The Duchess brought back a much-loved Jenny Packham dress for a visit to the Imperial War Museum. (More about the poppies cascading down the side of the museum at the end of the post.)
Below, you see her being welcomed to the museum by Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Lambeth, Rosi Presscott. (Lambeth is the London borough where the museum is located.)
We are just days away from the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day. Below, London on November 11, 1918. 
Visitors to the museum had quite a surprise when the Duchess passed their way. 
She chatted briefly with a few of the patrons.
From the Daily Mail’s coverage:
Just days ahead of the centenary of the Armistice, the duchess was at the Imperial War Museum yesterday – at her own request. Only a month ago, the museum received a bundle of letters which had passed through various branches of her family until a relative decided to entrust them to the IWM.
Before seeing the family-related documents Kate toured the museum.
She spoke with curators and historians and saw some of the First World War galleries.
Kate wanted to see documents related to her three great-great uncles: Lionel, Maurice and Francis Lupton.
From Patrick Sawyer’s piece for The Telegraph:
As if to emphasise how the war devastated so many households across the British Isles the Duchess of Cambridge on Wednesday heard in detail for the first time how three of her great-great-uncles met the same tragic fate which befell millions of young men between 1914-1918.
The Duchess’s great-great-grandfather had five children. His three sons Francis, Maurice and Lionel were all killed in action while serving during the First World War.
Until today Kate had not seen pictures of her great-great uncles.
Here is a standard issue field postcard filled out by Lionel Lupton, the youngest of the three boys.
He was killed in the Battle of the Somme the same day that he wrote the card.
Kate looking at photos and papers with the museum’s Head of Documents, Anthony Richards.
Among the ephemera, the stark notification that Major Francis Lupton, the oldest of the three Lupton brothers, had been killed.
From The Daily Mail’s piece:
The stark brevity of it stunned the duchess.
‘Hardly any words. It’s so bland,’ she sighed. ‘How sad.’
Back to The Telegraph article:
In recognition that the family had suffered a particularly terrible blow in losing three of its sons, the Keeper of the Privy Purse wrote on behalf of King George V to their parents, Harriett and Francis Lupton, from Buckingham Palace.
The letter, an unusual honour even at a time when so many families were suffering multiple casualties, stated: “I am commanded by the King to convey to you His Majesty’s deep feeling of sympathy with you in the fresh bereavement which has befallen you by the death in battle of your gallant son Major F.A. Lupton.
The Duchess also looked at documents related to her great-grandmother, Olive Christiana Middleton née Lupton. This is her registration card for the VAD, the Voluntary Aid Detachment of nurses with the Red Cross.
Olive and her younger sister Anne were both VAD nurses.
Kate found lighter moments in reading the correspondence.
From The Daily Mail’s article:
Despite the sombre nature of the visit, the duchess and her hosts were keen to touch on some of the lighter moments contained in the letters. In one of them, Maurice wrote about a soldier adopting a magpie as a pet. In another, he wrote home requesting a consignment of vegetable seeds.
‘A very Middleton thing,’ the duchess noted brightly. ‘My grandmother loved gardening. I’ve got a lot to live up to.’ Results have been mixed in the Kensington Palace vegetable patch, by all accounts. ‘You shouldn’t see my cauliflowers,’ the duchess added.
The Mail’s story has the full text of this letter, bios of Kate’s three great-great uncles, and more.
The Telegraph reports that the museum’s head of documents, Anthony Richards, says the Duchess was ‘deeply touched’ by seeing the original documents.
More from The Telegraph’s report:
“It was the combination of seeing the actual letters and the portrait photographs of them. It sort of brings it home to you,” he said.
“She had heard about the letters before, and had read the content, but she was handling the letters themselves and she found that a very special moment. It is making that connection with the relatives who served and lost their lives.”
During her visit, Kate also learned about Lives of WWI, a digital memorial to those who served during the First World War. It is a remarkable undertaking.
From the website:
More than 7.6 million men and women from across Britain and the Commonwealth contributed to the First World War – help ensure that they are not forgotten and that their stories are properly told and saved for future generations.
The project is “…creating a Life Story for every man and woman who made a contribution during the First World War, whether they died during the war or survived the conflict. We are asking you to ‘Remember’ them.”
The Duchess leaving the museum.
Kate spent time looking at the Weeping Window display of poppies at the museum.
