The Duchess was in a rich berry color for the Christmas morning church service at Sandringham.
Kate and William were among many royal family members walking to church.
They joined HM, the Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and others for the Christmas Day service at the church of St. Mary Magdalene. 
It was a brisk morning for the short walk. Below you see Autumn Philips, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank.
The Tindalls, Zara and Mike. 
The Earl and Countess of Wessex with their children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
Despite the chilly temps, crowds gathered early for a chance to see the royals.
The two Duchesses. 
A video from the Eastern Daily Press.
Kate and Meghan are all smiles as the royals attended church in Sandringham earlier today. More here: https://t.co/YjSXO5Squn #QueensSpeech pic.twitter.com/LiY67cIQ7S
— Eastern Daily Press (@EDP24) December 25, 2018
The Queen as she exits the church this morning.
She looked lovely in “a dove grey dress, jacket and hat accentuated with a fuschia ribbon,” as described by The Telegraph.
Prince Philip did not attend services; his health is fine, according to the Palace, and he will participate in all of the day’s other activities. The Duchess of Cornwall was not at the service as she recovers from a heavy cold.
Below, Kate and Meghan curtsy as Harry and William bow their heads as the Queen leaves.
After the service, the royals spent time greeting those who had been waiting in the cold to see them.
Kate’s vibrant color stood out on a dreary day.
One young woman tweeted her delight at being so close to the Duke and Duchess.
So stunning!! So lucky to have gotten so close today at Sandringham- all of the Royal Family were so lovely! pic.twitter.com/icPEEbNvUe
— M (@MaddyJulieAnn) December 25, 2018
Another view.
Here is a quick video of the Duke and Duchess chatting with people in the crowd.
William and Kate chatting to the crowd outside Sandringham Church after the Christmas morning service, today. #Christmas #Sandringham #RoyalFamily #PrinceWilliam #katemiddleton pic.twitter.com/lyBYvgLP2w
— Shakira.A.K (@ShakiraKachwal1) December 25, 2018
Now for what Kate wore this morning, beginning with what we believe is a Catherine Walker coat.
It is almost identical to the green coat first worn at the St Patrick’s Day Irish Guards shamrock ceremony in 2017; then seen again the same day as the Duke and Duchess arrived in Paris; worn a third time publicly on Remembrance Sunday, at the special service commemorating the Centenary of the signing of the armistice that effectively ended WWII.
The double-breasted style looks like it may be made of wool crepe; it has a fitted bodice that flares into a full skirt, slanted pockets (although not as slanted as those on the green coat, I don’t believe), and velvet trim at the collar, cuffs, pocket flaps and on the buttons.
The Duchess’s hat looks like a new Jane Taylor piece, the milliner’s Halo Band (£830, $1050). Here is more info from the brand: “Introducing the Halo Band, a different take on the on-trend headband. This elegant Jane Taylor London two-tone halo band in peach bloom felt with a bow detail at the back is set to be a design classic.”
The description also notes “This wide band shape is synonymous with the 1930s, perfect for those who wish to add a timeless and classic style to their A/W outfit.” Thank you to Her Name is Pekka and innominate_93 on Twitter for pointing out the style on the Jane Taylor site.
Kate’s gloves look like they could be a Cornelia James design, possibly the Beatrice style. UPDATE JAN 3: It’s possible we have an ID on Kate’s gloves. They look very much like the Bow Detail Glove by M and Co.
M&Co is a privately owned business that started in Glasgow more than fifty years ago; the retailer now has more than 300 stores nationwide. Our thanks for the tip go to a wonderful WKW friend who prefers remaining anonymous.
The Duchess carried her Mulberry Bayswater wallet clutch.
We saw the Gianvito Rossi pumps.
Kate wore her Asprey Oak Leaf Earrings.
She also brought back an oak leaf brooch that remains in our UFO files. The pin was first seen at the Diamond Jubilee Luncheon in 2012, and again on Christmas Day three years ago.
It features the oak leaves as well as four “acorns” crafted of gold and a pearl. The Middleton family crest features acorns. I could not get a really good closeup of the piece today; this is from the 2015 wearing. 
Here is a 1-minute video from ITV covering the morning’s comings and goings.
Hundreds of well-wishers turned out to see the royal family attend the Christmas Day church service on the Sandringham estate. The Duke of Edinburgh and Duchess of Cornwall both missed the service.
Read more: https://t.co/mWZrXCQtHV pic.twitter.com/wC4vppZFO8— ITV News Anglia (@itvanglia) December 25, 2018
And here is 4 minutes from photographer Terry Harris.
And this is almost 6 minutes of raw video from Sky News.
The Royal Family greet crowds after church service at St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate.
Get more on this story here: https://t.co/QxHqhctQYp pic.twitter.com/ew8kkGgXLX
— AnySource (@SourceAny) December 26, 2018
Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating the day!
LINKAGE:
- The Mirror’s story is here; The Express piece is here; The Daily Mail’s coverage is here; The Guardian’s story is here; The Telegraph’s piece is here
- People’s article is here; Vanity Fair’s story is here
First time poster, but I pop on several times a week!
I saw a picture today that I haven’t seen before (t was in Elle).
https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a25608105/meghan-markle-kate-middleton-dressing-alike-explained/
Did you see the picture of the Duchess from the diplomatic reception? I don’t think I’ve seen it before!
