The Duke and Duchess visited Bradford in West Yorkshire today. 
Located in northern England, Bradford is one of the UK’s most diverse cities. The Duke and Duchess were there to learn about projects and initiatives supporting the community. They arrived at just about noon.
Kate with a wave for those gathered to see the couple. 
The Duke and Duchess being officially greeted at City Hall. 
Then it was time to head inside. 
Richard Palmer of The Express tweeted a video of the couple as they were welcomed.
Inside Bradford’s City Hall pic.twitter.com/Q3pKrQhXZV
— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) January 15, 2020
They spent time with young people from the area who have been recognized for their volunteer and community service efforts. 
More from Rebecca English in her Daily Mail story.
They chatted at length with Caitlund Roberts, 19, who talked to them about STEM subjects and being a woman in engineering.
‘STEM is something we have been going around asking about a lot,’ said William, ‘getting girls into engineering. ‘ He asked: ‘How did you find the journey getting into it. Easy? Difficult? What more can be done?’
Caitlund told them eloquently about the ‘stigma’ she sometimes felt the profession came with for women.
There was quite a crowd waiting to see the royals outside, including students from local primary schools. While the Duke and Duchess were busy inside, a police officer kept some of the children entertained with a vigorous rendition of “Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.” Here’s a video shared by the BBC’s Judith Moritz.
This police officer at the royal visit is rocking ‘heads shoulders knees and toes’ as school children wait to see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge pic.twitter.com/haFCzqmYKx
— Judith Moritz (@JudithMoritz) January 15, 2020
Kate was given flowers as the royals left City Hall. 
This was followed by a walkabout.
The Duchess complimented these children on their school uniforms. (I rarely do this, but really, could those little ones be any cuter?)
The Duchess with two of the students. 
I loved the expression on the boy’s face in this photo. 
Richard Palmer also shared a video of the walkabout.
Royal walkabout pic.twitter.com/H0u5chwOXc
— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) January 15, 2020
The Duchess met a young man named Josh and told him she liked his camouflage jacket and that Prince George is very fond of camouflage. She then gave him a big hug. 
More from The Mirror’s coverage:
Josh, 25, who is autistic and has DiGeorge syndrome, caused by the deletion of a small segment of chromosome, held out his arms to the Duchess, who bent down and gave him a hug.
She then said: “Thank you for the hug”.
Josh had travelled with his mother, Sue, 46, from Blackpool to Bradford, combining a trip to a pantomime with the chance to see the Duke and Duchess.
Josh’s mother tweeted a photo of the Duchess with Josh.
#RoyalVisitBradford pic.twitter.com/JSPYMThtyo
— sue (@rosie7394) January 15, 2020
The Daily Mail reports Josh has had his photo taken with many celebrities, including Robbie Williams and Harry Styles, and he was also photographed with Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
As the couple was leaving, Kate was presented with a bouquet of white roses. 
William was given a single rose by the children that he then presented to Kate. 
The next engagement was at a MyLahore restaurant. The Bradford Argus & Telegraph posted a video of Kate and William arriving.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arriving at @mylahore #RoyalVisitBradford https://t.co/I3OlJt7ms9 pic.twitter.com/sxyC5BseI9
— Telegraph & Argus (@Bradford_TandA) January 15, 2020
MyLahore features British-Asian food inspired by the cuisine of Lahore, Pakistan, considered by many to the food capital of Pakistan. The company’s founders grew up in Yorkshire, and they now employ more than 450 people at MyLahore restaurants in Bradford, Leeds, Manchester, and Birmingham.
Kate and William were at the eatery to learn about the restaurant’s charitable work in the Bradford community. The couple met Bradford College students who are part of a kitchen apprenticeship collaboration between the restaurant and college.
William and Kate made Mango Lassis, a blend of yogurt, fruit, and spices. 
TV’s Lizzie Robinson tweeted a video of the couple mixing kulfi milkshakes.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge tried their hand at making milkshakes during their visit to @mylahore. They also met students from @BradfordCollege who are on an apprenticeship scheme at the restaurant. pic.twitter.com/jFX92WJSze
— Lizzie Robinson (@LizzieITV) January 15, 2020
This photo isn’t a bad candidate for a caption contest. 
While at the restaurant, they met Amir Khan, Britain’s youngest Olympic boxing medalist. The Telegraph reports that Mr. Khan “…said he spoke to William about his boxing foundation and mental health in sport.” 
The Duke and Duchess also met women from UK Women’s Muslim Council and those who have benefitted from the Council’s ‘Curry Circle.’ Sponsored by MyLahore, the Curry Circle is an initiative that provides a hot two-course meal for people who are homeless or struggling to feed themselves. Below, the couple learning about the project. 
The Duchess hearing more about the Curry Circle initiative. 
Then it was time for the next stop, one of two Khidmat Centres in Bradford, purpose-built to serve vulnerable members of minority communities. Below, the Duke and Duchess as they are greeted at the Centre. 
Another view.
Kate meeting people outside the center. 
People’s Simon Perry tweeted a video of the duo outside the center.
