Kate paired a previously worn coat with new accessories for church services at Sandringham today.
The best news about the morning’s events: HM was well enough to attend the service at St. Mary Magdalene.
From Sky News:
The 90-year-old monarch had missed the traditional church services over the festive period and the New Year as she battled a heavy cold, prompting concerns for her health.
A small crowd of people greeted the Queen as she was driven the short distance to the church in a burgundy Bentley, with Prince Philip, who was also ill before Christmas.
More from the Sky News story:
There was applause from well-wishers as the Queen left the church after the service.
Colin Bunn, 70, of Snettisham, Norfolk, said: “We live locally so we come to Sandringham quite frequently and were here on Christmas Day. “She looked beautiful and came down the steps unaided.”
His wife Pam, 67, said: “She looked good. She had a lovely outfit on and looked well.”
Kate’s family also attended today’s service.
Richard Palmer of The Express reports Kate’s family has spent the weekend at the Cambridge’s country estate, Anmer Hall.
Richard Palmer, The Express @RichardPalmer
Pippa Middleton looking chic alongside fiancée James Matthews.
Kate’s parents after the service, Carole Middleton looked elegant today as well. To the right in the burgundy coat, one of Charlotte’s godparents, Sophie Carter.
Below, Sophie Carter and another of Charlotte’s godparents, James Meade, at the January 10th service last year.
Back to this morning’s activities, to Ms. Carter’s right you see David Cholmondeley, and in front of him beneath the black hat, his wife, Rose.
The Marquess and Marchioness hosted this summer’s EACH gala at Houghton Hall, the Cholmondeley’s Norfolk estate located just a few miles from Anmer Hall. 
I believe another of Charlotte’s godparents, Thomas van Straubenzee, was also at St. Mary Magdalene this morning.
Now to what Kate wore today; many will recognize the SportMax Long Belted Coat.
The piece was first seen when Kate wore it to Christmas Day services at St. Mary Magdalene in 2015.
Made of forest green wool, the coat is from the Sportmax a/w 2015 season; it is was also called the Fedora Coat. In our 2015 post, we described the garment as having “oversized lapels, multiple gores, a fitted bodice with a full skirt, and an asymmetrical front closure.” Below left, the coat as shown without a belt at French retailer L’Inde Le Palais, and on the right, belted, as seen at online retailer Farfetch.
Sportmax is one of the 30+ brands under the MaxMara umbrella. It targets a younger customer with a hipper, edgier design philosophy; it also offers a lower price point than many of the other Max Mara brands. The company describes its designs as “contemporary and at the same time consistent with our tradition.”
The ever-helpful (and very savvy) Michelle of Perth’s Fashion suggested the Duchess was wearing the Sammi Silk Scarf from royal favorite LK Bennett. It looked to me like she is correct.
The scarf is 100% silk with either small black pom-pom or knotted silk trim on the ends. It is a classic silk chiffon in a pattern style we know Kate likes. The scarf originally retailed at £110 (about $135) but most recently sold at £55 (roughly $68).
One caveat: because we do not have photos better showing Kate from the front, we can’t be sure it is the scarf. Giulia suggested on Twitter it might be LK Bennett’s Cami Pussy Bow Blouse (€95, about $115), shown below, along with a close-up of the print, and the Cami Printed Bow Blouse ($206, out of stock) as suggested by Janet E on the FB page. It’s possible that is the case. Anna of My Small Obsessions has a photo from the front on her post here, but that has me leaning toward the scarf, because it goes so high up on her neck, more than I think either blouse collar would. I remain on the bubble with this one.
LK Bennett
There are other pieces in the print available, including the Cami Chiffon Skirt ($276) and Cami Chiffon Dress ($402), both available on the LK Bennett US website.
Kate brought back her Emmy London ‘Valerie’ heels in the carbon colorway. The suede shoe features an almond toe, small platform, and 4.5″ heel (my guess is the platform is .5″, effectively making the heel 4″). The shoe retails for £400; that is about $500 at today’s exchange rates.
Kate’s cossack style hat has not yet been identified. See update below.