Hi, and thanks so much for posting! We did have quite a few photos from inside the reception, are you thinking of one in particular in the Elle story that I should look for? 😊
This is the first headband-style hat that I’ve really liked–though of course it isn’t really worn as a headband. I’m not sure I understand the chocolate color for the back bow–would it not work to have it the same dark red as the rest of the hat?–but overall I really like it and like the way her hair is styled as well. Those thick, shiny curls are my daily hair goals!
I agree, I haven’t been a fan of the headbands up to this point but I was really surprised to discover this was one. It looked like a regular hat from the front, and even from the side it sits like a hat that has just lost its top. But as someone who wears earmuffs all winter rather than hats, I really cannot complain! Plus I’m just so glad none of those ridiculous Cossack hats made an appearance!
So agreed! The past headbands looked awkwardly huge but this one is nice because it looks more like a hat from the front. I love the allover red…very festive! She looked great. I love it when she incorporates her own family crest (acorns/oak) into her clothing. I thought this coat looked very similar to the green one she has worn many times. I can see why as it’s very flattering. I also want her shoes. 🙂
Kate’s coat is a beautiful color and impeccably tailored. Very appropriate. But lately, all her clothes are looking the same.
IN 40 years when Kate is in her 70s, these photos will be classics. She dresses for her role impeccably. We may not always like the ‘safe’ coat dresses, buttoned up, pump shoes, matching hats, gloves, mono chromatic colours, but her choices will be regarded later as the Queen’s style. Kate knows this. She dresses with this in mind. And does it well, I may add.
I was looking through these photographs and thinking that Kate would fit into almost any era royal Christmas day photograph. So, yes, she appears to be gravitating toward a timeless type of style that will never look stylish but will never look dated as well. It’s a wise although not terribly interesting tactic in a historic sense.
The Duchess of Cambridge has identified a style of dress that suits her just as Queen Elizabeth and the Duchess of Cornwall both have their own personal styles that have not deviated in decades. Bottom line, women in these positions must dress elegantly without following the latest runway trend. To some people, this look may appear frumpy and not on-trend. However, to me and many others this look is classic, timeless, and elegant. The latest trendy fashions come and go, but classic, chic looks remain forever.
Moreover, while this is the Duchess’ go-to look and her classic style, she also at times ventures into more daring fields. So I’d say we’re getting the best of both worlds: chic classiness that will look right for decades to come plus a few pops of fun style.
I don’t understnd why people call her coats, ‘coat-dresses’; a coat goes over a dress worn underneath, as she usually wears coat – coat-dresses were one of Diana’s favourties.
Fantastic outfit made superlative thanks to immaculate tailoring and coordination between subtle red tones and fabric textures. The brooch choice and placement is a beautiful addition. STUNNING! One of her best looks ever!
Love her complete outfit. Coat and headpiece are amazing. Color is fitting for Christmas and she also looks so amazing all the time.
Thank you for all that you do to inform us of Princess Kate’s engagements and her clothing.
Wishing you the best for 2019.
I so enjoy your site (and your sister site, “What Meghan Wore”). Love to see what the two beautiful Duchesses are wearing. Thank you once again for doing a Kate Calendar for 2019, and one featuring Meghan, as well.
Thank you, Diane, and Happy New Year!
Hmm, not my favorite look of hers. The coat makes her torso look very long, and therefore makes her legs look very short. I’m not in love with the color, but I also don’t hate it. The headpiece is terrible and ages her so much. I know Meghan is older than Kate by a few months, but the two don’t even look close in age in these photos. Kate is a stunning woman and I just wish she would stop wearing clothes that age her so much.
Not her worst, but not even close to being her best.
I, on the other hand, absolutely adore the look! Love the colour, it flatters her skin tone and fits with the festivity. The hairband (which she debuted this year) is a win- it is so chic and a major style statement which fits her facial structure. The style and cut of the dress is also very flattering on her. In all, the look is #PERFECTION .
BTW, you need to stop the aging thing.. Kate’s style from the start is elegant chic -keeps it clean yet stylish- and she has stayed through to this. And that’s why #StylishKate (as I love to describe her) is my #StyleCrush
I’m hardly the only one to point out the fact that she often wears outfits that age her. She is a gorgeous woman in her mid-thirties. Even QEII dressed more youthful than this in her mid-thirties.
That being said, if Kate feels most comfortable in this type of attire (and I assume she does), then I say go for it! They are just clothes after all! 🙂
Exactly. I’m just going to use the “D” word…dowdy. The Queen, as always, looks fabulous!
Hi, ladies! Although I think the Duchess looks terrific here, my comment isn’t really about this post. I’m actually wondering if any of you own the Rowan boots by Aquatalia. My husband bought me a pair for Christmas since they were 70% off and I absolutely love them, but they’re a little tight around my calves and I’m hoping they’ll loosen a bit as I break them in.
Thanks!
Love the color – very appropriate for the season!
I’m not a big fan of the head band but this version is much better than the ones she has worn previously. I’m not tired of seeing her in coat dresses – they are are beautifully tailored, elegant and easy to wear. It’s her uniform, go-to outfit. I understand why some people may want to see her in something different but I don’t think Kate spends that much time thinking about which outfit is going to impress us. It may seem like a lot of fun but with all the events she has to go to, it’s proably more like work even if she has someone helping her with these things.
NOTE: admin edit
Princess Eugenie’s outfit was my favorite.
I agree with your choice it was very festive and had a lot of detail, but it fit her too tight. If this was made for Eugenie, the tailor needs to make some adjustments in his measurements, at lease a 1/2 inch more material everywhere so you do not see any pulling, a tailor calls that a little give.