Princess Kate chats to people on the way into Khidmat centre in Bradford #royal #katemiddleton pic.twitter.com/c504NlZVea
— Simon Perry (@SPerryPeoplemag) January 15, 2020
They were wowed by the incredible cakes made in honor of the royal visit. 
More from the Leeds Live coverage:
As they walked in, the royals were shown a huge cake which tells the story of both of their lives to date through edible pictures.
When she saw the cake, baked by Bradford baker Siama Ali, Kate said it was “really clever”, adding: “That’s incredible.”
William joked: “Mary Berry would be impressed.”
Some of the individual cakes.
Emily Andrews tweeted a video with Siama Ali, who made the cake.
This amazing lady Siama Ali from Bradford spent three days baking these amazing cup cakes & main 🎂 to depict Kate & William’s childhood, meet, engagement, wedding & children. Lovely explainer from her & she is Cup Caker Bradford if you want to check her out! pic.twitter.com/NE6HRHl50m
— Emily Andrews (@byEmilyAndrews) January 15, 2020
Kate was given handmade gifts for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The items were knitted and crocheted. You can see the personalized “Prince Louis” on the red, white, and blue hat. 
The Duchess speaking with women who made the gifts. 
Mor from The Glasgow Times.
The duchess was introduced to a group of women crocheting at the centre, who showed her hearts and blankets they had made for her children – six-year-old George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
“I tried knitting when I first had George,” the duchess told them.
“I tried to knit him a very special jumper, but I got half way down and it splattered.”
The duchess, who in 2013 disclosed she had taken up knitting ahead of the birth of her eldest child, George, added: “It’s such an amazing skill.”
They took part in a session with groups supported by Better Start Bradford, an organization providing 20 different projects that support pregnant women and families with children under the age of 4. The Duke and Duchess met families from the organization’s ‘Older Yet Wiser’ project, described as “a unique and innovative workshop series for grandparents who have child-caring responsibilities for their grandchildren.” They participated in a sing-along with the Little Dots workshop, an initiative that uses music to help with child development. Below, the Duchess with 18-month-old Sorayah Ahmad. 
More from Hello’s story:
Sorayah’s grandmother Maryiam Ahmad, who has completed the ‘Older Yet Wiser’ course, tells HELLO!: “I almost started crying, it was very, very emotional. Kate was joining in with the nursery rhymes and dancing with Sorayah.”
The final event of the day was a workshop with Near Neighbours, a group that “brings together people in diverse communities, to create relationships of trust and to help people transform their neighbourhoods.”
Another view. 
A group photo. 
Now for our look at what Kate wore for the day’s engagements in Bradford. 
She was in a bespoke coat by Alexander McQueen. The structured piece features a high collar, fitted bodice with multiple darts and flap pockets, exposed seams with topstitching detail, waistband, concealed placket, diagonal besom pockets at the hip, and princess seams on the back of the bodice. Below, a closer look at details: on the left, buttons on the cuffs; in the center, the closure at the neck; on the right, a portion of the front placket. 
It has similarities to the McQueen coat worn for St. Patrick’s Day 2019, as well as the 2018 Remembrance Sunday McQueen, but the darts on today’s garment extend all the way from the neckline to the pockets. The exterior seams appear to have more emphasis (for lack of a better word), and the waistband may be wider. 
Beneath the coat, Kate wore a dress by Zara, the brand’s Printed Dress with Belt (originally $129, most recently $39.90), now sold out online. 
The midi-length dress is 100% polyester in an oversized houndstooth print.
The dress buttons up the front, has a pleated skirt, v-neck with attached bow, elastic on the inside of the waistband, button cuffs, and wide self-belt. 
We saw the return of the Duchess’s go-to Piper 85 Suede pumps by Gianvito Rossi. The shoe is a classic point-toe style with a 3.5″ block heel. 
We show the shoe at My Theresa ($695), where it is in stock in most sizes. It is also available in a mix of sizes at Net-a-Porter ($695); the retailer shows it as ‘coming soon’ in other sizes.
The Duchess carried her Midi Mayfair bag ($725) in the ‘deep shine black croc’ colorway by Aspinal of London. Made of Italian leather, it measures about 8″ x 6″ x 3″.
Kate also owns the bag in the ‘deep shine lilac’ colorway.
The Duchess brought back the Ceramic Drop Earrings ($8) by Pakistani retailer Zeen. The earrings were first seen when worn to a pre-tour reception at the Aga Khan Centre in London, worn again in Pakistan. 
We’ll leave you with one more photo of the Duchess. 
VIDEOS:
Kensington Palace tweeted a very quick recap of the day.
Thank you Bradford! #RoyalVisitBradford pic.twitter.com/w5BhjW7FrU
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) January 15, 2020
Here is a 3-minute video from the City Hall arrival and walkabout.
Here is a 2-minute walkabout video via Global News.
This Royal Family Channel piece offers about 4:15 of raw footage from the MyLahore restaurant visit.
Our final Royal Family Channel video is roughly 3 minutes of footage from the Khidmat Centre.