If they look familiar, they are. They are from the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation at the Tower of London in 2014.
Each poppy represents the memory of every British or Colonial life lost at the front during the First World War. (Our primary 2014 post on the installation is here.)
Displays at the Imperial War Museum London and IWM North in Manchester will be up until mid-November.
Now to what Kate wore. Many immediately recognized the blue Jenny Packham dress worn for the Cambridge family’s arrival in Canada in September 2016.
The dress was a favorite for many Kate fashion followers. It is a classic sheath with peaked shoulders, subtly flared bracelet-length sleeves, a self-belt, and that wonderful collar detail with lapels front and back, and a vee dip at the back.
Kate carried a bag by Mulberry, the British label’s Amberley Clutch clutch in brown. (It looks lighter than the product image you see, but I *think* that is just the funky lighting.) 
This is a new one for the Duchess. The bag is called both a clutch and a wallet by different retailers; on the Mulberry site, it is referred to as a “clutch,” so we’ll go with that term. It measures roughly 9″ x 5″ x 1, has multiple credit card slots, interior zippered pocket, and a detachable chain. The brown is no longer available. Our thanks to the UFO No More ID whizzes for sharing info on the piece.
It is similar in size and shape to Kate’s long-carried Bayswater clutches.
It could be an ideal replacement for her other Bayswater clutches. It is available in multiple colors and finishes, including Oxblood and Black Cross-Grained Leather, as well as a Cobalt Smooth Calf.
We saw Kate’s trusty Gianvito Rossi Praline Suede Pumps($675). 
Kate had on her sapphire/diamond earrings and her Cartier Ballon Bleu watch.
Kate’s poppy is apt for the day’s engagement, the Women of the First World War style (£29.99, about $38 at today’s exchange rates).
Thanks also to Eva for pointing out which poppy the Duchess was wearing, along with Trisha on the FB page.
Also today, a very quick update to Kate’s Calendar.
- Thursday, November 8: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will attend the Tusk Conservation Awards at Banqueting House in London. William has been patron of Tusk since 2005. Kate and William will attend a reception with award nominees, Tusk supporters and sponsors before the awards. William will present three awards and also deliver brief remarks. The awards will be live streamed on the Tusk Facebook page (www.facebook.com/tusk.org).
LINKAGE:
- Visit the Imperial War Museum website here; its Facebook page is here; the Instagram page is here, and Twitter feed is here;
- The IWM World War One Centenary Twitter feed is here; the Lives of the First World War site is here;
- The Daily Mail‘s coverage is here; The Daily Telegraph story is here; the Palace’s account of Kate’s visit may be read by clicking here
This Daily Mail video offers roughly 2-minutes of the Duchess looking at the poppies.
This video from ITN’s Royal Family Channel is about 1:30 of Kate at the Museum and the other :30 is a promo for the channel.
Hello,
I am so happy that you take the time to not only “show and ID” her outfits but also tell us more about all the bits and pieces, the background and such of her engagements. I really enjoyed reading this post, but of course, I generally love all the posts here and I really appreciate your effort and love that you put into the articles !!! 🙂 🙂
Keep doing what you are doing !
Thank you
Hermine
I think many others have mused and hypothesized about the three poppies Kate normally wears (guesses include one for William and / or for her grandmother). I wonder if it’s an interesting coincidence that she also had three relatives killed in WWI.
I too have been reading the What Kate Wore blog since 2014 and the What Meghan Wore since the engagement. Susan does an incredible job on the research and links and this World War I was absolutely beautifully done and very moving. I too appreciate all her hard work!
Thank you so much for all the detail about the visit and the Duchess’ family history in WWI. I am speaking at an event this week commemorating the holiday and will include these tidbits in my speech along with the mention of my own grandfather’s service.
I’m just delighted to see this gorgeous Packham dress again and fitting as beautifully as ever. I’m amazed how different it looks minus hat and with hair down, and for a moment I was fooled into wondering if the collar might have been removed at the front or if we had a whole new dress based on the earlier one.
The tailoring looks a mite more fussy in a workday context with both raised shoulders and the little trumpet cuffs, but the overall effect remains exquisite and feminine. The collar remains a work of art, nicely placed at the front and worked into a v-neck at the back. I also think it works well to use nude accessories to upswitch from last time. and the new Mulberry clutch is droolworthy.