Kate looks lovely, as always. But I’m tired of this silhouette on her. Just like her repeated use of McQueen coat dresses – I think she needs to mix it up more. I really liked her coat/hat combo from last Christmas Day. It was colorful and vibrant (and a little unexpected). Agree with the previous comment re Kate’s torso looking unusually long in this red coat, too.
I’d be happy to Kate retire her McQueen coat dresses and similar frocks, such as this Xmas day coat, in favor of more youthful pieces.
These are actually a Catherine Walker coat dress. Like Diana before her (who wore many Catherine Walker double breasted dresses), Kate seems to have gravitated towards the Catherine Walker double breasted coat dress as her “one and done” uniform.
A beautiful classic look which might have been given a bit of an edge with boots or booties rather than the usual pumps.
I love this look. The red is so rich and warming. I like that the Duchess finds a good style and has several colour ways (i.e. Alexander McQueen and others). Why not? They look great and will come to encapsulate her style in years to come.
Interesting to see the Duchess is continuing to champion the headband style. I’m surprised because it is a little off-piste and not to everyone’s taste. I think she gets away with it. Today I thought it was a pillbox hat until I saw the back. I wonder how many others will adopt the style too.
She’s appropriate and well put together but not exciting nor impressive. The Queen wins best dressed here.
@Elisabeth: You’ve sent me down the rabbit hole looking at the lovely tiaras on the British museum website including the lovely one from 1855 you mentioned!
I also think the gift is from the Queen and Prince Philip or someone from the Royal family – maybe Charles or Camilla. Definitely someone older as brooches seem to have fallen out of favour with the younger generation so I can’t see any contemporaries gifting her with the brooch. I wish some of the people who meet her on these walkabouts would ask her the important questions we are curious about like jewel provenance lol!
i always thought it was a gift from her parents, sort of a tribute to them when she spends the holidays with her in laws…maybe i’m projecting 😉
She looks amazing in the color, but I thought royal blue, and she looks charming in blue color too.
Shang
I think she is a class act, can’t imagine being in her shoes- argh- no privacy! Anyway, I think the headbands are similar to a crown and she is trying to get used to the silhouette- they remind me of Anne Boleyn style headdress-not of the 30’s- but what do I know? I love them, very feminine and unique.
I think Kate’s color choice is perfect for Christmas Day, it reminded me with seeing the suede pumps she wore today the claret embellished tulle midi dress by Marchesa Notte in the same color berry. That was and still is one of my favorite dress & color. I have said this before this year is Kate year for wearing pink/burgundy/berry, she looks great in these colors. A total win, spot on!
Merry Christmas everyone! 🎄
I loved the green version of Kate’s coat and was very happy to see it in red too. Its holiday perfection. The buttons, are they fabric covered or metallic like the green dress? I cant tell on my screen… She’s really embraced the hat band thing but I think it works and has a fun vintage vibe. The nature inspired jewelry is some of my favorite of hers, and I love those shoes. She looks happy and comfortable..
Eugenie looks very pretty in her red too! I looove Bea’s hat! And Meghan looks classy and chic as always in her navy outfit.
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and a great 2019!! Thank you Susan for bringing us this post, you’re amazing!
The only positive here for me is the lovely vibrant colour of the coat. The rest…oh dear: the coat further elongates her torso at the expense of her legs, the shoulders look considerably broader than her hips, which in very unflattering, the halo headpiece makes her head seem bigger and adds a couple of decades to her look. The new hair colour is way too warm/yellowish in tone for her English rose complexion and the dark coppery brown eyeshadow successfully cancels out the green of her eyes while making her look more tired. Yes, she looks tired, which makes her look even more beautiful in my eyes – she certainly puts in the hours (nocturnal, probably) with her small kids. And so am I so I know the feeling/look in the mirror only too well!
I really like Kate. I think she is incredibly level headed, considering, and a terrific mother. I also believe she sighed a deep sigh of relief when Meghan appeared on the scene hoping that the international obsession with her own clothes has finally come to an end (and so it did, at least up to a point). If she chooses her clothes, makeup, etc. herself, and wears what she likes and feels appropriate, I do applaud her. If there is, however, someone on the payroll as her stylist, well they are incompetent, to say the least.
Straight up, girl. Couldn’t have said it any better. And she’s so very beautiful. What on earth is going on behind the scenes? I just don’t get it.
I agree about her hair. Deeper brown suits her better and makes her look younger. Plus her hair is so shiny when it is darker, which I have mad envy for.
I like your comment. It’s different yet I like it.
As for moving focus away from her, I am not sure though. She has been and will be an international sensation since day 1. Meghan on the other hand might have a bit catch up to do. However, I am not saying this this a competition. Both women are beautiful and are doing their job properly. 🙂
I don’t think it’s a matter of looking unflattering; rather that the observation is unflattering. Catherine’s shoulders are wider than her hips. Comments such as this border on body shaming.
Let’s not be too sensitive. Her comment was not body shaming. It is accurate that this ensemble makes her body appear out of proportion in different ways. I have to agree with what was stated – particularly about the headpiece making her head appear larger than it is.
I don’t agree, I think that the red coat is well proportioned and the halo band is a particularly stylish and flattering accessory. I don’t see how it makes her head look bigger, on the contrary, it accentuates her flowing hair. Overall, a lovely look with a hint of vintage. If you’re into modern, out-of-the-catwalk styles, this might be a major turn off for you and create an impression of an ‘old lady’ look by association.
But as a fan of other fashion eras, particularly 30s-40s, I see her outfit as a nod to the old school, classy fashion, which doesn’t look out of place even today, but has this timeless chic about it, which will stay when fashion trends change again.