LINKAGE:
- The Khidmat Centres site is here; the organization’s Facebook page is here, and its Twitter feed is here
- Learn more about Better Start Bradford at the charity’s website; the organization’s Facebook page is here; its Twitter feed here and Instagram page here
- Visit the Near Neighbours site here; the organization’s Facebook page is here; its Twitter feed is here and Instagram page here
- Rebecca English’s story for The Daily Mail is here; The Telegraph’s article is here; The Telegraph’s fashion column by Charlie Gowans-Eglinton is here; The Glasgow Times piece is here; a Daily Express story is here
- A Hello story is here; Simon Perry’s People article is here; a Hello Canada gallery is here; a PopSugar gallery is here; the Fug Girls post is here
People outside the UK may not know that the white rose is the symbol of Yorkshire. (The red rose is the symbol of Lancashire, hence, The War of the Roses.)
Oh, thank you for that info, Sati! I didn’t realize that was the case.:)
I think the pea coloured coat she wore on the pakistan tour would of been better then this rather drab colour!The earrings are lovely and a nice nod to her hosts origin i like the bag but the dress is again matronly and dull!
Bravo to whoever was involved in the planning of engagements on this day. What a wonderful selection of organisations to have featured by the royals and it certainly looked fun as well!
Overall, I like Kate’s look today. I love the exaggerated stitching on the coat and that kind of collar always looks great on Kate. Personally, I don’t think a coat has any business being that long. But considering how windy it was that day, it may – *may* – have been justified for this engagement.
The dress is a classic for Kate. I don’t know how she has the patience to consistently find such great pieces from Zara. Every time I see her in something from the brand, I tell myself I should shop there more often – but I always get overwhelmed by the options, either in-store or online. At this point I just have my eyes on whatever Kate wears from there that hasn’t sold out yet 😉
(Feel free to remove this comment if it’s a duplicate – my wifi timed out as I was posting the first time!)
I loved the mossy green colour! Although everyone has their own preferences, I was sort of expecting the WKW community to agree, & was a bit surprised by the general response. It’s certainly a favourite colour for Kate, & works well with her eyes & colouring. I can’t resist a hit of any green: there is never enough green on the shelves for me! The coat was so long, I thought that it made a fashion statement with its length, instead of being just longish, & it certainly covered all the dress: who would have thought that she had that hidden under there?? It must have been a very soft & compressed material: probably a good thing it was polyester, I would have feared wrinkles! I wasn’t expecting the pairing, & thought the photos were from 2 different events at first. It’s great to see what she is wearing under the coat at indoor functions. When it comes to church attendance, I’m reliant on the eagle eyes and knowledge of Susan & the WKW community! Ditto earrings, at times. I agree that length means warmth, and with the reader who said that boots may have been too warm inside. With a long coat she gets that warmth around the legs outside, but a chance to shed it inside. Maybe the cold weather explains the coat obsession? I am from a colder part of my country & share that obsession, over & above shoes!
On a lot of people the bows, fullness & length of the dress might overwhelm, but Kate has the height & build to carry it off. I l can’t help loving it when she wears affordable things. I bet the fashionistas who bought that dress so cheaply on sale are laughing now, should they happen to follow Kate! I agree that she has to dress in a fairly understated & modest way for these events, & if it can make an appropriate statement, so much the better. I sometimes wonder aimlessly how Kate would be dressing now, had her life not taken such a public path, & I suspect a lot of her clothes wouldn’t be so very different. Looking back, you can see her own style come through from Uni days, allowing for aging, fashion changing, becoming a mum, attending public events etc. My only tiny quibble with the Bradford outfit was the earring/dress match. I think any green will compliment another green, so loved them with the coat, but, as they were effectively patterned themselves (& shared no colourway), they maybe weren’t the greatest pick for the strong & contrasting print of the dress. Ahh it’s all so personal, isn’t it?? I thought the pheasant feather fedora hat band & coat colours meshed so well at St Mary Magdalene, but they were a “miss”for many. I didn’t even notice the earrings/dress clash at Bradford until it was pointed out by a reader! I was too distracted by all the lovely smiling faces, & happy interactions…..& that great hair! Definitely thought The Hair was on form for Bradford.
As it is my first comment on this (or any) site, I just wanted to say thank you to Susan for all her efforts. I have been enjoying WKW for many months, & it distinguishes itself with such great background info & marvellous attention to detail that you just wouldn’t find anywhere else. So beautifully put together. I was first attracted by the title, which reminded me of the What Katie Did books….was that intentional? You don’t see those anymore, or at least not in Australia…I must try to source some for my daughter! And I love the anticipation inherent in the line “and now for a look at what Kate wore”! I also love the fact that the comments are never nasty, even if negative: you don’t find that v often. I wouldn’t generally read comments, but on WKW I scroll right through to the very end! Some of the WKW community obviously know their fashion v well. I’m starting to pick up on the names & personalities of some regulars. A definite guilty pleasure to check in of an evening to see if there is something new posted. So thank you again to all, & apologies for a late & lengthy comment to anyone that happened to wade right through it!
Seh, Welcome to being a contributor to the comments section. Hope you will drop by again and often. All good wishes to Australia as you face the challenges of the fires.
Seh, congratulations on your first comment! You’re right, the WKW community is absolutely lovely, and Susan does a wonderful job of admin editing.