Thank you for such a moving post, the story of Kate’s family is most moving. It was so touching to see her handling the actual letters her relatives had written.
My bad, nude accessories last time as well, I was so dazzled by the blue I assumed it went through into everything else. The quiet contrast is much better.
What a great engagement for her to request and then have as public. It’s always wonderful how the royals are so involved in remembering the wars.
What a well-researched and crafted post. So sad, but interesting to read. Thank you!
This dress is one of my favorite looks of all time on Kate and one of the looks that caused me to be interested in following her fashion. The proportions, fit, and color were just made for her. I thought her hair looked especially beautiful today. I know it’s a somewhat typical look for her, but I feel that women with a great sense of what looks good on them usually have somewhat of a “uniform”. She has been killing it since she’s been back from maternity leave.
It is NOT the same dress she wore on the Canada trip. Besides missing the collar this time (can see more clearly in other photos on the internet that this most recent dress did not have a collar), this one has clear bell sleeves. There are seams attaching the “bell” to the rest of the sleeve. It is a subtle difference, but the dress she wore in 2016 had sleeves which, while still flaring slightly, did not have quite the flare that this recent one has.
Margaret, Check out the Daily Mail’s article and photos of this event. Not only do they state that this is a repeat dress, first worn in Canada, but they also have a back view of Kate, that clearly shows that the collar is there. Her hair does cover it in front views. Also you are wrong about the sleeves. I think when Kate and family arrived in BC with the children, we were looking at the four of them, Kate’s matching hat and prominent diamond maple leaf pin. We didn’t really notice the sleeves on this dress. But if you check the photos of the first wearing you will see that the sleeves are “bell.”
Bonnie, you are right about the collar. And on more study, the sleeves do not have a seem attaching the bell to the rest of it, but the sleeves are more flared than on the dress she wore in Canada.
It’s the same dress. You can see the collar peeking out from under her hair in this picture: https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/10/31/22/5632304-6339617-The_Duchess_of_Cambridge_was_greeted_by_school_children_and_muse-a-77_1541023810456.jpg
And you can clearly see the bell sleeves in this pic from the Canada arrival: https://us.hellomagazine.com/imagenes/royalty/2016092533604/kate-middleton-prince-william-arrive-canada/0-173-451/canada3-a.jpg No seam attaching the bell in either appearance.
Thank you, Jessica! The differing opinions had me wondering, but this clears it up.
Two very different looks with one dress, both fun and interesting, for the spectator certainly but hopefully the wearer too. Such a striking backdrop for the poppies and for that ring.
The installation is such a nice idea. In this divided world, it’s good to remember people gave up so much to keep freedom.
I completely agree! I was struck by how very different the dresses looked on each appearance. I loved them both as they were styled and accessorized, so such a lovely thing to see two so very different looks arise from the very same garment.
I also love how she has a habit (at least in my memory) of wearing this, or a similar shade, of blue for these poppy remembrance events. It help showcases how lovely those poppies are!
What a beautiful recycle! Like a lot of the commentators on here, I didn’t recognize the dress, and I didn’t apparently appreciate how lovely it was when she first wore it in Canada. I think in Canada it looked like a “generic blue dress” with all the other gorgeous tour styles, but today it just looks amazing and I’m noticing all of the little details, like the bell sleeves and the slightly puffed shoulders, as well as the amazing fit.
Her hair looks great too! Maybe some honey-colored highlights?
I love the dress. I love her hair. I even love the shoes.
NOTE: Admin edit
Dear WKW, while I always think your posts are stellar, you have outdone yourself with this one. I just love all the detail you pulled together regarding this engagement. Thank you for continuing to keep the focus nicely split between what Kate does and what she wears. I can only imagine how touching it must have been for her to see those documents. And she looked stellar in my book. Thank you!
This was a fascinating and sad engagement. So interesting but very sad and reminder of how important it is to remember what our ancestors went through and ensure those who sacrificed are not forgotten. It must have been so interesting for Kate and her family to learn about this.
That poppy brooch is beautiful and a wonderful idea from the British Legion. I think I may buy one as my paper poppies always end up looking battered and/or being lost.
It is so nice to see this dress again. Not only is it a lovely colour and silhouette but it’s manages to be both simple in design but with some nice detail in the collar, sleeves and shoulders. I much prefer her new Mulberry clutch to her old one. The suede Bayswater was looking a bit shabby as she used them so much and the suede wasn’t wearing well. The Amberley looks much smarter and I think this leather will be more durable.
