This afternoon the Duke and Duchess attended the UK Holocaust Memorial Day Commemorative Ceremony. 
The Mirror’s Russell Myers posted a video of the couple arriving at Westminster’s Central Hall.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive to pay their respects at @wabbey Holocaust Memorial ➡️ https://t.co/GVkx5RtV0j #HolocaustMemorialDay pic.twitter.com/uA9LdoDoUR
— Russell Myers (@rjmyers) January 27, 2020
If wondering why this date is chosen for the commemoration, January 27 is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp. It was an enormous complex, the largest of the Nazi camps; more than 1.1 million people were murdered at the location. From The Mirror’s coverage:
The Auschwitz camp in Poland was liberated by the Soviet army on January 27, 1945 – three quarters of a century ago today – and laid bare to the world the full horror of Nazi atrocities against the Jews of Europe and other minority groups.
The 75th anniversary was marked by ceremonies at the camp today. 
200 survivors were at the ceremony in Poland. Below, some of those survivors accompanied by family members. 
The Duchess of Cornwall attended this service. You can see her in the image below, as well as King Willem of the Netherlands (far left); Polish First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda (2nd from right); Belgium’s King Philippe. 
Today’s memorial in London was put on by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. 
Prince Charles is the organization’s Royal Patron and there are now nearly 10,000 events throughout the UK marking the day. In addition to the victims and survivors of Nazi persecution, the commemoration also honors those impacted by subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur. Emily Nash of Hello! tweeted a video of Kate meeting the Trust’s chief executive, Olivia Marks-Woldman, and Sir Ben Helfgott, a Holocaust survivor and honorary president of the Trust.
William and Kate meet Olivia Marks-Woldman, chief executive of the @HMD_UK and Sir Ben Helfgott, honorary president and Holocaust survivor: #HolocaustMemorialDay pic.twitter.com/GTSg7T51u7
— Emily Nash (@emynash) January 27, 2020
The Telegraph reports that ahead of today’s service Ms. Marks-Woldman said, “she was pleased the royal couple had been able to attend the ceremony alongside members of the UK’s political, civic and faith leadership.”
Representatives of many different faiths took part in today’s commemoration. Below you see some of those in attendance, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby (far right), and Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (center).
Actor Martin Shaw read the account of a Holocaust survivor. 
The service included musical performances. Here you see celebrated cellist Sheku Kannah-Mason MBE and his brother Braimah Kanneh-Mason on the violin. Many will remember Sheku Kannah-Mason’s performance at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding. 
The couple watching the service. 
Prince William spoke at the service, reading part of a letter written by a friend of his great-grandmother, Princess Alice. The Princess saved a Jewish family during the war, hiding them in her Athens home after the Nazis invaded Greece.
More from The Telegraph’s story:
The Duchess appeared emotional as her husband read the extract from a letter about Princess Alice’s bravery.
It said: “It was thanks to the courageous rescue of Princess Alice that the members of the Cohen family were saved.
“The members of the Cohen family left the residence three weeks after liberation, aware that by virtue of the Princess’s generosity and bravery had spared them from the Nazis.”
Welsh journalist and news presenter Huw Edwards spoke at the service.
Attendees also heard from Mala Tribich, MBE, a survivor of both Ravensbruck and Bergen-Belsen. On the right, Ian Forsyth, MBE. In 1945 Mr. Forsyth was one of the first troops to liberate Bergen-Belsen. 
Mr. Forsyth spoke to Legion Scotland about his experience, saying it was a “huge shock”:
“This was not only a shock to the system, but a nightmare. It was totally unexpected, for we had not been informed as to the location of the camp or what to expect. Until that moment we had been fighting to survive, now for the first time we understood just why we were there at all. I cannot fully describe it, but it completely changed my outlook on life – Man’s inhumanity to man.”
I was shot and injured. I said to myself, if I survive I am going to spend the rest of my life helping others. Seeing the concentration camp really changed my life.”
Ian Forsyth was 21-years-old when he saw Bergen-Belsen. We return to The Telegraph’s coverage, reporting that he wept “as he recalled one 11-year-old boy he had tried to look after and who had died at the camp.”
