Kate in New & Old Pieces for Children’s Centre Visit & the Return of a Jewelry Classic!

Kate was in a mix of old and new pieces for today’s visit to the Henry Fawcett Children’s Centre. 

The Duchess was at the center to learn about the Lambeth Early Action Partnership (LEAP) and how that program uses the Parent and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS) to support parents, caregivers and children.

More about the LEAP program from a Palace news release:

“LEAP was set up, and all their work with families is funded by A Better Start, a major 10-year funding initiative from The National Lottery Community Fund, which has supported five locations across the UK, including Lambeth, to test new ways of making support services for families stronger.”

You may remember that Kate and William learned about Blackpool’s  ‘A Better Start’ program when they visited the city last week.

Russell Myers reports in his Daily Mirror story that this morning the Duchess “joined a briefing at the centre, listening intently as she was told there aren’t as many children’s centres like it as there used to be.”

Kate took part in a “Circle of Security” session with parents and their toddlers.

The exercise helps parents and caregivers better understand their child’s emotions and enhances the child’s sense of self-esteem.  

Circle of Security is one of two programs offered to all parents with children of 0 to 4 years at the Children’s Centre. Below, Kate with one of two pairs of twins she met today, Kamina and Kashay who are almost two.

From People’s story:

She asked the girls’ mother, Finesse, about her experience of having twins. “I told her, ‘double the trouble’ and she laughed,” the mom shared.

Finesse, 31, who has a 12-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son in addition to her young twins, said Kate was interested in finding out how the center had helped her.

“I told her that I felt very isolated, and how much it had supported me,” she explained. “It enabled me to meet other mums and twins, which has been incredibly helpful. In fact, I feel like I have got triplets given that I have a two-year-old as well. They are really little divas in the making!”

“She was just lovely, really down to earth. I never thought she would come down and sit with us, but she did,” Finesse said. “She just wanted to chat about what it was like to be a mum. She said that we all had our ups and downs as parents, regardless of who we are.”

Kate also joined a “Together Time,” sessions that support attachment and bonding between parents and infants.

A quick video.

The Duchess of Cambridge joins parents and their toddlers taking part a ‘Together Time’ session offered by @LeapLambeth and PAIRS, which is designed to support parents’ ability to understand their child’s cues and feel more confident in their parenting. pic.twitter.com/8Lb4KeXJqC

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 12, 2019

Together Time includes interaction led by the child.

The Duchess speaking with parents and/or caregivers.

Kate talked about Louis with some of the parents. More from this People story:

“Louis just wants to pull himself up all the time,” Kate told fellow parents. “He has got these little walkers and is bombing around in them.”

A mom named Kriti, who was at the center with her 9-month-old son Kameron, swapped stories with the royal about their little ones. Kriti told reporters, “She took one look at Kameron and said, ‘Oh, he wants to go walkies.’ Apparently her son is cruising, and she said she was running after him all the time.”

Now for our look at what Kate wore.

We’ll start with the Duchess’s Gucci Silk Crepe Pussy Bow Blouse ($1300).

The blouse is 100% silk satin georgette in a color called ‘pale violet orchid.’ The fabric is described as being lightweight and non-stretchy. It features a loose silhouette, covered buttons on the back, a high collar with the distinctive bow and a straight hem. Kate wore her blouse with the buttons to the front (backward per product descriptions). 

Below left, you see how the bow is attached at the back collar, and on the right, the cuff.

We show the blouse at Nordstrom; it is also available at Gucci, along with Net-a-Porter, as well as My Theresa, Neiman Marcus, and Saks (in limited sizing). A ‘thank you’ to Middleton Maven for the blouse ID.

The Duchess also wore a pair of Jigsaw trousers. We believe they are the same pair worn for a December visit to an RAF base in Cyprus.

We believe they are the brand’s High-Waisted Sport Luxe Trousers (£130). 

The Duchess appeared to be wearing a new pair of shoes that look like Gianvito Rossi Piper Suede Pumps ($695). As you can see, I do not have a really good closeup of Kate’s shoes. 

The style has what is described as a “severe point toe” and a block heel that is 85mm, roughly 3.5″. We show them at Barney’s ($695); they are also available in limited sizes at Neiman Marcus, at My Theresa and also very limited sizing at Gianvito Rossi. Our thanks to Data Duchess for the shoe ID.

Kate carried her Aspinal Midi Mayfair bag (£495, roughly $650) in the deep shine lilac colorway. The bag shown is slightly different from the Duchess’s; hers has the croc pattern on the entire bag while the product photo does not.  

It looked like the Duchess wore the same belt today that we saw in Cyprus. 

UPDATE MAR 17: Kate’s belt was new and it remains unidentified. Many thanks to Cosima for her comment reminding me I needed to fix this!

One of the most interesting things about today’s look: the return of Kate’s Hope Egg Earrings in sterling silver and white topaz by Links of London.

Their most notable wearing was for one of the official engagement photos taken by Mario Testino (lower left). The photo lower right is from a 2012 visit to Fortnum and Mason with HM and the Duchess of Cornwall.  

Elizabeth at Kate’s Closet pointed out, we haven’t seen the Duchess wearing the earrings since March 2012!

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Also today, a couple of quick updates to Kate’s Calendar, including confirmation of Sunday’s engagement with the Irish Guards and the addition to the calendar of another next Tuesday.

• Sunday, March 17: Kate and William are confirmed to take part in the annual Shamrock Ceremony with the Irish Guards.

• Tuesday, March 19: Kate will visit the Foundling Museum to “understand how they use art to make a positive contribution to society by engaging with vulnerable and marginalized young people.” This will be the Duchess’s second visit to the Museum.

We’ll see you in a few hours when Kate attends the annual National Portrait Gallery gala.

VIDEO:
This Royal Family Channel video runs about 4 minutes.

LINKAGE:

• Learn more about LEAP on the organization’s website here; follow the Facebook page here; the group’s Twitter feed is here
• The Daily Mail’s story by Rebecca English is here; the Russell Myers Daily Mirror piece is here; The Evening Standard’s story & gallery are here;
• Simon Perry’s People story is here; a PopSugar gallery is here;