Hate the shoes.
I love the poppy pin too, but I wish that I could see it better! I would love to see Kate wear her hair back or up when she wears the poppy since it’s obviously an important emblem to her and the royal family.
The Remembrance Poppy is important to everyone who wears it. It has nothing to do with the royal family specifically, certainly no more than to anyone else that chooses to wear one, though they wear it, as everyone does, as a mark of remembrance and respect. It is the official symbol of remembrance. The Royal British Legion produce these to raise money to continue working to ensure that all those who have lost their lives in active service are remembered and honouring the service of the Armed Forces and veterans, and their families.
In Scotland, different poppies are produced by The Scottish Poppy Appeal, a subsidiary of the Royal British Legion, with the same aims-it has four petals instead of two and no leaf and are hand made by ex service personnel in a factory in Edinburgh.
The poppy means so much to so many.
I love this dress and Kate looks smashing in it. Love her hair!
I wonder how much the choosing of this dress was a nod back to the other blue dress when she saw the poppies at the Tower. It’s that subtle attention that’s so clever sometimes
Yes I thought the same thing.
It’s funny, I wasn’t fond of this dress when they arrived in Canada. I thought her outfit in general looked too stuffy and formal for disembarking, though the tall spindly heels contributed to the impression, as she came down those precarious stairs having to use both her hands for the children instead of relying on the rail. I did not even recognize it here as the same dress. The sleeves seem to have a slight bell, only slight but that’s a nice touch that keeps it from looking too over-fitted, and for some reason,I had not noticed that in the Canada photos. I think her hairstyle made a positive difference today. With a more casual hairstyle, the dress looks pretty and simple, and I really liked this look.
I had grandparents in World War One, and the documents are fascinating. And in the case of these three brothers, rather heartbreaking. This was a wonderful, personal engagement for the Duchess.
The Duchess looks lovely, hair and makeup look terrific. I always look at the Duchess’s hands, and her nails are always so well manicured, I am a hands person but I really like how she has that sedate but polished look!(would love to have my own just so) Was a fan before of the dress in Canada and love it just as much now. What a wonderful post. I have followed your blogs for a long time now WKW, your content is always spot on, up to date and really very informative. I think you do an amazing job. I have gained so much knowledge today especially, what a sad story but loved reading it. Its great to follow your page.
Thank you so much for drawing attention to the DoC’s poppy brooch, which I would have missed otherwise. It led me to a wonderful selection of jewellery on the Poppy Shop website, of which I was completely ignorant. I’ve always thought it sad that poppies honouring men and women of the armed services are only worn for a brief period around November 11th. Now I’ve found a beautiful way to keep them flowering, so to speak, all year long, and one that can spark conversations too. This attention to detail is one of the best things about this super website. Thank you for the sheer hard work and devotion that must go into maintaining it. I don’t do any form of social media, but What Kate/Meghan Wore have me hooked!
Like many others, this was my favorite dress from the Canada tour and I was so happy to see it again! The DOC looked flawless. Whatever she is doing to her hair lately, it looks amazing! However, my only quibble is, though her hair looks envious here, leaving it down you don’t get to see the amazing neck and back details of the dress like when you did with her hair up. But, that being said, she smashed this look and I am so, so happy to have her out and about again! Fantastic blog as always!
Thank you for including the links for the IWM and the Weeping Window installation. Very poignant. I was overwhelmed to read about the many manifestations of this work and all of the various installations over the years. Congrats to Paul Cummins, Artist and Tom Piper, Designer.
Very special to learn more about Kate’s ancestry! With William’s we’re privy to an abundance of information going back centuries…portraits, artifacts, monuments, books, etc. so it was lovely to share in Kate’s discoveries. Her family’s heritage of military service and voluntary service with the Red Cross is very significant and wasn’t her grandmother a codebreaker during WWII? What wonderful values and what love for country!
Interesting to compare Kate’s current fashion to 2016 and 2014. The LK Bennett dress Kate wore in 2014 (the photo you posted of her, Harry and William surrounded by the poppies) is very similar to today’s Jenny Packham’s dress – the color, 3/4 length sleeves, defined waist, a collar detail, but the hemline just a little shorter back in 2014. Kate’s styling is also similar…blowout hairdo, prominent watch, suede heels and clutch although back in 2014 her shoes were navy.