She always looks so stunning – impeccable!
Kate has really taken on this unashamed style cop-out of repeating items in different colours – and I love it! A woman after my own heart, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? I like the way she casually shrugs off the fashion police while effortlessly exuding natural authenticity from her classic approach.
It’s great also that a repeat which is not quite a repeat means the spotlight can shift to Meghan, on her post-wedding Sandringham Christmas. And Meghan’s working more than hard enough on killer style to make up for two duchesses! The Queen has been wearing the same handful of outfits for decades and no one is complaining, it’s a great way to underline the traditional role of an institution which has survived centuries, and Kate is canny to follow suit.
I love the coat style and its clean elegant lines on Kate’s slim frame and it’s fun that minor adjustments have been made to details such as the angle of the pocket flaps. I remain a non-fan of those head-band styles, but I can see Kate is enjoying them so I can adjust to taking in the view from the front where the colour frames her face in such a flattering manner and ignore the open back. The warm colours throughout look wonderful on her. I can certainly accept that the headband is vintage though I’m not so sure the coat style is the same as it seems modern in its clean lines. I’m probably just out of sync on that one. I’m glad the bow feature on the gloves seems less pronounced as I find those too fussy, especially up against a smart contrast cuff like this.
I simply love that Kate is referencing her family via the acorn and oak leaf theme of her jewellery. I think the encrusted style of her earrings is perfect contrast against that smart coat. She looks simply beautiful.
Absolutely stunning! I could rave for hours about how great Kate looks and will spare everyone that, but I do want to mention how great Kate’s headband looks here. I haven’t been the biggest fan of her other headbands, but the lower profile of this one combined with loose, curly hair and the bow detail in the back is gorgeous and gives the overall look a more casual elegance.
Susan–thank you for putting together a wonderful Christmas post and for the class and dignity that you display time and time again with this blog (particularly regarding your decision to not publish intrusive photos). As much as there’s a part of me that wants all of the royal commentary I can get, at the end of the day I’m glad to be part of something that operates in such an ethical and respectful way. I hope you had a great Christmas and thank you again for the wonderful site and community that you’ve built here!
Goodness, thank you for such a lovely sentiment, Ellis! 😊
The cranberry color looks beautiful on Kate but the whole look of her ensemble makes me feel like she has put herself in a time capsule back to the 1930s. Sorry, but it comes across to me as being a bit like a costume. Maybe without the brooch and a different hat?
I’ve studied the other younger women’s outfits walking to church, Zara, Autumn, Meghan, Eugenie, Beatrice, Sophie and Louise and they all seem to have incorporated a modern look – which while it may touch on a retro element – doesn’t get bogged down there.
I agree, it looks like a costume. I love the color, but she would’ve looked even better in a coat like Autumn’s (who I think is the best dressed at pretty much every event, even without a title).
I do love the brooch as a nod to her own family. I do wonder what future Christmases will look like for this family.
She looks absolutely classic. She actually reminded me of a Christmas doll I had as a child. A great choice for a traditional event. The deeper red accents were perfect and added depth and interest. I have to admit that I have never liked the headband style hats in the past, but somehow it just worked on this occasion.
first time poster, long time lurker….
How come nobody ever mentions what a spectacular figure the Duchess has? Her waist is teensy, and her legs are gorgeous! The pics of her from the back in that coat are amazing, she really looks like an old time hollywood movie star.
Hi, we’re glad you commented! (Lurking is great as well.) We don’t allow comments on Kate’s weight; that topic often devolves into speculation about her mental health, eating disorders, and all manner of subjects we want to avoid. I hope that helps, there’s more info in the ‘comment policy’ section found just below the logo at the top of the page. 😊
why are we allowing comments on personal body attributes???
Hi, Sally. We have long allowed comments on this, things that specifically reference a garment and its fit. Things like, “With Kate’s features, I prefer her hair up.” Or, “Kate is short-waisted and she may have been trying to minimize that with this dress.” What we do not allow are comments on Kate’s weight and things related to that topic.
I published Bobby’s comment because we continue to have new readers and it is a common question. By responding to Bobby I’m hopeful readers seeing the question and answer will be alerted to why we don’t discuss precisely what Bobby is referencing, while also notifying them we have a comment policy. 🙂
Duchess Kate wears clothes so beautifully! That long lean body lends itself to so many looks.
She looks absolutely lovely.
I agree with YB! Berry is her color too! Her radiant smile says it all! Do not like the style of headband though!
Kate looked lovely on Christmas. I think she looks fabulous on jewel tones, while Meghan looks lovely in neutrals. Well to be honest, I believe both can wear either and look amazing, but I believe I prefer Kate in jewel tones over neutrals.
I also ADORE the headband style hats. Kate has such an English knack for wearing and choosing hat styles (as well she should). These trendy headband style hats look fresh and new, while also a throwback to an older period as well–I love vintage styles and looks that hearken back to older time periods. I believe the headband style hats look particularly youthful and elegant on Kate.
On the British Museum website as part of their jewelry collection they have 2 pictures of gold and silver oakleaf and acorn tiaras that look extremely simular to Kate’s lovely brooch.
The description states that these tiaras were from around 1855 and parts were designed to be removable and used as hair combs.
Since we know jewelry designs run in trends, perhaps Kate’s brooch was a gift from the Queen of an old hair comb or dismantled tiara dusted off from the back shelf of the vault.
Her Majesty seems to be able to pull out these long lost treasures that haven’t been seen in decades or even centuries that everyone assumed had disappeared. I.e. Meghan and Princess Eugenie’s wedding tiaras. Just a speculation.
