Kate Brings Back Blue Eponine Dress for Yorkshire Engagements

For today’s engagements in Yorkshire, the Duchess brought back a dress by Eponine London.

Kate and William started their day at McLaren Automotive in Rotherham.

They were there to officially open the company’s new Composites Technology Centre.

McLaren says the new facility will help them “continue to launch 18 new models.” More from an Auto World story:

The McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) aims to be a world-leader in innovating lightweight carbon fibre and composites that will work together with future powertrain development to save weight and produce greater energy efficiencies.

McLaren says the new facility will boost local skills and create over 200 new jobs.

The couple then went to the Centrepoint hostel in Barnsley. Prince William has been the Centrepoint patron since 2005, continuing the legacy of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, who was also the charity’s patron.

More from Centrepoint:

Together with our partners, we support more than 10,000 homeless young people each year.

At Centrepoint, we help vulnerable young people by giving them the practical and emotional support they need to find a job and live independently.

The couple met with people who benefit from the Centre’s programs to hear about their experiences, and also spoke with staff.

More from The Mirror’s story:

The charity was one of the first that William adopted in 2005 – following his mother by being royal patron.

At the charity’s hostel – where 17 young people stay – the couple helped prepare lunch. Stirring Omero’s Red Pepper and Chorizo soup and cutting bread.

Kate and William working on lunch.

Simon also shared a video.

“Don’t look at how evenly I cut it,” Kate says as she and William help out in @centrepointuk hostel in Barnsley pic.twitter.com/BOGFc6K6vo

— Simon Perry (@SPerryPeoplemag) November 14, 2018

The Duchess serving lunch.

Back to The Mirror’s story by Russell Myers.

Kate said: “I think I cut some rather big slices.”

“Don’t be put off by the size of Catherine’s bread. They’re enough to wedge the door,” William added.

The Duke also joked about the protocol information given to groups/people meeting members of the Royal Family. More from Simon Perry’s People story.

The tips included what to call the pair — “Your Royal Highness” on first greeting, followed by “Sir” or “Ma’am.” The card even shared the correct pronunciation, adding that Kate’s address should rhyme with the word “tram.”

As the couple sat down to lunch, William joked with 23-year-old Chelsea Jenkins about the instructions.

“He just laughed about it,” Jenkins says. “He said something about updating it.”

Below, a photo of the card shared by Simon.

Back to the visit’s primary purpose, the official opening of the center’s Andy Norman Learning Hub.

Kensington Palace says the Hub “…will provide a dedicated space and resource for young people at risk of homelessness in Barnsley, helping improve their skills and work towards independence.”

Now to what Kate wore, beginning with her dress by Eponine London. From the label’s 2016 autumn/winter collection, the dress features panels on the bodice and curved seams extending onto the upper sleeve, pleats in the front and back, a button front and self-belt.

She first wore the piece in January 2017 for a visit to the Anna Freud Centre.

Kate carried a new bag from Smythson, the brand’s Panama Purse ($785) in navy cross-grain leather. The bag is also called the Panama Wallet, and you can see why when reading its dimensions, it’s fairly compact: 7.5″ x 5″ x 1″

Thank you to Rowan Marie and Michelle of Perth’s Fashion for the handbag ID.

Kate also wore her Rupert Sanderson Malory pumps.

The Duchess had on her Cartier wristwatch and diamond/sapphire earrings.

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A quick sidebar: there is news today that Ralph Lauren will be made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire More from Women’s Wear Daily:

Lauren is the first American fashion designer to be recognized with an honorary knighthood. Other notable American recipients of an honorary U.K. knighthood or damehood include former Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, former New York City Mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rudolph Giuliani, Angelina Jolie, Steven Spielberg, Bill and Melinda Gates, and Angela Ahrendts

 

And from Harper’s Bazaar UK:

A Knight Commander is one of the highest ranks in the British honour system, which recognises exceptional achievement and service to the nation, and means that the recipient is entitled to use the title of Sir, for men, or Dame, for women. An Honorary Knight Commander is awarded to those, like Ralph Lauren, who are not a citizens of Commonwealth Realms.

We will see you shortly for our coverage of Prince Charles’s 70th birthday gala at Buckingham Palace.

 

LINKAGE:

• Learn more about Centrepoint at the organization’s website here; its Facebook page is here; its Instagram page is here and Twitter feed here
• The Mirror’s full story is here; People’s story is here