I am definitely in the minority here, but I do not find the coat to be well-tailored. It appears to pull at the waist. . . . it should lay flat there. To me, it looks ill-fitting.
And while I’m not a fan of the color of the coat and am indifferent about the dress, she looks perfectly appropriate and lovely. The kids and her interactions with them are just precious.
I also find that the coat is ill-fitting and I do not like the look.. The dress , shoes and purse are delightful and suit Kate.
The Duchess look lovely, the coat color was a culture nod with the earrings to match. I have notice the most recent McQueen coats with the high military collar look shows the fasteners in silver, for a high end fashion house either needed to place them a little more in or a darker color like black that it would be less noticeable. They did get the length of the coat right, so the long dress did not show, that is proper. I think the whole outfit would have been perfect if that beautiful handbag was in suede combo, otherwise I still like the whole look very professional. 💚
I just notice in some of these photos of The Duchess, she definitely had her hair colored with dark/ low lights and some chestnut/red highlights, plus at the end of this treatment they put a clear glaze that makes her hair even more shiny. No body noice, I know her outfits were spectacular, her hair is even more beautiful.
This outfit is so incredibly boring and stuffy. I think it actually ages her. The last Sandringham ensemble was so perfect and this….. Nothing about the coat and dress is wrong, but yet, I think it is all wrong together.
They looked like they had a wonderful day – the pictures with the little children are so sweet! This isn’t my favorite coat or dress, but the length and high necks probably make them very easy to move about in without any worries for wardrobe mishaps. I keep waiting and hoping to see them visit some sort of support/recovery group for victims of grooming gangs, to show support for the victims. I’m sure Bradford was on that list, but this was a very full day. Maybe another town.
An elegant outdoor look and a lovely indoor look. Her genuine grace and interest in people is so special to see.
I do find myself cringing at yet another bespoke Alexander McQueen coat. Seems like yet another very expensive investment piece. I know she’s probably going to be wearing them for years to come, but she has certainly amassed quite a collection of work clothes/Duchess uniform wardrobe options. And a closet full of coats!
Who commented that she should should rewear coats and spend money on more interesting shoes? I agree!
My goodness, this is my least favourite of Kate’s coats! I don’t like the seaming, neckline, those pocket flaps, or the length! The colour is fine, but everything else was just instant dislike for me!
It is certainly a conservative and covered-up look, in the way that many of her outfits on the Pakistan tour were. Maybe it was chosen with this particular audience in mind, which seems very thoughtful.
I love the dress, though! Its high street origins are very relatable and I’m taken by the cheery but not too “loud” houndstooth/glen plaid. These 80s shirt dresses seem to be everywhere these days and I find them very versatile.
What an unsettling week this has been for royal watchers. I for one will be glad when things have settled into the new normal, whatever that may be.
How amazing is she?
We can quibble about block heels and pussy bows and long coats and glen plaid, but at the end of the day I am so impressed that Kate can go to all of those places, with all of those different people, all day long, and not only have something interesting to say to all of them, but ALSO look genuinely interested and happy to be there for every single one. No matter how many of them ARE genuinely fascinating for her, sometimes she must be bored, or tired, or just not into it … but we can never tell. Just amazing.
Well put. I totally agree. She’s amazing in every way and every level.
A stunner of a coat, McQueen have excelled themselves. The elegant tailoring is perfectly emphasized by well-placed exposed seam lines, and by a feast of tailoring details from bodice pocket flaps to besom hip pockets via the brilliantly executed waist band. It was a touch of genius then to have a concealed placket at the front so no buttons to distract from tailoring wizardry.
The raised collar is another neatly executed savvy treat, and a potential Nehru-style in an echo of the Pakistan theme of the earrings, which themselves nicely chime with the sleeve buttons. I love the Aspinal Midi Mayfair bag, though a textured croc was perhaps unnecessary given the amount of detailing, albeit subtle, on the coat. I love those Rossi Piper pumps, the block heel is ideal to support a heavy coat without having to resort to long boots, which could be uncomfortable indoors.
The Zara houndstooth frock is an inspired pick, being light enough to sit beautifully under the coat without bulk, despite a floppy bow. Much as I dislike said bows, this dress works well, with the monochrome houndstooth keeping it low-key and unfussy, while a floppy skirt is nicely contained in knife pleats. Overall, the outfit is a credit to how the Duchess has come so naturally to embody a stylish while wholly regal and dignified demeanour.
I just cried looking at Kate’s hugging Josh photos… his mother’s face says it all. Thank you!
I haven’t read any of the other comments yet, so forgive me if I’m unintentionally wading into some hot debate.
This is the third McQueen coat we’ve seen, I believe, with that starburst seaming at the neck, and this is the one I like least (best by far is last St. Patrick’s Day). In fact, the seaming is almost the only thing I like about this; everything else is just…not a bad concept, but *off*. I like a nice chest pocket, but these are oddly placed. I like a midi-length coat, but this one seems maybe two inches too long. I like a stitched-down pleat, but these are stitched down to midthigh, which I don’t think would look great on anyone. The Duchess looks glorious in green, but this may be the one shade anyone has found that washes her out.