“There were bodies lying everywhere. When you see people, they looked like skeletons with skin on them. What do you do? I don’t think anyone that didn’t see this would understand what it was like.”
“I hope people can realise how far mankind can sink if they are not careful,” he said. “We must learn that freedom is for everyone. We’re not all the same but that should be celebrated. We need to stand together against oppression This is the most important lesson I can give everybody.”
Candles were lit during the commemorative event. 
There were six candles, each representing one million of the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust. 
The Royal Family Twitter account shared a video of the candle lighting.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, @KensingtonRoyal, this afternoon attended the UK #HolocaustMemorialDay Ceremony in London.
🕯 Candles of remembrance were lit to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust.
Video: @BBCStudiosLive pic.twitter.com/hGCJrHumv9
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) January 27, 2020
The candles lit on stage were then used to light more, until there was a total of 75 flickering in the hall. 
After the service, the couple met with Holocaust survivors. Below, the Duke and Manfred Goldberg. 
If I’m not mistaken, this is the same Manfred Goldberg Kate and William first met in July 2017 when they visited Stutthof Concentration Camp in northern Poland. They also met Zigi Shipper who is seen in this picture. 
Zigi Shipper and Manfred Goldberg became close friends while in the camp. The two were reunited at the Stutthof camp the day the royals visited. (Our original post on that incredible reunion is here.) 
Here you see the Duchess speaking with survivor Mala Tribich. 
More about Kate’s conversation with Ms. Tribich from Emily Nash’s Hello! story.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have told their children about the Holocaust, they told survivors at a national ceremony to commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz. “We were talking to the children about it earlier today,” Kate told Mala Tribich, who had asked about her family. “But we have to be, you know, for a six year old… the interpretation,” she added, suggesting that she had explained the genocide in an appropriate way for a child of Prince George’s age.
“You were fantastic,” she added, putting a hand on Mala’s arm, before asking about how she tells her story to schoolchildren. “Do your experiences resonate with them?” she asked. “Do they feel they can do something for their generation?”
The Duke and Duchess also spent time with those impacted by genocide in several countries. From The Guardian’s story:
The event also commemorated the 25th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, where about 8,000 Muslim men and boys over the age of 12 were murdered. Survivors of genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur were present.
I don’t know which countries these people are from, but several are identified as genocide survivors. 
Below, one more photo from the 75th Anniversary events in Poland. A survivor arriving wearing a scarf with his prisoner number on it. 
And one more image from today’s London commemoration before we turn to the second part of the post. 
The other part of today’s post is Holocaust-related: it covers photographs shot by the Duchess of two Holocaust survivors. In advance of today’s service, Kensington Palace released two photo portraits taken by the Duchess. Below, Steven Frank, now 84-years-old, and his granddaughters, Maggie and Trixie (ages 15 and 13). 
His granddaughter Trixie said: ‘It was amazing, The Duchess of Cambridge was really interested in our family and in Opa’s story, and the items we brought with us.’ Her sister Maggie said ‘I think it helped put into perspective that he’s just our Opa – he’s our grandpa as well as a Holocaust survivor. It’s important to tell the story so it doesn’t happen again.’
Despite unbelievable trauma at the start of their lives, Yvonne Bernstein and Steven Frank are two of the most life-affirming people that I have had the privilege to meet. They look back on their experiences with sadness but also with gratitude that they were some of the lucky few to make it through. Their stories will stay with me forever.
The two women embraced and seemed delighted to see each other again, with the Duchess telling Yvonne, 82, “You were brilliant, you were very patient.” “I came out pretty well!” laughed Yvonne. She said afterwards: “I got a kiss on both cheeks from the Duchess. She and all her staff were so kind to us. We were made to feel very comfortable. She really did take it all [her story] on board.”
I didn’t dare believe this project would happen until I learnt how much time and thought the Duchess was personally putting into it. The fine art graduate spent several days researching what she could bring to the table in order to best capture these individuals for the future. She was at pains to ensure the survivors were comfortable with the vision and that the spotlight was on the heroes to be pictured and not the Duchess herself. The idea of an exhibition bringing together all 75 images – most of which will be taken over the coming months by fellows of the RPS – followed.
Another view of the Duchess and Yvonne Bernstein today. 
We return to the blog post.
