We were surprised by new photos of the Duchess this afternoon from an embargoed engagement.
Kate kicked off a landmark survey on early childhood at the Thinktank Science Museum in Birmingham. 
More specifically, the Duchess was at the MiniBrum at the museum, a miniature city where the children are in charge.
The MiniBrum has different play zones that children can discover and enjoy, like a construction zone, cafe and a park with a race track.
Below, the Duchess in the cafe. More from The Daily Mail’s coverage:
There was a minor calamity in the cafe when the door of a cupboard underneath a sink came off its hinges, prompting laughter. ‘I think we’ve broken the cafe,’ Kate laughed.
And this looks like it might be the auto repair shop where you can even change a tire. 
Kate was given a tour of the MiniBrum by children who helped design the space.
When touring the construction area of the MiniBrum she helped a young one put on her safety hat. 
The Duchess spent time speaking with parents and carers about the survey, a vital part of her Early Years work. 
We return to the The Daily Mail’s story:
Kate has been working on the initiative since her marriage eight years ago, dedicating the vast majority of her public and private engagements to early years provision.
She has worked with experts who believe that many of the hardest social challenges facing society – such as addiction and social exclusion – can often be traced back to experiences in early childhood.
In 2018, she convened a steering group of experts from academia, education, health and other fields to focus on how to help families tackle anti-social behaviour, addiction and mental health, which has played an instrumental role in compiling the survey.
The survey is called 5 Big Questions and it “gives people across the UK an opportunity to provide their view on raising the next generation” per a palace news release. 
Kate said she wants to learn about “the key issues affecting our families and communities so I can focus my work on where it is needed most.”
From her comments about the survey:
The Early Years are more crucial for future health and happiness than any other moment in our lifetime.I want to hear the key issues affecting our families and communities so I can focus my work on where it is needed most.
What we experience between the ages of 0 and five shapes the developing brain. They help us avoid adversity, or certainly build resilience to adversity in later life, prevent challenges with mental health later down the line.
And from the 5 Big Questions site.
A look at the first question.
Another question asks, “Which period of a child and young person’s life do you think is the most important for health and happiness in adulthood?” Click here to see the survey’s other questions; it will be online for a month and results will be released in March. Below, Kate is given a posey at the Science Museum.
David Holmes CBE, chief executive of the charity Family Action (one of Kate’s patronages), was at today’s launch event and said: “Every parent, carer and family wants the best for their child and raising the profile of the vital early years in a child’s life is work of national importance.” 
Today’s event was the first stop of several to kick off the survey; the Duchess has additional engagements scheduled tomorrow marking the launch.
Now for our look at what Kate wore for today’s engagement.
She was in a blouse by Tabitha Webb, the brand’s Pansy Pussybow Blouse in the Green Chevron colorway (£295, about $385 at today’s exchange rates). The blouse is 100% silk with a button front and deep cuffs, the large bow and back yoke. 
It is a basic style for the company and a perennial bestseller. Here you see it in two other fabrics.
And this gives you a look at the details, front and back. 
Many thanks to Susan Courter, my partner on What Meghan Wore, for the super-speedy blouse ID. Previously we saw Kate wear the label’s ‘Meg’ dress for a 2015 engagement. 
With thanks to Emily on Twitter, it looks like the Duchess brought back her Sport Luxe Wide-Leg Trousers (£65, about $85) by Jigsaw. 
It’s probable the Duchess wore her Emmy London ‘Josie’ pumps ($455) shown below left. But because I have only one small photo showing the toe of the shoes, I am also including a picture of the Rupert Sanderson Malory pumps. Not because I believe the Duchess wore the Sanderson spike-heel pumps (that is unlikely), but to demonstrate how similar shoes can look, especially when only a portion of the foot is visible. That’s why I say it is probably the Josie, but have reservations about declaratively stating that is the style worn today. 
Kate had on a bracelet we’ve not seen previously. It appears to be the Halcyon Days Maya Torque Aquamarine Bracelet ($150).
Handmade in England, the bracelets are gold-plated and hand-enameled. Our thanks to the UFO No More crew for their ID of the bracelet. 
They have been seen on the wrists of other royals like Lady Amelia Windsor, shown below wearing one of the bracelets at London Fashion Week in September 2018.