Great comments, Christina O! Yes, I think Kate’s found a comfortable style that looks terrific on her, and she feels good slipping on the watch and heels, etc. They are probably “old friends” to her by now, but they work like a charm for her. She is also able to surprise us every when she wants to (I’m still in awe of the black and white “edgy” dress by the Polish designer on her tour a while back– stunning). It’s a treat to keep watching her choices!
I agree with so many other commentators! This lovely blue is smashing on Kate, and the style suits her perfectly — in the fit, and in the “statement” of the garment. I understand why some think that Kate is a bit too predictable in her fashion sense, but I love it that she has established a style of her own. And I have to voice my appreciation for this site as well. I work hard and have a career (like many other WKW followers, no doubt) and it’s refreshing and fun to be able to check this site and get a glimpse of the world’s most sophisticated woman functioning in her multiple roles. I have been a seamstress since age 10, and I absolutely adore the detail reports of the garments Kate wears, the fabric, design elements, etc. Yes, I read other news reports and views about Kate’s fashion endeavors, but for me, WKW is the final word.
I am going overboard here and responding to two people at once– but I have to agree with Debbie as well. This is a super site and after a work day it is wonderful to see Kate managing to look so fantastic and appropriate on so many occasions– and bringing the bling when she needs to, as with the dinner with Queen Maxima! I love the detail Susan includes here about Kate’s clothes, and the fact that the focus of the event does not get lost in the shuffle. This one involving Kate’s family is especially moving.
I love the cobalt color but still not into the puffed detailing at the sleeves, that she has also had with a couple of her McQueens. I am all about a bit of visual interest but the color of this dress pops so well that I could do without the sleeve detailing.
I loved this dress on Kate and so it was neat to see it again. Also, this was such an interesting outing for her especially with the family connection. I love your blog.
This is a nice, simple and elegant daytime look. The color is beautiful and Kate’s hair looks great, too. You know… I really like this dress more the second time around. I’m probably the only one, but I did not care for the hat or the severe hairstyle she wore in Canada. She looked so much more natural and youthful yesterday.
The “Weeping Window” poppy display is stunning!! I also love Kate’s poppy brooch. I think it’s beautiful.
Ah, the update has arrived, bravo! Excellent writeup on the IWM, thank you so much – that museum is incredible, and the First World War Galleries in particular. Very immersive, thought-provoking, and overwhelming. They’ve done an outstanding job on that exhibit, well worth a visit. Good to see it get some publicity through WKW :).
Kate looks lovely here, and it’s wonderful that she was able to view letters and photos of her family through the IWM archives – Amelie’s post is so true, and good for her for seeking out their stories! These individuals need to be remembered long after they’ve gone, and by family members who weren’t alive to meet them. I too had family members serving in WWI, as do most people, honestly, and it’s extraordinary that these wonderfully ordinary men (and women!) endured in such horrific circumstances and through the years to follow, picking up the pieces to the best of their abilities, but never forgetting that war.
This dress has long been a favourite of mine and so the repeat wearing is very welcome. The colour is beautiful, especially on Kate. The tailoring is impeccable. At first I thought the collar had been removed, before realizing that Kate’s hair is covering it.
I do wish these Rossi shoes could be retired. Kate uses them with such frequency, surely they are wearing out. One can only hope! Each time she wore them with this dress, I felt navy shoes would have been better. But then I’ve never been a fan of nude shoes and Kate obviously is.
How very poignant for Kate to view the family letters. How horrific and sad that her great, great grandparents lost three sons to the horrors of war. WWI was supposed to the war that ended all wars. Unfortunately it was never so.
I love this event, so interesting and personal. The dress is beautiful and fits her so perfectly. I only wish she would have worn her hair up in a ponytail to show off that beautiful collar and back vee-cut.
This dress is one of my all time favorites. The silhouette is so clean and simple, perfectly tailored. Kate should get it in more colors! I think what is best about this event is that they highlighted historical archives, which often don’t get the funding they deserve.
I was thinking the same thought! More colors please! I don’t think I would tire of this design easily.
And if Kate had this in more colours, there could be other changes, to mix it up a bit, but still maintain the integrity of the dress. The collar could be removed (although this is a great feature), the sleeve length could be longer or shorter, the puff at the top of the sleeve could be removed, the “belt” could have more detail. As long as the basis silhouette is maintained, a few changes would work.This particular style really suits Kate.