Before meeting Steven Frank and Yvonne Bernstein, The Duchess spent significant time preparing for the photography session, and once they had arrived she spent nearly two and a half hours with them, getting to know them and their stories, and taking their photographs. Why give you all this background? It’s crucial because it shows that our Royal Family are determined to follow up oft-repeated words of remembrance with practical steps as, day by day, we bid farewell to more survivors. It shows they are personally ready to take on the message of the survivor generation to challenge all forms of hatred wherever it rears its ugly head.
The Jewish News (click photo to visit site)
Prince Charles wrote the Foreword for the program at today’s service in Westminster.
This seventy-fifth anniversary is therefore a time for us all to resolve to act with greater compassion, greater humanity and greater courage, so that, guided by lessons from this darkest time in our shared history, we can create a shared future where no such shadows can fall.
The Duchess carried her Celeste clutch in black velvet by Jimmy Choo, shown below at a previous occasion.
Here you see the skirt as shown on the runway. 
UPDATE: There have been questions asking if the skirt could be the Emilia Wickstead worn to a Palace Christmas party in December 2018. 
I don’t believe that is the case. The easiest way to see the difference is to look at the pattern on the waistbands; the two are quite different.
Kate’s shoes look like they could be the ‘Avery’ tweed pumps by J. Crew we have seen previously. We show them below as worn in Canada during the tour. 
Apologies for the post length; I couldn’t figure out a way to break things up properly!
Today is #HolocaustMemorialDay. Together we must #StandTogether to challenge prejudice and hatred, and work towards a better future.
Watch and share our film for #HMD2020. pic.twitter.com/mGc8Zh6IXL
— Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (@HMD_UK) January 27, 2020
Today’s full service marking the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz at the Memorial Site.
The Royal Family Channel offers almost 4:15 of raw video.
The Telegraph has a 2-minute story with Jona Laks, a survivor returning to Auschwitz where she was imprisoned when she was 14 years old.
A story from Australia’s 9News.
LINKAGE:
- Learn more about UK Holocaust Memorial Day at the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust site here; the organization’s Facebook page is here; its Twitter feed is here and Instagram page here; click here to read about International Holocaust Memorial Day as set by the UN General Assembly
- Learn more about the photo project at the RPS site here; read the full foreword for today’s program by Prince Charles here
- Read Justin Cohen’s full Jewish News piece on the origins of the survivor photo project and Kate’s involvement by clicking here; The Daily Mail’s coverage of the photoshoot is here; The Mirror’s piece on the photos is here; Caroline Hallemann’s Town and Country article about the photos is here; the Evening Standard’s piece about the survivor photos is here; a Glamour story about the photos is here
- The Mirror’s story about today’s service is here; The Daily Mail’s coverage of today’s service is here; The Guardian’s story is here; a BBC piece is here; The Evening Standard’s story is here
- Emily Nash’s Hello’s article is here; the Fug Girls post is here;
Because of the enormity of such an event it makes the conversation of clothes so banal but this IS a site to gossip about the duchess style choices.So i will say that she looked very chic conservative,and cute during the memorial but i’m not so taken with her outfit in the behind the scenes portrait shoot just too boring and old looking!
Susan your post is so incredible and the time and effort you put into these pieces are truly commendable. That said, her dress is perfect for the event. And her photography skills are inspiring me to want to get a camera!
Great post.
Thank you, Ashly. I do love it and feel very fortunate to be able to do it. 🙂
Thank you for the great post. Surprisingly none of my kids discussed the anniversary at all in school yesterday. My after school history lesson began with your post and then expanded.
As a fun little aside, when I was in London last March I stalked the Queen and Kate to an event….and Kate was wearing this outfit! <3 She had a hat on that day, and was more beautiful than she even looks in person. And taller. She's very tall 🙂
I think I remember you being there, Merritt, and it was very cool! 🙂
Thanks for such a well-researched and informative post on a difficult subject. Thanks too for giving the basic details of Kate’s outfit as I consider it respectful to honour the choices she makes for these challenging engagements.