The dress, gah. I’m not going to be a broken record. I do enjoy a Glen plaid. The shoes and back accessorize well with it. The earrings work with the coat but not the dress. /end
*bag
Agree with all your observations on the coat. This is a rare McQueen miss for me, and one I truly how we don’t see repeated for St Patrick’s Day ever.
I have a feeling she might pull this one out for st patrick’s day.
Kate looks like she is truly enjoying herself and appears so comfortable in her role. I love she is wearing $8 earrings. Her green coat matches the kiddies’ green uniforms!
I’ve already commented about the fashion and the occasion, but I wanted to add another observation. The knitted/crocheted items for the Cambridge children are really beautifully done. The cakes are works of art.
Where I live in Canada, we have an Immigrant Women’s Centre. It is a place for women, new to our country, to come together. They learn to speak English, cook, do crafts and become a support team for each other. In the autumn they have a sale of their crafts. The workmanship is always exquisite. I make many purchases, which not only assists the women, but it also gives me so many unique Christmas gifts.
Kate looks beautiful. Always everything looks amazing together.
Thank you for sharing. You do a wonderful job at letting us know all the facts.
I very much like that she wore and affordable outfit – dress and earrings. The dress style with the bow and puffy sleeves is very in style. I don’t see it as matronly at all. I thought the dress was a great choice, love the pleated skirt with the plaid.
I’m not as fond of the coat. Like others, I think the shade of green is too drab. I’m wondering if her other coats were just too short for this dress? I imagine Kate and her stylist also think ahead when having a bespoke item made and know she’ll wear it again. I have a feeling that, like Anne, we’ll be able to track some of Kate’s outfits back over decades.
The tailoring on the coat is superb, but I feel like the placement of the pocket flaps is creating an unflattering optical illusion in the bust area, making her look flat chested—which she isn’t. I also don’t love the super long hemline. It hits her at an awkward spot and is much longer than needed for the dress. I would have paired this coat with tall black boots. The block heeled pumps only exacerbate the awkward proportion of coat hemline hitting her so low on the leg.
I detest pussybows of any sort and find the dress fussy and matronly, but again styling it with tall boots could have helped IMO.
Her hair and makeup were lovely and I was struck by how confident she is becoming in public. The crowds were enthusiastic even in the cold weather.
This was a fantastic day of events and I feel like William and Kate were both on good form.
Thank you so much for all the details you placed for this visit to Bradford, what a insightful and beautiful collection of articles for what was a busy day for William & Kate. I obviously am a huge fan of the Cambridges’ and the Royal Family in general and one day I hope I may meet a member of the family.
Everybody who was part of the groups Kate & William met will never forget the day, will never forget their support and interest in their charities and collaborations. Never forget the day they met their future King and Queen. I found the picture of Kate holding the little girl very moving.
Kate looked amazing I really liked the coat
I am always curious how big is Kate’s closet so it can store all her coats since her debut as DOC 🙂
Beautiful tailor coat by McQueen and nice dress by Zara. Overall very nice work outfit put together by the stylist that can be rewear.
It seems her style has changed from knee length to long (almost ankle length) coat ; and that goes along with her dress. I also observed she’s been wearing more pussy bow and cuffed sleeve style tops/dresses too. Honestly, a change in style would give her more versatile.
Personally, I feel her style and wardrobe choices are chosen to be timeless, very similar to Crown princess of Denmark, Mary. They have similar built and both are in succession to be the future queen of their country. 🙂
I think the change in the coat length is mirroring the recent style trend for calf-length or longer dresses. One of the “rules” of formal coats is that they should be longer than the dress hem, so I’m not surprised to see the coats becoming longer now.
The coat is so severe for such a young woman, and the color so drab. Maybe some beautiful high black boots would have given it a lift rather than clear hose and black pumps. The $8 earrings and the Zara dresses should be saved for private occasions. It’s hard to say anything negative after the week the royal family have had. The Cambridge’s are the face of the monarchy of the future and they are fulfilling the role perfectly. Yet Kate sometimes dresses just too old for her age. Even professional women can look a bit glam.
If I had never seen the coat, I would’ve absolutely loved this look. But the coat is way too long, drab colored, and severe. Not sure what she sees in pieces like that. The dress however is absolutely lovely. I’m in the minority who love her bow dress obsession. I tried snagging it for myself but it sold out so fast! I also think her suede pumps are this era’s nude Sledge pump, where she literally wears no other shoe… I wish she would get a bit more creative there but I have a similar pair and must admit they are way comfier than stilettos. Regardless, seemed like a lovely day in Bradford and I enjoyed her hug and chat with Josh and her time with the baby! Great to see the Cambridges out and about again.
I am seriously NOT a fan of how often the Duchess wears ‘puffed sleeves and pussy bows’ these days, to me. I liked the coat and I find it nice that she often finds more affordable things to wear (such as the inexpensive earrings) every now and then. But, I really wish she’d find a new style to adopt, I just think the bows are fussy and aren’t youthful. But, really, at the end of the day, she looked lovely, put together and I loved the pictures of her with the young kids :). Also, can anybody clarify, the coat really looks like one she has worn before, am I just mixing it up with another green coat that had similar pockets over her chest area? The pictures showed similar coats worn other times, but, I really thought I’d seen this one before.