That would be a great and easy way to enhance her wardrobe. Ah…to live in a bespoke world 🙂
This was such a beautiful outfit in Canada! A fun walk down memory lane. The perfectly matched blues and that gorgeous hat make it perfection – maybe even one of her best ever? Still a beautiful dress, though of course I prefer it all dressed up.
I too wish we had more commemorative events here in the USA. I’ll be in London in a few weeks for Armistice Day so I’ll be lucky to get to tag along with those events instead!
Thank you for the lovely post. It’s great to see the details about the contents of the letters that would have totally escaped me if I only scrolled through Twitter!
When the pictures first hit twitter and other social media, I thought the ID of the dress was incorrect because her hair was hiding the collar/lapels. I later thought that perhaps that collar detail was removable, as I used to have some garments with removable collars. It wasn’t until I saw the higher quality photos that I realized the collar is simply hidden by her hair. What I have realized is this: I like it much better without the collar details being visible. It seems so much cleaner and more streamlined/less fussy to me.
I have always thought that Catherine looks great in sheaths and I wish she would wear them more often. She had some lovely ones on the first Canada tour and shortly thereafter. I think there was one she had purchased in several colorways and I loved it.
All in all, I think the solemnity of today’s occasion did call for a repeat of a non-attention stealing frock, and this worked beautifully. Also, her hair was gorgeous and her accessories were spot on. I liked everything about this look, even though it wasn’t a wow moment fashion wise.
Love this look. Kate does an excellent job of dressing well for the occasion and for her body type.
Howcome the posts are coming so late after Kate has an engament? I can imagine it takes time to search, but the other blogs are updated hours before this one. It is a pity to loose readers, I used to enjoy reading this blog.
Ella , I think you are being too harsh. Yes, some online sources are quicker than WKW, but they are often not as detailed, nor as well researched. I prefer quality over speed. Sometimes I look at other websites, but I always check into WKW for the final word. I find the comments here are very carefully monitored and that takes time. Comments on other sites are not always as civil as on WKW. Also be mindful, that some sites are based in England. So of course, with time zone differences they have that advantage.
For heaven’s sake, give our admin a break! She probably has a real job…I’m happy for her posts no matter the lag time.
WKW is one of the original blogs I believe and she does a wonderful job not just featuring the clothing but the event, location and background information! I may look at other things that are posted ‘quicker,’ but I will always come back to WKW for the most reliable and complete info! ❤️
I think it was just bad luck that this came so close on the heels of Meghan’s tour – the Susans have been flat-out for weeks on that coverage, and likely needed some downtime before ramping up again, haha!
But now that it’s here, it’s another winner and I love that the spotlight is on the IWM!
I would concur with the others replying to this post that the WKW posts are beautifully researched and written as to the back story on these engagements. And I would suspect this post took extra time in that regard. Finally, I would note that the WKW sites are just finishing up their coverage of the Royal tour of Harry and Meghan and at least two very thorough posts a day during that time along with Kate posts. When I saw another headline about Kate visiting the museum did I jump over here looking for the WKW post before it was up, yes, but I kept coming back as I knew it would be worth it and I was not disappointed. Loved the history on Kate’s family and WWI which was included. I do think that the sacrifices, particularly by the English in WWI which claimed so many lives often seem to take a back seat to WWII so I was glad to see this wonderful post.
I highly doubt Susan will lose a single dedicated reader. As you are aware, this was very much a “surprise” engagement- no time to prepare! For all of HRH’s scheduled engagements, Susan posts photos to Facebook almost immediately and then follows up with a blog shortly after.
Luckily for you, of course, there are several other wonderful websites that post immediate clothing ID’s. It will be sad to lose a member of the WKW community, but I think the majority of us enjoy learning about the engagements themselves, as well as the interesting details and history of certain pieces the DoC wears. I hope I speak for many of us, Susan, when I say please do continue with your posts just as they are! I am happy to wait a bit longer to read them 🙂
Hmm, you wouldn’t go to a fine restaurant and expect the speed of fast food. Well, I’m guessing you wouldn’t.
I’ve been enjoying this blog since 2011. First time commenting. Thank you Susan for delivering excellence with every post.