Great post as always! Kate looks lovely and the photos were really nice, she has a good eye and was passionate about the subject. I heard a statistic on tv this morning and forgive me i dont remember the exact numbers but they said 40 something percent of Americans didnt know the holocaust story. And about 60 something percent of millenials have never heard of it either. I was shocked to hear this, we always learned about it in school history. Its still hard to comprehend what those people went through. Horrific.
66% of millennials couldn’t distinguish whether Auschwitz was a concentration camp or extermination camp*. Not that they didn’t know what the holocaust was.
❤Thanks! I didnt get the exact figures but was still surprised by those results. It was a very moving story on the Today show.
Very scary numbers I agree! Need to do better.
Susan, your posts are incredible. Thank you!
I cannot imagine what it must be like for survivors to return to this place. I visited Dachau years ago as a privileged, protected young person, and it was beyond jarring. I don’t really have the words to imagine what it must have been like to be at Auschwitz as a prisoner and then have the emotional bravery to return. Never forget.
I think the Duchess’s photographs are wonderful, and I think it’s spot-on to connect them to Old Master paintings–though I’d say more Caravaggio/Artemisia Gentileschi than Vermeer. :-p I’m reminded, too, of the wonderful photograph Annie Liebowitz took a few years ago of the Queen with her youngest grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There is a similar generational thing happening with these photographs, and I think the stylistic similarity must have been intentional and a signal of admiration from the Duchess to Liebowitz.
I liked this dress very much on its first appearance, and I still do, though I want the belt to be narrower and to match the collar.
I really admire Kate’s portraits and how she managed to capture the lighting in the way she did. Admirable work.
What a deeply emotional but enlightening post, thank you so much for putting it together, I know we are joined here for discussion on the Kate’s wardrobe, but for me it is much more. Especially all the different issues and articles, very educating and informative and such a sensitive approach.
I think Kate also put all her heart into meeting and taking these photos of the survivors’ too. Seeing the love on those grandchildren faces was profoundly moving… There must have been times the survivors thought they would never live on to have children. I immediately realised Kate was using artist Vermeer as inspiration, but I also saw the narration of shadow and light, love winning over evil. .
This not one of my favourite dresses of Kate but it was so appropriate for the occasion
I had a very emotional reaction to this that I was not expecting. I don’t personally know any survivors of that time but I have been to Dachau concentration camp in Munich, Germany, and it’s a very sobering and life changing experience. The atmosphere is…. I can’t describe it. You’re on sacred ground. I couldn’t read the entire account here without having to pause several times crying for those who suffered, those who perished and the inhumanity that caused it all. That sign is above all entrances to all the camps. “Arbeit Macht Frei” means “work makes you free” and is the first thing you notice when you approach a camp. We now know the horror of what those camps really were and when you see it in person….there are no words to describe the visceral reaction to that, and the things you see in the camp. I’ll probably come back to read about Kate’s wardrobe but for now, for me anyway, it seems trivial. Thank you for the coverage here of this event and your tactful way of presenting WKW.
On a déjà vu la même jupe (de très loin) en décembre 2018 quand Kate a emmené Charlotte voir le ballet “Casse-Noisette” !
La robe Prince-de-Galles que Kate porte à Bradford le 15 janvier ressemble beaucoup à une robe de la reine Elizabeth, à Windsor, en … 1982 !
On compare souvent les vêtements de Kate avec ceux de Diana mais personne ne pense à regarder les anciennes photos de la reine…
Merci pour votre blog, j’apprécie beaucoup de le lire.
Merci d’avoir commenté! Je ne suis pas convaincu que la jupe portée au ballet Casse-Noisette avec Charlotte soit la même pièce vue hier. C’est possible, mais malheureusement, nous ne le saurons peut-être jamais à cause de la qualité de la photo. Merci encore, susan 🙂
Susan, please don’t apologize for the length or thoroughness of your coverage of such an extremely moving and important event! As always, you gave it everything it deserves. This occasion must have been difficult for everyone involved, and in spite of the horror it recalls, it looks like such a beautiful commemoration.
Kate’s photographs are stunning works of art, and so respectful of the families. Her Catherine Walker outfit is perfect for the day — a ladylike silhouette, muted colors, lovely fabrics, and those gorgeous earrings with her hair in a half up-do!
Thank you, Anne-Christine. 🙂
As Anne-Christine says please don’t apologize for the length of this post. It was wonderful. It conveyed respect and honor to a tragedy in history.