Kate J. on the Facebook page believes Kate is wearing a piece by Lacorine.
UPDATE Monday 9 Jan: Lacorine verifies the Duchess was wearing their hat, the brand’s Sumac style (£225) in the silver grey color. This brand makes a lot of sense for Kate: the company uses ethically sourced materials, in this case, derived from natural herd loss, and the hats are constructed by hand using Fair Trade principles. Kate’s hat is described as “Divinely soft, fluffy and warm, with a generous brim, our luxury alpaca hat is a knock-out – perfect for a winter wedding or the races.”
More about the hat from Claudia Joeseph’s story in The Daily Mail:
Kate, who is 35 today, bought the £320 hat from milliners Lock & Co.
We have seen Pippa Middleton in one of Lacorine’s hats, and according to the company’s media page, Kate owns three.
Lacorine
Back to Claudia Joseph’s story:
The Lacorine hat was first discovered by the Middleton sisters five years ago when they were shopping at William Evans & Co, which has a shop in St James’.
Kate bought the Quori hat in black, chocolate brown and champagne, while Pippa wore a brown one to the Cheltenham races in 2013.
BTW, Brenda comments that Kate’s hat style is “…a feminized version of a Russian hat called a ushanka (the full ushanka has ear flaps that can be worn down or pinned up).”
It looked like Kate also had on her diamond and sapphire earrings, but there have been comments suggesting perhaps she wore her green amethysts by Kiki McDonough, the pair worn with this coat in 2015. I have not seen a good enough picture to judge and am still leaning to the sapphire and diamond pair but will keep an eye out for a better photo.
For anyone curious about what Pippa was wearing, Anna of My Small Obsessions reports her hat is a past-season style from UK accessories retailer Febronie.
Febronie
We’ll leave you with a reminder of Kate’s two engagements on Wednesday and this video of the Queen’s arrival.
Queen makes first public appearance of 2017 pic.twitter.com/tntgEPKgg8
— Press Association (@PA) January 8, 2017
LINKAGE:
- The Daily Mail story is here; The Mirror’s story and video may be seen here; The Express story is here; The Telegraph’s story is here;
- Simon Perry’s story for People is here; Claudia Joseph’s Daily Mail piece about the hat is here
Karina
Tuesday 17th of January 2017
It is the saphire earrings. I have a photo.
Carol
Tuesday 10th of January 2017
As mentioned many times, the belt of the coat is very high. I also noticed the pockets look higher on Kate than the model. Why would she have the pockets raised?
Donna
Monday 9th of January 2017
Does that fur collar Sophie is wearing look like the one Kate wore on Christmas?
Cass
Monday 9th of January 2017
The stock photo of the Alpaca hat looks a lot more fluffy and softer than Kate's. Maybe because she was wearing it on a damp day?
Sara
Tuesday 10th of January 2017
I noticed that too. Kate's hat looks like it's been through the washing machine a time or two. The fur looks a bit ratty. I'd rather own the model's hat than Kate's, although I do like the style and the way it looks on her.
Donna
Monday 9th of January 2017
The hat is fantastic; fun and functional and classic! And, I think the cossack style suites Kate very well. If you want to make a statement on a winter day ware an alpaca cossack hat and 4 inch heels to church! I do think the Duchess should have worn it positioned a little lower on her brow, it is too far back on her head.
I also love the hat with the scarf or blouse, the pattern and colors highlight the hat. The coat on the other hand, IMO, is ill-fitted and the wrong color. I tend to agree that maybe the color is not coming across in the pictures as well as it did in life.
I agree with the comments about the awkward slipping of the belt. It seems the coat was designed to be belted at the natural waistline when worn with a belt. But Kate is wearing it rather high, almost like an empire style. She seems to do this a lot when she wares a belt. Anyway, I think the weird placement of the belt makes the skirt of the coat hang strangely. It appears much fuller in the model pictures.
As for the shoes . . . who wears 4 inch stilettos to church or work. Aren't they for cocktail parties and glam events like movie openings and such. I am in my late 50's so maybe a bit behind the times on that point.