These blogs, the Kate and the Meghan blogs, impress me enormously with their timeliness and the world of information they offer, especially when tours and large numbers of engagements come so quickly. Assembling so much detail and background is a huge task.
You might want to follow them on Facebook, if that interests you, because the administrators post some brief coverage and photos there, as information is coming in, less complete but sooner. Between those fast-response posts, and the completeness of the blogs, you get the best of both worlds.
Ella, lighten up please. I’d far prefer to wait on quality over quantity of information on other websites. This site is as they say in Hawaii, “No Ka Oi” (the best!)
Susan, just a note that I love your coverage and I think that Kate looks amazing. If I didn’t know better, I’d never guess that she had one child let alone three. Kate is a beautiful and classy woman no matter what she wears, but this shade of blue is a winner over and over. Aloha!
Not my favorite look but she looks fine. This is a typical Kate look. Another is the coat-dress, which we have not yet seen her wear since her return from maternity leave.
Thank you for this brilliant post. I have been following all the sites of WKW family and you are doing a wonderful job. This is the first time I am commenting and I must say this is my favorite colour on her. The whole image is splendid. Appropriate and yet with a personal/ family touch.
What a difference between the last two appearances.
Indeed the letters are sad but in a whole it is a marvelous project that the museum is remembering the fallen and ” those that made the ultimate sacrifice” as William and Harry would say.
Thank you, I hope you continue commenting when so inclined! 🙂
It is a very moving account of DOC’s 3 great uncles.
Yes it is a typical Kate look…agree with Pat above.
I can understand Kate wanting to learn about her family history and feeling that direct connection to historical events because I have a lot of connections to both World Wars through both of my parents. My father is French–my grandparents survived WWII in occupied France and I believe my great-great-grandfather served in WWI. He was a prisoner of war but allowed to return home because he had many children. One of my great-grandfathers actually crossed paths with Marshall Petain, a key figure in WWI and who infamously became head of the Vichy government during WWII. Petain is obviously viewed as a Nazi collaborator today and was convicted for treason. Anyways Petain was my great-grandfather’s instructor at the military school he attended. I can’t tell you how floored I was when I found out such a prominent French historical figure had crossed paths with my ancestor. As for my mom’s side (she is American), my grandfather was an airplane mechanic for the American army stationed in Italy. He wanted to be a pilot but they wouldn’t let him back then due to his poor eyesight.
Oh and I found out only a few years ago my American grandmother was engaged (or at least dating) another man before she met my grandfather before WWII. Growing up my mother had no idea as my grandmother never talked about it until much later when my mother was an adult. He died during the war–we recently found letters suggesting he may have died on a ship that was bombed. And well my father is from Normandy… obviously a word that has great impact and meaning to Americans though he did not grow up close to the D-Day beaches (a place I have visited a few times).
Really long info on my family history but so many of us have stories like this I think. So I don’t really care all that much about what Kate wore in this instance (don’t like the pointy shoulders or Peter Pan collar but that’s all I have to comment really), I think it’s great she took a particular interest in wanting to view the documents relating to her family history. It must have been so exciting to read them and see the pictures of her ancestors. Hopefully one day she can share this with her children.
You are wonderful to share your family connections to both wars, I loved every word of your comment. That is an amazing story about Petain teaching your great-grandfather. It is going to be remarkable to see the events related to the centenary, both in Europe and here in the US, and especially in the UK.
Amelie, Thank you for sharing your family’s story. Thank you to those of them that served. And thank you to all military who continue to serve for the benefit of others.
Amelie, I enjoyed reading your comment. It’s so interesting to be able to link your family history to historic events and people. Both world wars devasted so many familes all over the globe. The loss of life was astounding.
I agree, Kate must have been thrilled to view these primary documents and fill in the blanks of her family history. Amazing that she has never seen pictures of her great uncles before.
Amelie, thank you for sharing your wonderful family history.
Wonderful post! Kate looks stunning in that dress. Such a sad topic though; I must visit the War Museum the next time I go to London!
Thank you so much for this post, I enjoy reading your blog. It makes me sad that there are few similar events in the USA to remember lives lost in conflict.
@Arrenia,
It makes me sad, too.
We don’t honor those who lost their lives in war with anything like the passion and determination of the UK.
The Weeping Window is just extraordinary.
My grandfather fought in France in WWI. My father was a US Army major during WWII, and my mother dropped out of nursing school to join the Women’s Army Corp.