The duchess looked amazing as she so frequently does.
It is clear that the duchess put a lot of work, effort and research into this project before she took the pictures and agreed to have a role in it. The subject matter of yesterday’s service makes it seem frivolous to talk about fashion/clothing but as someone else stated, it was also about the resiliency of the human spirit, so here goes. I think the dress was the perfect choice for the event, as it was a repeat and a subdued grey color that is not mourning but still respectful. I also think the hairstyle and makeup were appropriate, as were the black hose and shoes and clutch.
I still hate those earrings with a passion and roll my eyes at $6000 for what is essentially high end fashion jewelry. Again, I really wish William would buy his wife a lovely pair of diamond studs—they go with everythind and would have been less jarring with this outfit.
Overall, my real takeaway is that Kate really seems to be coming into her own, maturing in her role and taking on projects with more gravitas. She is a real asset to the royal family.
They’re not my favorite earrings of hers, but they are genuine pearls, diamonds and 18ct gold, so hardly high-end fashion jewelry.
Actually the pearls are either cultured pearls or freshwater pearls—not high end South Seas or other such pearls, and the diamond weight is de minimis on these earrings, so the content of “real” stones if very low but I agree they are not fake pearls or crystal stones. Thus the reason I refer to them as “high end” fashion jewelry as opposed to just plain old fashion jewelry.
I thought the dress seemed about an inch longer than when she wore it previously and looked better with the longer length. I also thought it looked better with the sheer hose rather than the black tights. Another poster thought it looked shorter!
as usual, kate is on point. her photos of the holocaust survivors show her to be a very thoughtful and talented photographer. she and william make a wonderful team, and always represent the royal family in an honorable and elegant manner. they are lucky to have her.
I think what we are seeing here is Kate as a strategic thinker with her eye on the long term, someone who can bring together all the threads of her life to pursue the things she is passionate about as well as the duty and obligations she has married into.
Clearly, from her university days, she has a love of fine arts, which has led to her being a patron of The Tate, Portrait Gallery etc as well as developing her own skills as a photographer – which you can trace back to the day when she worked for Party Pieces. All these threads have come together in this beautiful project. This isn’t someone who woke up last Thursday and thought “I’ll take some photos” this is a project that has developed over time and with patience and without a lot of fanfare. I never believed in the ‘waity katy’ story – I believe she was using that time to plan and prepare for the responsibility she was going to take on – and perhaps that’s why her journey of transformation hasn’t appeared to have been as difficult as Diana’s (who was thrown into the game at 20) or Meghan, who didn’t give herself time to accommodate to what the role demanded.
Perhaps the way horses are an outlet for the Queen to get away from it all – Kate will find her niche in photography?
The silhouette of the dress is very extreme- very Dior 1950’s. I think a hat pushed it into costume or just too retro. Here with hair down it seems a little softer less exaggerated. I think it was a nice appropriate choice for the occasion and she looks young and beautiful. But what I really loved was her in the Gucci skirt w sweater and low heels. I think this was an elegant very classic look.
She is outstanding in her service. She honors her role and it is beautiful to see.
As always Kate is appropriately dressed for the event. Repeats are also appropriate. I prefer opaque tights to style the look, but that might look too trendy for the event.
While it’s nice to see them almost everyday in the news, I hope it will not take a toll on their health.
Don’t apologize for the post length…it is so very important that we don’t forget what happened, particularly as the number of survivors left to tell of their experiences is dwindling. So I appreciate your coverage of the event.
I still quite like this dress, even though I am not usually a Catherine Walker fan. I appreciate that she pulled her hair back partway…it just looks more polished. Although I still really hate the earrings.
As for the photographs, I quite like the composition of both. The anecdote about the gentleman holding his mother’s pot made me tear up. I just wish the pictures weren’t quite so dark…it obscures quite a bit of the subjects’ faces, and I think that while the pictures are ones of remembrance, they are also ones of triumph and hope, showing how these two people were able to survive abject horrors but go on to have families. So I think they should have been lit differently. But overall, they are still powerful.
Thank you, OG SG. 🙂
Grace and elegance personified. (This dress is miles better without the hat worn with it previously.)