Kate really looks the part in this beautiful red Catherine Walker coat which skims the body so elegantly. Like the headband, shoes and gloves. A great colour on what appears to be a chilly British day.
This is a fantastic color on Catherine, especially for Christmas, and she looks beautiful. I agree with the poster who said the accessories work because they pick up the deeper hue of the collar and detail on the pockets. She also has the knack of walking well in heels, so kudos to her for that, and while these Gianvito Rossi pumps are gorgeous in all of the colors we’ve seen, they’re especially so in this rich jewel tone, with the matching gloves and clutch. The headband is a statement, and she pulls it off. I don’t think I can ever see too much of the Asprey oak leaf earrings and brooch; they’re so elegant.
The Queen, as usual, is impeccable. I’d also like to give a nod to Lady Louise, who is always appropriately dressed for public events– not looking too young or too old, and dressed in styles that suit her and the occasion. She is getting some serious training, to be sure.
I want to see the Duchess in a brooch more often!
Love the outfit and the headband, so elegant and gorgeous colour for xmas. Must be so hard constantly being in the media headlights and being judged on every piece of your attire. If for a reason I am not keen on an outfit then I choose to keep my thoughts to myself, no different than I would with friends, families or associates. Nothing worse than someone picking an outfit you have chosen to pieces with their negative comments.
Jane, a very admirable sentiment. Even with the very civilized and high level tone of the commenters here, sometimes I am surprised by the level of detail in the comments addressing extremely minute details. Of course many commenters here are much more educated on fashion and style techniques than am I. I just love beautiful clothes and Catherine wears them so well. I love her more classic traditional style.
Mary Ann I agree with you. I can’t believe the amount of detailed comments that appear to verge on body or personal shaming. To me it seems they have forgotten there is a real person they are picking to pieces on every little bit of detail.
I really love watching what the Royals wear but shrink back at those keyboard warriors picking at minute details. Very sad that we can’t just celebrate who they and on many occasions the wonderful causes they are supporting etc.
Wow, I think she looks beautiful in that cheery, festive red. I love the way her hair looks with the soft waves, it’s so perfect for that hat. It was so nice to see how comfortable and happy both Kate and Meghan appeared together. I can’t see those earrings enough! I think they are the prettiest pair she owns. I noticed the dove gray coat the Queen wore with that floral dress looked similar to how Meghan dressed on her last engagement at “The Old Pros Paradise”. Autumn looked really beautiful and I liked Eugenie’s dress and the color of Anne’s dress was very pretty on her too. Everybody looked so nice and relaxed today.
The level of preparation the Queen makes for her appearances is astonishing. She and Angela Kelly (her dresser) have all of her outfits planned well in advance, so I doubt she is taking cues from brand-new members of the BRF. And I agree that William, Kate, Harry and Meghan did well to walk together on Christmas– William and Kate are consummate professionals and know what is best for the family as a whole.
Best wishes to all. A terrific post, thank you for todays post even on Xmas. Amazing to me seeing everyone so rugged up, where here in Australia, we are struggling with literally heatwave conditions! Prefer the cold any day!
The Duchess looks lovely, accessories, beautiful coatdress I love, not so fussed on headband but obviously personal preference.
The Queen looks utterly beautiful, the colour of her outfit suits her so well. Her complexion is amazing.
I adore this. Festive color in a fantastic cut with great tailoring. I haven’t been a huge fan of the Tudor style headbands as of late (though the one from Louis’s christening grew on me, largely in part to the lovely Matthew Porteous photo), but this styling is working for me, it almost had a pillbox effect but open at the top. Are the sheer stockings also a berry tone? A dedicated hoisery fan, I love seeing what she does for legs in dresses like these. I’ve been a fan of her holiday season style this year, and I’m adding this to my win column!
What I would do to know the maker and shade of her stockings today. I never wear them because whatever I buy looks fusty and off, but these with her outfit look sophisticated and professional.
Kate and Meghan seem to have different ways of making sure they don’t pull attention away from each other. Kate recycles old outfits, or old outfits in new colours, and since Meghan hasn’t really worn enough outfits as a royal to start repeating just yet, wears dark colours. I’m really quite in awe of how the both of them have been handling the media frenzy.
On another note, I was looking at Kate’s outfits from previous years while I was eagerly waiting for this post. IMO, Kate’s outfits have aged incredibly well. I know some readers have an issue with Kate over her non “modern” choices, but what that does is make her thread seamless in the fabric of the royal family.
Apart from the fact that her clothes suit her figure, I think the Duchess dresses with a view to posterity, bearing in mind that retrospective albums of her public appearances will be published for all her life and beyond, as she goes from Princess of Wales to Queen and possibly Queen Mother. She wears classic clothes that won’t appear ridiculously dated in the future.
That’s a very good point. I often talk about that when doing lectures/presentations; decisions are made with an eye on how pieces will look in twenty, thirty, forty years. 🙂
Thanks for covering this even on your Christmas holidays 🙂
I adored Catherine’s look today. Lovely bright, festive colour and this style coat suits her so well. I like that she is trying out different headband styles and this one is my favourite so far. I think I would not have liked it with her hair up but wearing it with those perfect cascading loose curls it is beautiful. She does remind me of a silver screen heroine from the 30s or 40s and I love that Catherine favours a more classic, vintage style! It is nice to see that brooch again. I wonder if we will ever get more information about it. Thanks for ID-ing the gloves too
My favourite look besides Catherine was Autumn. I usually like what she wears and this coat is exquisite. Also really liked Princess Anne in turquoise. I like Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie’s coats but I don’t think the fits were very flattering to either of them unfortunately. William looked very smart and handsome today. I did not like the awkward looking purse/clutch thing Meghan was carrying
So glad to see someone else on here mentioning how great Autumn looked yesterday! I spent a bit of time a couple weeks ago researching her style for a post on an Instagram account I run and realized how great she’s gotten at dressing for Ascot/Trooping/other family events in the past few years. It’s easy to kind of forget to look for her when Kate and Meghan and Sophie are around, but she really is usually one of the best-dressed of the bunch.