Embed from Getty Images
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, has also been seen wearing the style. (Hello! has a photo here.)
The Duchess wore her hair down and loosely curled.
Her earrings look like her ‘Siren’ Green Onyx style ($175) by jeweler Monica Vinader.
I am not 100% convinced Kate wore the Siren, they look just the tiniest bit different to me in a couple of the photos, primarily the attachment to the bale holding the drop.
We’ll leave you with one more photo of the Duchess today. 
This video offers almost 40-seconds of highlights from the engagement.
Brilliant to see The Duchess of Cambridge launching #5BigQuestions – a quick online survey on the under-fives.
Join @MrsGiFletcher and have your say! It only takes a minute to complete and you can help bring about positive, long-lasting change for future generations.
— Heads Together (@heads_together) January 22, 2020
LINKAGE:
- The Telegraph’s story is here; The Daily Mail’s piece from Rebecca English is here; The Express piece is here; Victoria Murphy’s Town & Country piece is here; The Evening Standard’s story is here
- a Hello article is here; The Daily Mail’s fashion story is here; the Fug Girls post is here
I love the colours in that Tabitha Web blouse, they’re much like those in the Jonathan Saunders dress Kate wore in the Solomon Islands, and later to Wimbledon. I especially like how the angular chevron pattern just about drowns out the presence of another neck bow, a style feature which seems to be taking Kate over at the moment. In this context I am happy to live with it. They look like great colours to be wearing when meeting youngsters.
I also liked the other blouse prints shown, which again subvert the style and keep it younger looking. The contrast pink tie against monochrome is highly inventive. I’m also delighted to see the return of smart tailored pants and think Kate wears these wide legs very well. Again, it’s not a style of trouser I especially like, but Kate has the height and long legs to carry them off fabulously.
Hard to tell if the earrings match, but then Kate is happy with approximate colours and I can live with that as well! I like the Halcyon Days torque on her, but remembered just in time that I find it a difficult style to wear or there would be one in the post to me now. They really are pretty.
The blouse is a fun pop of color, perfect for meeting with children. I still am not a fan of the pussy bow on blouses of any kind, but obviously Kate loves them.
The mini town is such a wonderful idea- what a fun place for children to play and practice their social skills.
I love the geometric blouse and wide legged trousers.
What a surprise to see this event today. It appears to be the launch of a major project, and a bit of a departure for Kate, in that it appears she will be directly involved in formulating policies and remedies rather than just offering her support of programs formulated by others. I wish her much success.
Beautiful blouse! I think the print and color work together to create a stunning effect. I love that little bit of bright green between the lines in the print, i bet this was lovely to see in person.
The Pants were a great fit, if a bit too long for my taste. Perhaps that is the style now? I personally like a break right at the top of my foot. I don’t know what the current style is, however.
Pussey bow blouses and dresses were business standard wear for women in the 80’s, when I first started my professional life. I recall reading a book called Dress For Success which advocated “power dressing.” These blouses were recommended as the bow was seen as a substitute of sorts for a man’s tie. I owned several but never, ever liked them. I am short and, as another person mentioned below, the style really looks best on taller women. I guess the style is coming back because I see it a lot for casual wear as well as business. I think the Duchess looks great in this style and I doubt she is trying to emulate menswear so. . . Go Kate!
Is the bracelet upside down? I thought the gems were meant to be on top. Maybe the bracelet slides down and she can’t help it. But I think it looks really pretty with the design element on top, because otherwise it’s just a heavy gold band.
Also, add me to the list of those who would like to see her with shorter hair. The feathered bangs with the pussybow blouse makes the look really 1970s-ish. Especially with the chevron pattern. I think it would have looked more modern with her hair pulled back in a ponytail.
I work with young kids and I’m excited about her initiative! Great idea!!
I like the shirt it is business like the pants are too long in my book and look accident in waiting!Would of been prettier and chicer if she had worn her hair in a wavy pony.
I don’t quite understand — why is this an “embargoed engagement”? Was it put off for awhile?