I am quite moved by the portraits Kate took. I noticed the Vermeer echoes immediately and was so impressed with her portraiture. I have previously found her photographs to be simply sweet – capturing her darling children in candid shots; but this level of photography is powerful and hauntingly beautiful.
A meaningful tribute and a very excellent presentation by dear Susan. You always convey the most respectful tone.
Thank you, Lady Leah. 🙂
Despite the repeated wardrobe, still a wonderfully interesting, informative and moving post. As usual, the Duchess looks beautiful in an a lovely outfit that is appropriate in the context of the event. What surprised me from this post was just how serious Kate is about her photography. I think we all knew that she takes exceptionally nice photos of her family but this project really represents something beyond that. I am not an expert but it seems to me that creating images like these would involve knowledge of technique as well as an artistic ability and vision. I am so impressed by what she has achieved, the images are beautiful and evocative and, once mentioned, the influence of Vermeer, especially with respect to the lighting, is easily seen. I wonder if she has done anything else like this or will in the future.
Thank you for such a detailed post Susan and also for covering this with such sensitivity (honouring those who survived and remembering the horrors of the Concentration Camps and then switching to what the Duchess wore).
Anyhow, I’ll echo what others have said, Kate looked wonderful (as always). The grey/black combo was respectful and kept the focus on the event and the importance of it.
I’m also super excited to see how much the Duke and Duchess are taking on and I’m thrilled that Kate is continuing to use her photography skills. I love the photos she took of some of the survivors and their families, what an incredible and amazing idea and tribute.
Thank you Susan for such great coverage.
Thank you, V.B.! 🙂
Well done all around.
With grace, heart and style – as usual.
Susan, thank you as always for another complete, sensitive and informative post.
I really like the long pleated dresses and skirts Kate has been wearing lately. They really suit her tall lean frame and somehow they have a down to earth, warm vibe to me. She’s a classy lady.
Thank you, Brandy.:)
In the spring of 2019 I toured six countries in Eastern Europe to include visiting Poland. One afternoon was spent at Auschwitz. This was a life changing moment for me. You can read about the horrors of the Holocaust, but until you actually see the evil behind it, you can’t totally imagine the profound depths of the devastation. It was so meaningful that William and Kate could be present at today’s event bringing their sense of compassion, kindness, dignity and dedication to the people present. Kate’s photographs further showcased her talent and sensitivity.
As this is WKW, I have a few comments about her attire. This outfit was appropriate in that it was a repeat and was solemn, but not drab. The silhouette is not my favourite and I now prefer the longer skirts that she has been wearing. I also preferred this dress with opaque black tights and the block heeled shoes. Her hair looks great and for this occasion it is good that she wasn’t having to push it back off her face. And I’ve always liked these earrings, although I know many don’t.
I’ve never visited a concentration camp but I’ve been told it’s completely different than seeing pictures or film. Thanks for your thoughtful response’
I too have visited Auschwitz back in 2006. I was with a group of college students studying abroad and we had a guided tour. Seeing it in person is, as Bonnie said, life-changing. Most of us felt ill with grief while there. Seeing photos of the famous train tracks entering the camp now makes my stomach clench. It is imperative we remember these events and not repeat these atrocities.
Kate is such a beautiful person, inside and out. Her thoughtfulness and grace beams through, no matter what she is wearing. I loved her look today. It was flattering, sharp, and appropriate.
The pictures The Duchess took were stunning and a real tribute to the survivors of this horrific time in the history of mankind. Bless her for caring so much! She is very talented and it is noble of her to share her work with the world. I thought she dressed appropriately for the somber occasion.
I read in, I believe, The Daily Mail, that she modeled her portraits on Vermeer. If so, she did an incredible job of capturing his style as well as respecting the subjects and their stories. It’s almost as if she were an Art History major…. **wink, wink**
So very like HRH to purposefully wear pieces that have all been previously worn, so as not to distract from the event. None the less, another, lovely and appropriate outfit. My admiration grows daily for Catherine! (And it has always been high!)
I usually like the fit and flare cut that Kate wears, but something is off with this one today. It somehow looks shorter than in the past wearings. It looks a better silhouette from the side, and not so flattering from the front. I am not sure why., even the bust line / bodice looks odd fitting.
