The Duchess in Cropped Trousers & Polka Dots for Visit to Sunshine House

The Duchess wore new separates for a previously unannounced engagement today.

She was visiting Sunshine House Children and Young People’s Development Centre. 

A quick video of Kate arriving shared by Rebecca English on Twitter.

To further her research and engagement with the Early Years sector, The Duchess of Cambridge is visiting Sunshine House Children and Young People’s Health and Development Centre to meet with the Southwark Family Nurse Partnership team pic.twitter.com/TFoiZfHNtv

— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) September 19, 2019

 

The Duchess was there to learn about the Family Nurse Partnership, an initiative supporting young mothers. 

More from People’s story:

The voluntary home visiting program for first-time parents — ages 24 and under — links parents with a specially-trained family nurse who visits them regularly, from early pregnancy until their child is 2.

The program is directed by Evelina London Children’s Hospital, one of Kate’s patronages. Below you see the Duchess speaking with Ailsa Swarbrick, director of the Family Nurse Partnership.

In addition to providing support for first-time mothers, the partnership helps improve children’s development and overall health. Kate met staff and mothers who have been through the program. 

And heard about their experiences with the partnership.

Here she is with Amina Dean and her daughter, Ramira, who is three years old.  Ms. Dean received support from the FNP team during the first two years of Ramira’s life.

From Evelina London’s story about today’s engagement, quoting Amina Dean:

“The Duchess was lovely and down to earth. She was very interested in Ramira and asked lots of questions about the support I received from the Evelina London FNP team and seemed very impressed by the service.

“When I was pregnant with Ramira, my nurse Debbie helped me find suitable housing.  When Ramira was born she would regularly visit us and we attended classes together at my local children’s centre. Debbie has constantly been there for Ramira and me. I feel very thankful for the support I’ve received from the Evelina London FNP team. It’s given me the confidence and knowledge to be an even better parent.”

A quick video shared by the Palace.

The Duchess of Cambridge visited @EvelinaLondon Sunshine House to meet the Southwark @FNPNationalUnit, as part of her research and engagement with the Early Years sector.

The Family Nurse Partnership is a voluntary home visiting programme for first time parents aged 24 & under. pic.twitter.com/TwKJQY3RuB

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 19, 2019

 

I think Kate was giving little Ramira a tickle. 

The initiative is offered in roughly 70 communities in England. In addition to the nurse supervisors, there are also family nurses and quality support staff.

As she was leaving the Duchess was presented with a posy by four-year-old Oliver with his mother, Chloe Koroma. 

Chloe Koroma also shared thoughts about her experience with the FNP. More, via this Belfast Telegraph story (quoting Ms.Koroma):

“I have biopolar and following the pregnancy I suffered from postnatal depression so I really appreciated her support. I no longer use the service but I’m still in touch with Debbie as she was a big part of my life.”

The Duchess, Oliver, and his mother.

The Duchess of Cambridge receives a bouquet from Chloe Koroma’s four-year-old son Oliver, during a visit to a health centre in Camberwell, south London to learn about an innovative service supporting young parents. pic.twitter.com/IqhWEl5QO4

— PA Royal Reporters (@PARoyal) September 19, 2019

 

The Belfast Telegraph piece also reports that “The full-time mother said later: ‘It was lovely meeting the duchess. She asked how old Oliver is and what football shirt he was wearing. She said children grow up so quickly and she can’t believe George is six already.’”

Now for our look at what the Duchess wore for today’s engagement. 

She was in a shirt that appears to be by Equipment, the label’s Slim Signature Silk Shirt ($280). 

Made of 100% silk material, the shirt is described as being slightly fitted. It features a button front, double chest pockets and a box pleat on the center back. It is available at Equipment, and also at Bloomingdale’s, along with Revolve and Shopbop. Many thanks to Mail Online’s Caroline Parr for her blouse identification, as well as Mallory Bowling. We share several RepliKate options on our RepliKate Tops page here.

Kate’s trousers appear to be by Zara. On the UK product page, the item is simply called Culottes (£29.99); on the US site, the item name is High Waisted Pants ($49.90).

The wide-leg style has an invisible side zipper and is made of 100% polyester fabric. The one distinction I can see between the styles shown on the two sites: the zipper on the UK site and Kate’s trousers is on the left; in the US product shot it is on the right. Our thanks to Rachael of the Cambridge Mums for her identification of Kate’s culottes; Rachael recognized them immediately because she has a pair!

Thoughts on today’s look from Bethan Holt’s Telegraph column:

Two years ago, you wouldn’t have caught the Duchess of Cambridge dead in a trouser, save for a skinny jean. Her look was all floaty midi dresses, sleek shifts and sharp pencil skirts. She appeared to have adopted the Queen’s policy of only wearing trousers for dressed-down occasions – and even then she stuck to a safe shape.

Now, however, she is making the trouser silhouette of the season her own. In fact, her latest look appears to have been moodboarded directly from some of the most influential catwalks of the season.

The Duchess accessorized with her Gianvito Rossi ‘Piper’ suede pumps. 

The black suede style features a 3.5″ block heel and what is called a “severe pointed toe,” in the product description at My Theresa ($695).  The shoe is also offered at Net-a-Porter in very limited sizes.

We saw the earrings Kate wore for last week’s engagement showcasing the Back to Nature Garden at RHS Wisley. Below you see them as worn last week. 

I updated last week’s post to say that after looking at more photos I was leaning toward them being the Accessorize pair as many think but I’m not 100% convinced that is the case. (I’m not sure this one will ever be resolved in my mind unless we get another image that shows them clearly from another angle.)

One more photo of the Duchess from today’s engagement.

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Also today, news of the winning sculpture that was selected for RHS Wisley, part of a design contest Kate and the Royal Horticultural Society did in partnership with the Children’s BBC program, Blue Peter. Below, the Duchess and Jessica, whose design was the winner.

The Duchess of Cambridge joined @CBBC’s #BluePeter to unveil the winner of their Royal Garden Competition ? at @RHSWisley – congratulations Jessica on your winning design! ? pic.twitter.com/qTW0sFfE89

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 19, 2019

Here you see Kate with Ben Brace from the RHS (l) and George Hassall (r), looking at the entries for the contest.

Kate with Jessica and other teens in front of the newly-installed sculpture, which is made of wood and recycled metal, and features large butterfly wings. 

In the photo released today by Kensington Palace, the Duchess is wearing her LK Bennett ‘Madison’ dress.  Most recently we saw Kate wearing the frock at a July polo match.   

A reminder that we’ll see both Kate and William next Thursday in Birkenhead, where they will attend the naming ceremony of the UK’s new polar research ship, the RRS Sir David Attenborough. 

VIDEO:

Royal Family Channel’s video runs about 2:30.

And here is a Kensington Palace video that is roughly 40 seconds.

The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of @EvelinaLondon, visited Sunshine House Southwark @FNPNationalUnit, as part of her research and engagement with the Early Years sector.

Read more on The Duchess’s visit: https://t.co/8AJr0eUf3p pic.twitter.com/4JX7QMQfWJ

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 19, 2019

LINKAGE:

• Read Evelina London’s story about the engagement here
• The Daily Mail’s piece is here; The Belfast Telegraph‘s article is here; an Express story is here
• Simon Perry’s People story is here; a Hello! piece is here; a PopSugar slide show is here; The Telegraph’s fashion story is here; the Fug Girls slideshow is here