, originally $425); and the Stretch Knit Mini Dress ($104 -n $208 depending on color) in coordinating colors.

The Outnet US

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Also today, word of Kate’s newest patronage, Wimbledon.  This morning the palace released a list of 25 patronages from which HM is retiring. More from The Mirror: 

The Queen is stepping down from 25 of the 600 organisations she is patron of at the end of this year, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The move sees the 90-year-old monarch pass the baton of a chunk of her charity work to younger members of her family.

In a statement today Buckingham Palace said: “Her Majesty will continue to serve as Patron to hundreds of charities and institutions but will now share this work with her family.

As expected, Kate is the new patron. Below, Kate and William at Wimbledon this summer.

Wimbledon AELTC

From a Wimbledon news release:

We would like to welcome HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, who will take up The Queen’s former duties as our Patron, and also recognise with appreciation the ongoing contribution of HRH The Duke of Kent, who will continue his long-standing role as our President.”

The All England Club put together a 1-minute video of the Queen’s visit to Wimbledon in 2010.

A tribute to Her Majesty The Queen, who will be relinquishing her patronage of the AELTC: https://t.co/dD2SPASXrE#Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/hk27IiSXDt

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) December 20, 2016

Kate at Wimbledon over the years.

i-Images, Polaris/Mirrorpix, Splash News/

We will see you before the end of the week!