Nonetheless, Kate is gorgeous. And is taking on so many worthwhile causes. I adore her more and more with each outing.
Yes, I see that with the dress this time too…
I love her hair like this! Over all a nice look. And I know pearls are supposed to “go with everything”, but these don’t really seem to jive with the rest of the attire. Maybe a nice, black onyx-type earring? And for whatever reason, I did not care for the dress when she wore it last time. But I love it today. . . .Maybe as others said, better without a hat. And once again, the DofC comes through as warm, caring and focused.
Nice coverage, Susan.
What a most beautiful post with all the details you give and the Duchess could not have looked more beautiful! With her hair pulled back showing off her beautiful face and cheekbones with the earrings that could not have been a more appropriate choice for her coat dress. The color combination with the black and grey with just the right amount of black down to the full skirt that is so flattering on her thin hips looked feminine, rich and comfortable. The sheer black hose were so much better than the black tights with the shoes being the correct proportions with the whole look. So beautiful! Just the right amount of respect shown for the occasion! The royal family is in superior hands with this couple. The Queen not be concerned!
With her multiple talents and the love, time and respect she gives all her causes she is a delight to see and I look forward to all her upcoming events.
This event is important and every year it is important to not forget what happened. To remember the struggle of others to allow freedom and peace. Catherine and William make a brilliant team. I am looking forward to the events this year. Catherine early year survey and William Earth shot are both amazing projects. Great post-Susan very comprehensive, thank you.
Thank you for an informative and most respectful post. My family was impacted by the Holocaust so these stories resonate very much. I started learning about it in Hebrew School from a very young age as well so Kate’s discussion about George was also interesting to me. It was great to see so many Royal Family members attend different ceremonies today throughout Europe. I particularly enjoyed reading Justin Cohen’s article about how the photography project came about–I loved that Kate managed to tie it to her patronage, The Royal Photography Society, as well. And as we know she is the most talented photographer so what a wonderful project for her to be a part of.
I do like Kate’s entire outfit today. Very appropriate for the occasion and glad it was all recycled. I do love the plaid shoes from the photography shoot as well. Always nice to see her in what appears to be a more comfortable heel.
I think both you and Kate put the focus exactly where it belongs – on the remembrance of such horrible events, in hopes of their not happening again. Thank you for your detailed coverage – it was exactly what I wanted to see.
LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.
The portraits Kate took show the depth and personal nature Kate brings to anything she does. They are simply beautiful and I’m sure the families will cherish not only the memories, but the portraits as well. Haunting yet full of hope.
My parents visited Dachau concentration camp while we lived in West Germany and have said the experience continues to haunt them over 30 years later.
I really like the Duchess’s photographs! They look like Old Masters oil paintings. I agree with previous commenters that this dress looks much better sans hat, and today’s hairstyle is especially good. I appreciate the full-outfit repeats since the focus needs to be on other things.
I’m really liking this turn towards midi skirts! She seems to have phases where she likes a particular style of item, and I’m fully on board with this phase. Also omg those tweed shoes! SWOON.
A beautiful and moving ceremony, and it helps us to remember a horrific part of history that should never be forgotten, or repeated.
Kate’s Catherine Walker dress, while not my favorite of her coat dresses, was the perfect choice for today- demure, professional, in a neutral, subdued color. It wasn’t necessarily a dress for mourning, because the ceremony celebrated the resilience and humanity of the survivors of genocide, but rewearing this piece was also very diplomatic, since it meant everyone’s full focus was on the ceremony, and not on Kate’s clothes.
This is one of my favourite dresses that the Duchess has worn. I loved it last year and I love it even more sans hat.
And those tweed shoes?! So much envy.
As always, Susan, your coverage is so thoughtful and sensitive, and I very much appreciate it.
That said, there’s hardly been a better time to follow the DoC…she is turning out incredible projects right and left! This is such a wonderful way for her to use her talents while also bringing solemnity and poignancy to the remembrance of the Holocaust. I love the idea. I think it puts the spotlight on the survivors and the lives they have built since, as it should be.
Her dress looks much fresher sans hat, I can’t help thinking, and I really liked her hair today.
Many thanks, Sansa. 🙂
This Kate is really a mensch!