As always, Kate looks great. The coat is rather a drab green, seeing she has many other expensive coats in her wardrobe. It seems that Kate cannot please everyone with her choices of outfits, but she always looks professional, appropriate for the occasion and very enthusiastic. She really has a way with the crowd. My personal opinion is it’s not about so much what she wears, but how she carries herself in what she’s told to wear. It was very touching to see her reacting to the crowd today, it brought back a bit of a Diana moment for me.
I love the dress – I think the pattern is called Glen Plaid.
Nope, it’s a dog tooth check. A plaid is the large tartan shawl that people wear. Plaid is not a pattern…
It is in the U.S.
The kids may have stolen most people’s hearts, Josh stole mine. I’m autistic as well and I love that Kate took the time to reciprocate his hug. You can see his mum crying in the background. People have no idea how isolated our childhoods are because no one wants to play with us. I empathize with Josh.
I love she brought back the Pakistan earrings so quickly. They are stunning!
Hugs to you also, Kate. It seems that you have faced your challenges and it is so. good that you are part of the WKW community.
Kate, you might be interested in this video. It shows much more about the Duchess’ interaction and conversation with Joel. Two of the comments below it spoke volumes. One person said, “That young boy hugging Catherine reminds me of when I was working with autistic children and…believe me…they really choose who they like and who they don’t. .so the beautiful unselfish Duchess of Cambridge was privileged to get that hug . Made me cry .” Another said, “This is a fact !! I have taken care of children with autism these children are very smart and can read a human being. So for him to reach up and hug Catherine just tells me he senses she is kind and real not putting on airs or otherwise. She is a pretty classy woman.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl55a_wh7k4
I can’t “read” a human as much as I am very, very sensitive to the “energy” around them. My hugging a person is like reaching the inner sanctum of Kate’s world so it’s genuinely a Very Big Thing. I am 30 (almost 31) and it still causes my mom to weep tears of joy and I look at her oddly when she does this.
Such interesting and enlightening feedback about autism and Kate’s response to Josh. Thank you.
@ElizaMo, I am seriously an open book about most aspects of my Autism if you ever have questions. I can only represent myself and what I have seen at my NFP for disabilities (which vastly represented Autism), but I can answer questions if you ever have them.
Love the coat, great to see the length in sink with the dress. The dress is gorgeous. The detail is superb, sleeves, bow, the works. The shoes and handbag perfect finishing touch. Lovely to see the Cambridge’s work the crowd. They did marvellously.
I am so impressed with how confident and assured the Duke and Duchess have become in their roles. Always warm and caring as they greet people. Always attentive and encouraging as they learn about programs and projects.
The Duchess looks gorgeous as usual. Love the Zara dress. Excellent choice for the different activities of the day. I would have liked the coat better without the breast pockets, but the tailoring is lovely. Not crazy about the earrings but I like why she chose them.
Thanks for all the video links. Great job as always. Love WKW!
Thank you, Barbara! 🙂
Loved the closeup of the buttons on the sleeve of the coat. That looks like the Prince of Wales Coat of Arms embossed on the buttons?
Kate looked great, very professional, she kept calm and got on with the job.
I was trying to figure out how she had the big bow tied up under that coat because there didn’t look like a bump at all.
2 thumbs up on today’s look
Kate looked impeccable today, but I wasn’t a fan of the outfit overall. The coat is faultless- exquisite tailoring, great details, etc., but I really wish it had been a different color. Somehow this dull green was so dreary today. Maybe a deep, rich green, or a dark burgundy? Kate has so many beautiful, similar coats from McQueen, so I’m surprised she didn’t wear one of them instead? Maybe she wanted a longer coat to go with her midi-length dress.
The Zara dress was also “meh” to me- too much polyester, with the pussy bow blouse, long puffed sleeves, etc. These things are all very “Kate”, but this is not my favorite look. I did love the houndstooth, and I love seeing Kate wear Zara with an Alexander McQueen coat.
Overall, it was a great set of engagements, and Kate looked beautiful. Her outfit didn’t exactly “wow” me, but it was perfect for the day, and she looked very elegant.
Great coat, amazing purse, the most fabulous hair ever… but I really wish she’d stop wearing Zara.
I think that her wearing Zara & other high street dresses makes her more relatable. One feels like “oh, I could have bought that dress”. Instead of always wearing something that no one of us could ever afford.
Same goes for her choice of ear rings.
But I do think she must have SO many green coats, that it would have sent a good signal of “recycling” clothes, if she would have worn an old one instead of this one. Agree, it does look a bit drab compared with some other of her other coats.
I do not think that she would have to be afraid of insulting her hoasts by re-wearing someting “old”. Everybody in these days appreciates the royals being thrifty.
“New dress old coat or vice versa, would do nicely. Not everything new ALL the time, would go better in these times. Unless of course it is a big official event.