Unfortunately it is not visible here, but on some news sites that published pics, Autumn’s coat has a fabulous leopard print lining that you can see when she was walking. Such a fun detail, and I am a fan of leopard. I might die if Kate had worn some leopard print shoes with this dress!
SG– Good info on the leopard lining detail! I’ll have to look out for Autumn a little more in the future. I would love to see Kate in some leopard too, at some upcoming engagements! Not too much… just the right touch. (I think she may have worn leopard once before, on a dress, but the possibilities for accessories and shoes are endless.)
That color of that coat is gorgeous! It looks different of course in different photos, but in the video it is so vibrant and amazing! I never would have thought to mix that berry with the wine-like accessories, but she manages to pull the whole thing off with panache. From the front I thought the headband was a hat and didn’t even know until I saw it from behind. Her hair looks lovely and is particularly well-styled for the head band. The coat fits her perfectly and is so beautifully tailored. She looks impeccable and stands out with such regal beauty. Love the shoes and gloves. How lovely. What a happy day!
I think that the Duchess of Cambridge looks absolutely stunning again. The style and color of her coatdress are perfect for this occasion.
But now that I have seen her hair styled both up and down while wearing a headband I have decided that I much prefer it up. One the other occasions that she wore it up she looked eternal, almost goddess like with the headbands.
Maybe she doesn’t take her hairdresser on family.holifays and just curled it herself this morning.
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Is there any possibility the brooch is part of parure with the earrings and necklace from Asprey? A set given as a wedding present maybe?
This was a winning look for me. loved the red hues and that velvet – very christmas! reading thru the other posts i had to agree another coat but for public looks it must be easier to have a set look and the fit is always so perfect. Loving all these hat/head bands and nice to see the oak leaf brooch again. Since the Duchess came back from maternity leave I have felt like she has notched up her style game and today did not disapoint 🙂
I think she is working with a different style advisor for at least the last month or two as Natasha Jackson is on maternity leave. It’s still very much Catherine’s style but definitely notched up a little as you say. I really like what they are doing whomever they are!
I though the coat style and color were typical Classic Kate, but a beautiful example of that, great color and style and fit. My only objection is the tight, pointy collar. I don’t know what style would look better, and it might be the best choice, but it looks excessively prim, tight, and shirt-like on a coat, to me.
Thank you for making time to give us a post on Christmas! Hope your holiday is very happy!
I have grown tired of the coat dresses. I also don’t like the head piece.
This is the first time I *have* liked one of these headpieces, or at least found it….well, okay. It’s not as poufed up on top as the others seemed to be, and that makes it work better to my eye. I think the more top-heavy ones like like comic strip word balloons hovering over the wearer’s head.
I tend to think the beautiful coat dresses are fitting for her position as future queen snd allow her to stand out yet in a subtle way. Coat dresses such as hers are not something that one would wear in everyday life and I think they set her apart. The outfits that Meghan and others are wearing, while beautiful, are no different than what the well dressed woman would typically wear. Catherine’s coat dresses say royalty to me.
Nice to see the Royals over the festive season…
Kate looked lovely the coat both the green and red versions suit her perfectly.
Personally I would have steered away from red accessories but they look just fine on the Duchess…
Interesting choice of broach I think anything silver or gold based would look nice and the oak leaf looks great matching well with the earrings… I notice the earrings have a gold base couldn’t tell from the pictures of the broach if it was also gold based…. interesting to know if the Duchess is mixing the two metals… something I am never sure if I should do 😀.
Kats hair style also looks great not a fan of the headband but the way Kate’s hair has been styled kind of covers it up so to speak…. I hope she stays clear of this type of head piece in the future or maybe wears it differently.
Overall another great look from kate… just the headpiece wasn’t my faviourate 😁.
I might also ad I believe the duchess gets away with the mismatching accessories because of the darker collar and pockets on her coat. This introduces a darker berry color on the main piece of the outfit which makes it not so confronting to the eye when the shoes/bag/gloves/headpiece are all different reds to each other and the jacket. So long as all the accessories are darker than the coat and more in line with the collar/pocket flaps they ‘match’ and look fine.
Just my take 😁
I agree about the accessories working because they are a darker shade and close to the color of the accents on the coat dress. I think the cut of the coat dress is beautiful and very flattering on her. I actually like the headband. It has a retro vibe, doesn’t hide her face and isn’t too fussy. I love that she wore a festive color!
I think Kate looked fab! The festive red was on the mark. You can never go wrong with that at Christmas. I’m glad she’s growing her hair out and it’s going back to being flowing and soft. But, at first, I liked the head band, but looking at it now, I wish she had left it off.
Personally, I miss the way she dressed in 2016, wearing the maroon coat and faux fur and pointing out structures on the church to Charlotte on the way in. That was lovely. Oh Kate, definitely a student of art history. I secretly hope she’ll bring back that exact outfit next year. With the same flowing, loose hair.