“My” war was Vietnam.
Kate’s visit to the IWM is especially meaningful, given the instability of our world right now. Reminding people of the cost of war in lives is crucial, and her examination of her family documents very meaningful.
As to her fashion, this is one of my favorite dresses and she looks dignified and elegant and respectful.She is going to make an admirable queen consort.
The Weeping Window is extraordinary. Literally, it looks as if the building is bleeding the lives of all who died through a gaping wound. The optics must be very moving in person.
Hi Arrenia and Jenny –
I agree there’s a lot more we can do to honor our U.S. military – active, retired and fallen. Coming up on November 11 we’ll be celebrating Veteran’s Day, the day set aside to celebrate the service of our US Armed Forces. Memorial Day (last Monday in may) is the day we honor those who died while in service.
My in-laws, involved with the American Legion, always made sure we had our poppies for Memorial Day and it’s something I plan to resurrect for Memorial Day 2019!
WWI was nowhere near as traumatizing to Americans as it was to Europeans, especially the British, who lost so many of their brightest and best young men, really the flower of the nation. The USA joined the war towards the end and lost “only” 116,000 men out of 4 million soldiers drafted, as opposed to the British, who lost 700,000 out of 6 million soldiers, over four long, agonizing years of soul-killing trench warfare.
I find it so tragic and incomprehensible that all three of Kate’s great-great uncles died in battle. Why couldn’t the last remaining son have been discharged back home so his parents would have at least one surviving (male) child?
It seems almost superfluous to discuss Kate’s wardrobe after all these moving posts, but FWIW, I think she looked lovely and appropriate. I even liked those praline shoes for a change.
@SaraF,
You’re correct in pointing out that WWI was not the trauma for America that it was for the British. Nevertheless, it was war, and the total number of US deaths doesn’t account for those who came home permanently disabled, or suffering from “shell shock” now known as PTSD.
I was speaking more broadly about America’s apparent lack of interest in honoring those who died, and those who served, especially as the WWII population has died, and especially for those who served in Vietnam.
We do have a law passed in 1948 about sole survivors and exemptions from service, sometimes called the Sullivan law. The Sullivans lost all five of their sons in WWII.
A brief return to fashion — I like the shoulder detail, and don’t understand the objections to it. I think adds interest to the dress.
You’re right, of course, that apart from Veterans’ Day, which seems to become less significant with each passing year, and the the memorial monuments in Washington, America sadly doesn’t seem to commemorate its dead much.
Then again, the Silent Generation of WWII doesn’t seem to have wanted to be honored and commemorated, and the US lost the Vietnam war, which meant we wanted to forget it, as if we could.
That Canada arrival has got to be one of my all-time favorite looks on the DoC, if not my absolute number-one look. This is a beautiful dress–gorgeous color (especially on her), perfectly cut, and hitting that nearly impossible sweet spot between professional woman and senior royal. And what a beautiful backdrop it makes for that special brooch.
I’m glad to see her wearing the nude Rossis with it again–I feel like trying to match the color of the dress or wearing something attention-getting on the feet would just spoil the simple beauty of the dress.
Her hair looks absolutely gorgeous today–these large, loose, shiny curls are how I like it best, and I’m not ashamed to say it–but with it down and coming over her shoulders I do miss seeing the collar detail on the dress, which to me was one of its most distinguishing features in the Canada appearance.
Agreed, on every point! The dress is lovely (the poof at the shoulder isn’t to my taste, but it’s gorgeous and tailored and perfectly suited). I hadn’t realized it was the same dress without seeing the back of the collar since her hair was down – the up do in Canada showed that off.
I’m with you Jessica. The collar on the original dress is what made it so stunning. I wonder if it is detachable and whether she might put it back on for future engagements. I suppose with her hair down the collar wouldn’t have been so visible as when she arrived in Canada.
I agree with your comment, Jessica. This is a favorite Kate dress for me too. It’s as if JP put all of the design elements that flatter Kate most into one dress. I know Kate wears a lot of blue but this saturated blue is gorgeous with her coloring, and the structure of this dress gives Kate a professional and polished look while the neckline and sleeves are so pretty. Again, her hair looks magnificent. Whatever she is doing know, I hope she keeps doing it. Kate has been on a sartorial role since she’s been back imo.
Agree!
Roll 🙄
I agree – love this look too!
Well said Jessica!