NOTE: admin edit
I very much like the seaming and length of the coat, although I would have picked a softer and less drab green (maybe a light sage?) and would have omitted the poorly placed and distracting flap pockets. The dress is mostly unremarkable other than her continued good judgment in choosing some items that normal people can afford. I love watching them interact with crowds, especially the children. I can’t help but notice that they both look tired but also perhaps a little relieved.
Catherine’s appeal is that she is so genuine. When she smiles, it’s from her heart, and when she and William smile at each other, they light up the room. I always enjoy seeing what she wears, and her ability to successfully wear expensive and budget pieces together, and make the feat look easy, is part of the fun! Thank you, Susan for this and the other recent holiday and church service posts, I haven’t replied in a bit but have appreciated every post!
I love it all. I especially like the longer fuller skirt which looked perfect when she was seated and had her legs crossed. That is how a lady should look when seated, not trying to pull down a too short skirt. I want her purse!!!!!!
Like that the coat is long enough to cover the hem of the skirt. Not easy to do with such long hemlines these days. Like the dress. Earrings and dress do not match.
So proud of this team! Today, they represented HRM, with earnest concern and caring! As always, Kate looks fantastic, and William, well he is handsome and engaged!
Cheers to the Monarch!!!
I don’t always like Kate’s military-look coats, but for some reason, this one appealed to me. Maybe I like it because it’s unapologetic about being somewhat severe and military looking. It’s very long but a shorter length would seem kind of contradictory to the military mood it creates, and it looks divinely warm too! And I like the dress. It hangs beautifully and I like the full sleeves. They balance the fabric and length. Last but not least, perfect pretty and artistic earrings for such an otherwise understated outfit.
Some wonderful causes for them to spotlight!
I thought she looked great too. Green for the coat was a good choice (not my favourite shade of it for her) to support Pakistan along with the earrings. I love it when she makes the effort to do that even if she already has lots of great coats to choose from. Their smiles really do light up the room. Well done all round.
I must echo Susan: those little ones stole the show! Love how Kate mixed up her price points here. The coat is not my favorite but that isn’t a problem since she has a billion other options. The bag. THE BAG.
Lovely post.
– I think Kate did some fashion diplomacy during today’s visit. Majority of the people in Bradford are from Pakistan so Kate wore her Zeen earrings which is by a Pakistan designer and she first wore them on the Pakistan tour last October. She wore a green McQueen coat since one of the colors on Pakistan’s flag is green. I believe she wore the $16 Zara dress so that the focus is on the community and their projects. I love that this visit have ties with their Pakistan tour.
– William and Kate did a fantastic job today and I’m so proud of them. I’m excited for the Cambridges to be releasing new projects and do tour announcements soon. I’m looking forward when William and Kate host the Africa Summit Reception at Buckingham Palace next Monday!
I always love how Kate seems to look better in the clothes than the models do! I really like her coat.
Still not a fan of the neck tie/bow but to me this monochrome pattern (more Prince of Wales check than houndstooth?) is a vast improvement on all the previous ditsy patterns, it looks a bit sharper.
Coat-wise I am wondering if one slightly less fitted would have been a better choice, given that the dress underneath was not a sleek fit, so making the coat not look it’s best, especially at the front?
I do enjoy the pictures of William and Catherine interacting so naturally with the general public, the people they speak to at the engagements and with each other. Hardly surprising they looked a bit strained at times but the enthusiastic welcome they received today made them appear much more natural and relaxed as the afternoon went on, they seem to work so well together.
I’d call the dress a glen plaid. Definitely not close to houndstooth!
And also not monochrome. 😉
Kate is lovely, it’s not my favourite coat of hers but I love that she would wear $8 earrings with a McQueen coat. Hello from Perth, Western Australia.
Wonderful outing for the couple.
I was surprised to see her in a coat of this color. After all that has been going on I thought that a big bright color would have been in order! They are a fabulous power couple and the drab green looked almost depressing to me. The length appeared a tad too long and a smidge too long wasted. The green coat shown in the above images worn on St Patricks day would have been more beautiful. But I would have loved a red or rust or bright gold for a change. She should stand out for all that she is and has done and will continue to do!
That being said, loved the dress. So Kate! Looked comfortable and feminine. The pleats are so fun to wear. The earrings a nice addition. The shoes with the lower block heal looked appropriate for the events. On your feet so long and I am sure her feet hurt in those 4 inchs heals no matter how attractive!
A lovely post as usual and it will be interesting to see if she has more events in the coming months.
I agree with everything you’ve said, although I wonder if she had worn a bright color today if it would have been (mis)interpreted to mean she was celebrating the Sussexes’ decisions.
I had not thought of that. You’re probably correct that she chose (or was advised to choose) a neutral for that reason.
Is this how people really think? I’d just see it as she decided to wear a particular color and think nothing else about it.
I agree, some people do tend to over think Kate’s clothing choices. Like she’s wearing a certain colour for a certain reason. It probably us just what she felt like wearing and it’s nothing more.
I think it was just a winter colour, and outfits are planned weeks if not months in advance. There’s almost an undertone of black in the green which chimes with the black-and-white check underneath. I thought it a superbly elegant choice of colour and one which is well-suited to Kate’s colouring.