First time poster, long time reader here. Really enjoyed all the posts here over the years. 🙂
I’m so happy you commented, Elle! 🙂
Wow, Kate looks beautiful! The coat is a timeless piece, and the rich ruby color makes it memorable and festive. I love the cut — it works well with Kate’s tall, elegant figure.
About the hat — it’s rather expensive for such a small piece, don’t you think? I do like it, as it is feminine and pretty, but I can’t fathom spending so much money on a bit of fabric and a bow.
I’m not a huge fan of the sheer black tights; I prefer opaques, but the the shoes are lovely and match with the rest of the ensemble.
Kate’s hair really struck me as being well-styled for today. Those soft cascading waves are every girl’s dream, no?
About leaving the kids at home, I totally understand why Kate and Will would have opted not to bring George this year. It’s a long walk for a little boy, especially under the scrutiny of the crowds waving and cheering. Maybe next year…?
Every time I see a new outfit from Kate, I marvel at how well-tailored and properly-fitted it is! There is a real art to tailoring a garment to fit your figure properly, and it involves more than just choosing pretty clothing or the latest trend. Kate is a master at the well-fitted outfit, and for that, I enjoy following her style.
Kate’s hair looked dreamy today. I loved her whole look!
Hats from milliners are so expensive because they are handmade and the level of craftsmanship that goes into them. Even Lady Louise’s little beret above cost £475.
For me this look is prototypical Kate and while not particularly exciting is presentable and appropriate for the occasion. I do appreciate that she is trying some new styles with her headwear unfortunately, like when trying anything new, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t and I don’t think this one is particularly successful.
Additionally, although I know this is Kate’s site I would like to give props to Princess Eugenie who I feel has really grown into her style this year and I thought looked really good this morning. Also, props to Autumn Phillips who in my opinion always looks stylish but rarely gets any attention.
I second nearly every word of your post, especially the prototypical Kate fashion choice and your remarks about Princess Eugenie and Autumn! (I like Kate’s head band, but not with this ensemble.)
I immediately thought Kate was wearing a pillbox style hat when I saw the first photo.
I had instant flashbacks of her red CW coat dress and pillbox hat in Australia.
I like the headband, but it appears quite voluminous when paired with such a streamlined and tailored garment, like a coat dress.
May I add that Princess Beatrice looked really, really lovely today as well? I find her wardrobe to be really hit or miss with me, but she was positively timeless and dressed beautifully in her navy blue coat today.
I love everything except that headband hat, those things have got to go!
The coat is perfect, I’m so excited to see a brooch with the oak earrings.
Everyone in the family looks lovely. The Duchess of Cambridge is radiant and I can’t believe she just had her 3rd child! She looks even more beautiful than when she was a bride. I really hope seeing the duchesses interact naturally together will put to rest the ridiculous feud rumors about Kate and Meghan. They are both beautiful women doing their best to fulfill different public roles and raise young families. I’m also not best friends with my sister-in-law, but that’s fine! Family is made up of people who care about each other, but wouldn’t necessarily have chosen each other. I think Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas message about tolerance and family closeness is so important in our time. Merry Christmas to all.
I like the button placement on this coat. Some of her other double breasted coats have awkward placement, whether they’re too wide or pulling. These are just right.
I don’t care for the gloves/hat/purse matched with the coat/velvet- too many “close, but not quite” shades of berry.
Nevertheless, she looks lovely, as does everyone else.
A very merry Christmas and happy New year to everyone here!
I agree – while I love the beautiful coat, especially in this rich colour, I don’t like the accessories in the almost but not quite matching colours. I would have matched them to the colour of the the headband bow instead.
Loving the coat, but she really needs to retire those awful headbands! And for £800 it Is absolutely painful to watch!
So elegant and regal. She wears 40s looks especially well.
The Duchess has always had a lovely smile, but this year there seems to be so much real happiness in her expression.
I think it is nice that you cover Kate’s official outings only, and not the times she is out and about with her family. I can only think of how exciting it must be to see her in real life, though!
This outfit is classically perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing.
I’m glad you decided not to cover the shopping trip, though I did see photos elsewhere, mostly noting that she was wearing a Dubarry tweed jacket that I saw when I was in Ireland last August, didn’t buy at the time, and then tried to buy from the UK site where they finally threw up their hands on the shipping issues. It’s now carried on the US site but for twice as much! Still debating.
Bravo! I would not have thought all the shades of berry would work – but they do! Kate looks very regal this past year – she has the confidence of an “older” (I use the term not in regards to age but experience) royal who knows what looks good on her.
I thought Sophie, Autumn and Eugenie all looked splendid.
However, the Queen wins best dressed. I thought her coat and hat were exceptional.
I think Kate’s color choice is beautiful for Christmas morning. It is an elegant, sophisticated version of “Christmas red” and I like that her gloves, clutch, shoes and hat are in the same color family but a deeper version of the raspberry coat. In this instance I also like the halo headband a great deal. For a walk in chilly, damp morning air having her hair swept back was a wise choice and the hat works with that. In the photos during the walkabout the bow at the back of the hat and the way it works with her hair is quite pretty and a little different from her usual. I was sorry that the Duchess of Cornwall did not feel well enough to join the family for church service. I’ve come to look forward to seeing not only her fashion choices but her smile and warmth. But back to Kate, to my eye she looked beautiful, appropriate, at ease and regal. In other words, she looked like a woman who is confident in who she is and like the future queen she will one day be.