Hi, Mary, and thank you for commenting. It was an event that happened mid-afternoon, but the information, photos, and video were all held until 10:30pm GMT last night, 5:30pm EST. For whatever reason Kensington Palace wanted everything held until that time. Hope this is helpful! 🙂
Perhaps to let Prince William’s ‘United for Wildlife’ presentation be reported on, on-line first? The Cambridges are not competing with each other but we all know how the on-line media works and they would give Catherine all the headlines for the day ……
Very possibly so!
Thank you very much for clarifying! This is the first I’d heard of that being done.
Not a fan of the blouse. I don’t mind pussy bows so much, especially on someone so tall, but the pattern is not my fave. It reminds me a little of a dress she wore a few years back, I believe on a tour of Australia. I think she wore it again to Wimbledon.
I love that she wears wide-leg trousers, but I still think these are too big.
While at first I did not think those were the Siren earrings, I watched a video of this event and became convinced when I saw some movement of her head that they are indeed the Siren earrings.
Oh gosh, drooling over the bracelet. I was so so happy to see it!
This is a wonderful initiative she has begun.
I obviously spend too much time on this site. Here’s the dress you’re thinking of: https://whatkatewore.com/2014/07/06/kate-wears-jonathan-saunders-evelyn-dress-for-gentlemens-finals-at-wimbledon/ You are right, very similar palette to today’s blouse, and also a very bold, graphic pattern.
Oh, me too, Jessica!
Yes, that’s it!
Terrific. Professional but approachable. Great cause as well.
Well I must be in the minority but I love the pussy-bows! And I love seeing Kate in pants! I think this outfit is a great look.
However, I don’t love the print. This print reminds me of the print she recently wore to the Kingston Hospital Maternity Unit at the end of December – the Michael Kors printed dress. Both of these print patterns are just so… eh.. they are like the print patterns that you would find (in the US anyway) at lower end department stores or even at discounted TJ Maxx-type stores in the ladies work wear section. Inexpensive middle aged/elderly women styles to be worn to the office. I just don’t personally care for them.
I think I am in the minority when it comes to this style of blouse 🙂 I love them on the Duchess and am excited to see her wearing more pant and blouse combos to her engagements. I understand the perspective of many when they express that there is a certain fussiness to them and yet I feel like the bow softens the look of the crisp pants.
I love the additional patterns for this blouse that were shown in the article and echo the sentiment of how they look with jeans.
While I personally am not always a fan of chevron patterns, I applaud Kate for continuing to mix things up and try out new styles of clothes.
So happy to see her with children at her engagements and how they truly light her up. She is a natural with kids! Her initiatives with children are so important and are helping to draw increased attention to a vital area.
Not the place for it (can you place for the Cardiff visit today?!) but my goodness I LOVE that look, so out of Cathetine’s ‘comfort’ zone – go, girl, top marks in my book!!
She’s wearing a bracelet?? Maybe her stylist reads the comments on this blog haha
I adore this! Such a vibrant color combo and pattern; it’s really fun. I love the pussybow look, too — it’s actually quite popular among us 30-somethings. Sorry not sorry!
She looks wonderful. Kudos to the Duchess!
I would be so happy to never see another floppy neck bow (I will NOT use that phrase to describe them) again, on anyone.
I enjoy the bright chevron pattern and it’s a nice choice for an event with kids, but I think it would have looked more…I don’t know, friendly…in the form of a knit top or crewneck sweater. In fact, I’m redoing this whole outfit in my mind, with trimmer black trousers and some fun kicks, maybe Vans. I know, I know, it’s a pet peeve when people totally redesign her outfits, but humor me; I rarely indulge in it.
Just not loving chevron…the pattern was very trendy around 2010-13, and I personally don’t think it’s a classic or timeless pattern such as polka dot or stripes (possible exception for Missoni chevron pieces).
That said, I like everything else about the look! I’d wear the silhouette with a solid bright color or polka dot shirt to my work with children.
I totally agree with you! I think pussy bow blouses are cute— but I do not like the chevron at all. It really cheapens the look. Any other print would have been much better.
I agree with the comment about the blue blouse with the jeans, very fresh looking. The colors are not quite so overwhelming.
I love the pussy bow. It is so luxe and stylish, especially when worn with jeans.