I agree. Sometimes a coat is just a coat.
I am not loving the coat. Too long in my opinion, almost military in style and a dull colour. Might have been better worn over a colourful dress but here again it’s a miss for me. Dull and matronly. A disappointing outfit!
Lovely! Lovely Kate and William!
This innate feeling of genuineness and decency they bring along is always so nice to see and its their best outfit and as always – dressed classic, neat and elegant.
Once again McQueen’s superb tailoring stands out in this coat. It fits Kate perfectly and it has many details. I don’t especially care for the colour and I find the flaps on the chest to be awkward. The colour and the flaps certainly give it an army vibe. The dress is a tad busy with the all over check and a wide, black belt would have somewhat broken up the pattern. Many of us will not be thrilled with the pussy bow. We keep hoping this bow will go, but Kate seems intent on incorporating it into her wardrobe.
The shoes and bag coordinate well with both the coat and the dress. The choice of earrings baffles me, as the green doesn’t really match the coat and it doesn’t enhance the dress. As always, if I had access to real gems, I wouldn’t be wearing these earrings. But then again, Kate likes to mix designer pieces with very affordable pieces. So McQueen with $8 earrings it is! While this look is not a favourite of mine, Kate manages to make every outfit look special.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are such a dynamic duo. They seem genuinely interested in the people and the projects they visit. They ask relevant questions and William, especially, seems to find humour to lighten the mood. Kate’s attention towards children is so sincere. They are such a good team and will be a great King and Queen one day.
I believe that your last paragraph of comments is meant to refer to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – William and Catherine. It is easy to see how you slipped with “Sussex” given all of the recent press.
Very best,
CMM
Oops, thanks CMM, of course I meant the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Yes, the Sussexes have been very much in the news. Let’s wish for calm for all the Royal Family in the days ahead.
I’m guessing her choice of earrings was a nod to MyLahore since they feature British-Asian food inspired by the cuisine of Lahore, Pakistan, and the earrings are by Pakistani retailer Zeen. If we’ve learned anything about the Duchess of Cambridge over the years it’s that she likes to incorporate these types of details into her working wardrobe.
I think the Zara and the earrings both represented a diplomatic price point for a community which has seen many struggles. It was equally wise to pair it with top-end designer and thus not be patronising. Well thought through.
Yes thanks, Liana, I later realized that Kate was wearing those earrings as a nod to Pakistan, although I didn’t think about it at the time I first posted. I still don’t feel they do much for her outfit, but they do everything to highlight her kindness and thoughtfulness.
And, honestly, I enjoy her thoughtfulness as much as her clothing!
Honestly, I don’t love the dress, but I like the shoes and I like the coat — and I think Kate has a beautiful smile happening, a smile that lifts any outfit or mood. After a week of grim faces in the headlines, it’s just so nice to see a series of images of people smiling and looking happy and excited. (Loved the vid of hands, knees and toes!) Visits like this by the Duke and Duchess are important — they’re not trivial or out-dated. They’re the bread and butter of royal life and are one of the threads in the national fabric, and these two do them so well; sheer pros. Well done, Kate. She looks wonderful, she’s anchored the monarchy well today, and she’s lifted spirits too.
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I love this color and length, so chic. The pockets seem a little oddly placed to me? I fact I think maybe they could have been skipped altogether to let the amazing tailoring show? Gorgeous coat though!
The Zara dress is not for me, though I do like it a bit when it’s untied at the neck.
What a fun day!
I still love love love that bag. The coat is meh…I’m not fond of the length and I honestly am a little aghast at how many winter coats she has. She has green coats already that I vastly prefer to this one. I wish she’d put some of the money toward acquiring a better shoe wardrobe. As for the dress, I love houndstooth but I am still not a fan of the puffed sleeve, bow neck dresses she loves. I do like the earrings and I’m glad she brings them back even though they are a budget piece.
Well said about shifting wardrobe funds. Her shoes and bags are almost always disappointing.
I have commented before that she has WAY more coats than shoes, which is crazy to me because most women are the opposite. I have maybe 4 or 5 winter coats and dozens and dozens of pairs of shoes. She has to have at least a hundred coats by now. And she definitely doesn’t wear them often enough to wear them out. But maybe I am just fixated on it because I have been wanting to see her in interesting shoes for forever and coats are not that exciting to me, lol.
Same here! Like I said in my comment, these suede pumps have become her new nude Sledge pumps where she wears no other shoe… Hope her shoe closet gets revamped soon!
I suppose this point best illustrates that fashion and clothing choices are, above all, a matter of taste coinciding with purpose. When the clothing is selected for these events, I imagine the Duchess and her assistants consider both the first impression she will make, as well as the more lasting impression left by images repeated online over the course of the years. From that perspective, a variety of well-tailored coats would help craft her image more cost-effectively than footwear. I look forward to seeing these lovely tailored coats, especially since options in the stores are so limited. She always looks appropriate and elegant.
I think your details & link to the shoes needs clarification – the article mentions Tods but the links are to a different brand.
Great post, well done on getting it up so quickly!
Thank you! For some reason, this one was a “details struggle” so I really appreciate the heads-up. 🙂