I love the coat. The color is great, I like the way the bottom flares out, the collar detail is nice, and unlike a lot of Walker coats, does not have metallic buttons. The problem is, as ever with Kate, is the terrible styling. The color of the accessories is off again…they either need to match or be in a contrasting color, because it looks like a failed attempt at matching. And again with the Anne Boelyn headband, sigh…and it appears to be catching, as Eugenie also had a headband thing (although less Tudoresque). Hope to see this coat again with better accessories…even black would be an improvement.
The various shades of berry and red do not match or complement each other at all. On all of my screens, the coat seems to be more of an orange(ish)/warm red, whereas the headband and shoes and clutch are all cooler blue/red tones. However, none of the accessories are the same shade and none of those three shades work with the coat. The headband color doesn’t work with the coat IMO and seems to have a brown accent on it? Maybe she should have gone with brown/cognac acessories? or black would have worked. Also, I really do not like the headband.
Earrings and broach are great—and so is her bright smile and lovely demeanor.
I agree…I know others think the accessories match the collar and cuffs but I don’t see that. Like you, I see orange-reds and blue-reds, which do not mesh well, imo. It is like when she puts yellow-based greens with blue-based ones. Given that she has a degree in art history, I would have thought she’d have a better eye for color. But I also expect that as a former accessories buyer, she would style herself better. Unfortunately, her styling often detracts from what would be good or great outfits. I wish she’d try out new stylist(s)/advisors!
So agree with the comments about color! This happens too often with Kate — reds or greens don’t go together or really clash because their undertones are so different. And it ruins otherwise great outfits (although this coat is not a good cut for her at all). The red and berry combo is awful here — completely doesn’t match and doesn’t harmonize at all. I don’t understand why she doesn’t hire a stylist with a good eye for color who could address this. I do like the hat — I think that retro style suits her.
Perfect outfit and Kate seems to be starting a headband trend. They are all over the catwalks, but different styles, not all would be appropriate.
The one thing I wonder is that those shoes on that wet pavement! I would feel like my feet are freezing! And it doesn’t look like there are tights either. Perhaps the shoes are more tough, but suede shoes on wet pavement would get my feet wet. Do you think she changes shoes? To drier ones? Lol
It wouldn’t surprise me, that HRH kicks off those shoes as soon as she can, and then pulls on her ugg boots.
Kate looks stunning. I always love this color on her & of course her most beautiful accessory is her smile. A true embodiment of the Christmas Spirit!
Wishing all you dear WKW readers a Merry Christmas! Here’s to a 2019 full of Royal fashion watching!!! 🙂
Merry and Happy Christmas, everyone! I have been eagerly anticipating this post for several days. Thank you to the Susans for taking time out of your holiday to bring us devoted readers something special on Christmas.
Kate looks wonderful and I love that she could have stepped out of a classic Christmas movie like It’s a Wonderful Life. She is doing what she does best and wearing a gorgeous saturated color is part of that. Reminds me a bit of her raspberry hue at Eugenie’s wedding where she also stood out beautifully. I think a brooch is a nice touch as well.
I do love Sophie’s ensemble and Louise has apparently had a major growth spurt!
The Duchess looks lovely, as she always does on these sort of family outings. I particularly like the headpiece. It has a bit of whimsy with the bow at the back and more like a headband.
Completely off topic, but boy oh boy does Charles look a bit disheveled. ;).
Possibly seeing to Camilla and worrying a little bit! A heavy cold can be awful.
Kate looks spectacular today. What a festive colour for the Christmas season. I really like the monochromatic look, with a hint of difference in the shade of the accessories, which adds interest. The brooch is a nice touch as it gives some sparkle but in no way clutters the clean lines of the beautifully tailored coat. Well done Duchess!
Merry Christmas to Susan and all WKW fans.
Happy Christmas. I adore her and I find Zara one of the most striking women on Earth…
Beautiful coat. Very classic and timeless. Catherine looks lovely, as usual. I love the color.
I chuckled when I saw little James only wearing his suit coat. I know little boys sometimes don’t like wearing an overcoat but James looks like he’s freezing. Hope he learned his lesson and will wear something heavier next time. Or not. He is a little boy after all.
I had the same thought, and could almost envision the conversation just before everyone left for church! 😊
Very nice christmas outfit.
You missed her trip to “The Range” with Charlotte and George. The Range is a cheap shop that sells allsorts in the Uk. She was there at the weekend and there are a few pics of it.
Hi, Vanessa! You’re lovely to mention Kate’s shopping trip at The Range. It was something I elected not to cover; I felt the photos were intrusive. Thank you for checking, and Merry Christmas! 😊
I’m glad that you elected not to cover The Range photos. I thought that they were an invasion of The Duchess’s privacy.
I loved The Duchess’s outfit today. This classic looks suits her very well and the coat is just the right length to show off her lovely legs. The combination of red and mulberry is very festive. Although I didn’t love the black headband that she wore to the Remembrance Service, this one looks deeper and seems to sit back on her head more, which makes it look less like a headband and more like a hat. I wonder if the brooch was a gift from her parents, or perhaps from Prince William.
Merry Christmas to everyone on this blog!
She mentioned it briefly, but didn’t post it because she felt the photos were intrusive.
I think the Duchess looks appropriate and lovely here…except that the hatband is giving me anxiety! It looks crooked in some pictures and in danger of falling off. I’m sure it is secured from doing so, but I just can’t quit shake the desire to right it!
I do wish she weren’t so matchy matchy with head to toe all one color. A lovely set of cognac colored accessories would’ve been lovely with this coat. However, that’s all nitpicking.
And those Asprey earrings are getting quite the workout lately!