The vibrant print of the blouse is such a fun look, especially when working with children. As many of us have said and will continue to say, the pussy bow has got to go. It is obviously a feature that Kate loves, because she repeats it so often. It is good to see her in dress pants after years of very skinny pants, but I find these to be far too voluminous and almost a tripping hazard. Many of us liked the pant style that Kate wore with her outfits in Pakistan. I do like the pretty bracelet.
Many experts believe a child’s personality is formed by the age of six. So it is vital that those first years of their lives focus on good mental health and bolstering self esteem. Therefore, this early years project, that Kate is championing, is such an important one.
I’m okay with the pussy bow style in blouse form paired with trendy pants. I do wonder if it’s a style she particularly likes or if she wears it because it’s “traditional” and “conservative” and appealing to the older generation (maybe) It’s so different from her very trendy style pre marriage and the middle of the road conservative but modern looks she sometimes wears now, but maybe she either adapted or just likes the old fashioned look but couldn’t or wouldn’t wear it when she was in school or working.
As much as I hate pussybow blouses, I didn’t mind this one nearly as much as some of the others she’s worn. I think it’s because the rest of the outfit really helped tone down the fussiness. I really like the product shot of the blue dotted version of this blouse worn with jeans. It really makes it look more young and fresh.
I love the idea of this outfit but wish the pants had been just a bit less voluminous. I don’t really like pants legs that come all the way down to the floor and completely cover the shoes.
Thrilled that she continues to experiment with dress pants as they’re something I wear almost daily and something that was missing from her wardrobe for a long time.
Hair and makeup were great and earrings were fine for this outfit.
So pleased she’s concentrating on early years as I think she’s fantastic with children.
If Kate is determined to keep the pussybow-trend alive that’s the way to do it!
I’m not a fan of this design-element, but with the modern coloring an dthe geometric print, as well as the dresspants I find it much less disturbing than on the midi-length-puffy-sleeved-ruffle-hemmed dresses we’ve seen so many of.
Bravo!
Also I admire her for walking easily in the floor-skimming pants, I think that’s the intended length and it looks fantastic.
A nice bracelet, although I wonder if the gems tend to fall towarnds the inside of the wrist (as in the picture) , therefore being not visible, which is a shame, they’re quite beautiful.
How lovely, the outfit was excellent. What a great course and looking forward to seeing how the survey results go. All the best to Catherine and her work into the future.
As always Catherine looks immaculate and stunning but I do think it’s time to move on from the pussy bow necklines. Please.
Could well be that the earrings have been customised to make them more secure (looks like they loop now rather than just the long open post through the lobe) as the open hook style can often wiggle its way out while wearing?
love the shirt, colourful and fun and they would look sensational with a straight leg pant sitting just on top of high heel. Corporate and elegant…Kate is looking wonderful.
Yes to the separates and the colour way of the blouse (I have been thinking/hoping for years for more separates) not so keen on another tie neck, although it works this time. A good look for the type of engagement, though.
I am over the moon that Kate continues to make the early years her signature project. It is the base, the starting point, that determines so much of what happens next. Yes, we need to continue to work on all the problems, but if we don’t get it right in the early years, we will have a never ending stream of issues later on.
Now to the fashion. Kate, as always, looks lovely. I like the bright blouse especially during these dark winter months. I think trousers were the right call, although I am not a fan of ones that fall to floor covering the shoes. That is just a personal preference. Her hair is lovely although I live in hope that one day she will shock us with a shoulder length bob and rock her natural curls. A girl can dream!
YES! A shoulder-length bob! More modern and would help her look younger. I think sometimes she looks almost matronly with all that hair. Although I love her updos. She really looks regal and more princess-y when its when up! *smile*
Angelia
lovely splash of color on Kate today.
I actually love this outfit. It has the bow and the puffy shoulders that I usually detest, but I think the bold pattern and color, along with the pants, offset the fussiness that such details usually give off. It is a smart way to wear the details Kate prefers, but in a more modern and fashionable way. I like the bangle, too.
I know everyone here rhapsodizes over her hair, so this will be unpopular, but I am so over this hairstyle. It is SO dated, imo. But the outfit is a win for me.
I echo the previous comment – lovely outfit – only Kate with her slim hips can get away with these pants. She looks great – but I really wish she would cut her hair – it is really dated. A bob would take five years off her.