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Remembrance Weekend Event Updates and Fashion Flashbacks

Hello and happy Tuesday. I have a couple of updates I thought you might want to hear about and then two fashion flashbacks.   

We begin with a look at cupcakes the Cambridge family made for the Royal British Legion.

The Legion and Kensington Place both tweeted the photo of the baked goods yesterday, saying, “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their family have shown their support for our #PoppyAppeal this year by baking these delicious poppy cakes which were delivered to our care home in Norfolk.”  There are six Legion care homes; I believe the one receiving the cupcakes would be Halsey House, located about an hour east of Anmer Hall.  It is half-term for most schools in the UK; Prince George and Princess Charlotte are out of school until next week, so baking would be a fun family activity.  

There is news about Remembrance Sunday, November 8. This year there will not be the usual service at the Cenotaph.  The Legion reports, “Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and in light of the risks posed, the annual Remembrance Sunday March Past the Cenotaph will not take place this year.” Below, a view of last year’s service.

Other notes from the Legion’s update

  • The Government-led Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph will continue to go ahead as a closed ceremony. 
  • Despite the changes this year, we are encouraging people across the nations to ensure Remembrance Sunday is still marked appropriately by taking part in remote and socially distanced Remembrance activity, whether that be watching the service on television or pausing for the Two Minute Silence in their home or on their doorsteps.

This is the first time in history the public is not allowed at the service. The Telegraph reports

A limited number of people, including Armed Forces veterans, members of the Royal family and international leaders, will be permitted to attend, and the service will be made “Covid-secure” by ensuring that strict social distancing measures are in place. The march past the memorial will not take place.

Here you see HM and the Duchess at last year’s service

This year’s events mark a special anniversary. More from The Telegraph piece, quoting UK Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden. 

“This Remembrance Sunday has a particular significance as it marks 100 years since the Cenotaph was installed. Whilst we will mark this occasion properly, it is with a heavy heart that I must ask people not to attend the ceremony at the Cenotaph this year in order to keep veterans and the public safe.

Here is a view of the Cenotaph from Remembrance Sunday 2016

There have not been any announcements I am aware of regarding specific participants from the Royal Family on the 8th. 

The annual Festival of Remembrance held the Saturday night before Remembrance Sunday will also be different this year. Below, a scene from last year’s Festival

The event is held every year at Royal Albert Hall and broadcast that evening on BBC.  Here you see members of the Royal Family at the 2019 Festival of Remembrance.  

This year’s Festival will be taped ahead of time and shown on BBC One on Saturday, November 7. Below, the Duke and Duchess at last year’s Festival of Remembrance. 

If I learn anything more I will update the post.   

There has been quite a bit of continued Hold Still activity following last week’s community launch of the project.  Kensington Palace continues sharing photos on social media of people involved in the photos. Below left you see Amelia Huson by one of the posters with the photo she was in, titled, “Thank You.” It was taken by her mother,  Wendy Huson. On the right, Steph James with her son as they see the poster of her photo called Glass Kisses

Below, one of the images from the exhibition recreated as a mural. The portrait is called Melanie, March 2020, and the photo was taken by nurse and photographer Johannah Churchill.   

Kensington Palace released a time-lapse video of the portrait being recreated on a building wall.  

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Now for our fashion flashbacks, beginning with a 2011 engagement.  

Nine years ago yesterday the Duchess had her first solo engagement, wearing an Amanda Wakeley design. She was representing Prince Charles at a reception for In Kind Direct, an organization the Prince founded that takes surplus goods and redistributes them to appropriate charities.

Kate was a late replacement for the Prince of Wales, who was in Saudi Arabia paying respects to that royal family following the death of the Crown Prince. 

The Duchess wore a design from Amanda Wakeley’s fall/winter 2006-2007 collection.  The floor-length gown featured at least two layers of chiffon with a lighter color atop a darker aqua, a ruched bodice, beaded criss-cross straps at the shoulders, and embellishment at the waist. There are also godets in the skirt.   

Here you can see how Kate changed the waistline of her dress, raising the belt/waistline from what was shown on the runway.

Here is a little closer look at the beading on the dress. I think the photos on the left look so bright because the photographer was closer to Kate and the flash flared out a little. 

Kate wore her hair partially up.

The Duchess accessorized with her ‘Vamp’ sandals by Jimmy Choo

As well as the glittering diamond bracelet and earrings believed to be a gift from Prince Charles.

This is a look that I would also include in the pantheon of One-Hit-Wonders.  As I have mentioned in other posts, I don’t know why the Duchess stopped wearing Amanda Wakeley styles; I thought she was an excellent designer for Kate and still feel that way.   

Our other flashback is Prince George’s christening, seven years ago last Friday.

The Duchess chose the first of three Alexander McQueen/Jane Taylor christening ensembles. 

The Prince was baptized in a ceremony at the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace.  Below, the guest of honor. 

Prince George Alexander Louis wore a replica of the gown worn by Queen Victoria’s daughter in 1841.  A closer look at the lace. 

The Duchess wore Alexander McQueen. 

It was a customized version of the Alexander McQueen pieces seen below: on the left, we show the actual RTW (ready to wear) piece that would have been sold for Spring 2012, Kate’s version today, and the style as it looked on the runway.PA Wire/Lyst

Kate wore a hat by Jane Taylor, the ‘Georgie’ style.  The milliner described it as a “sophisticated sinamay beret with delicate silk organza rose and classic veiling trim.”

Another view of the Duchess.

The Duchess also wore her Kiki McDonough citrine drop earrings.

And Park Avenue heels by Russell and Bromley.

We’ll leave you with one more photo of the Cambridge family seven years ago.

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Beth

Friday 30th of October 2020

Ooohhhh...here's an idea for a fashion flashback: Kate's christening outfits! Would love to see them side by side.

Anna Marie

Wednesday 28th of October 2020

Such a nice surprise to see this article! Thank you.

ElizaMo

Wednesday 28th of October 2020

The Cambridge cupcakes certainly produced an eye-catching image for news outlets and was a delightful scheme to dream up. I am lost in admiration at the skill with icing. I’m glad that a socially distanced ceremony can still take place on Remembrance Sunday and am really impressed that the Festival can be produced in pre-recorded form, along with accompanying royals. It will be a pleasure to see the family brought together for such an important centenary.

The fashion flashbacks are intriguing as ever, I’d not seen that studio shot of the Wakeley dress before. It looks a lot more distinctive with contrast straps and beaded trim though perhaps a touch racy for Kate’s tastes. It was never a dress I particularly took to, though it was lovely to see Kate hosting her first royal solo event, and I felt it was just right for the occasion. The vamp sandals and diamond bracelet set were a great match.

Another dress I might not have quite taken to was the McQueen christening outfit, as the amount of ruffle and frou-frou could easily verge on overload. However, in the context of a royal christening it was well-nigh perfect.

Rebecca

Wednesday 28th of October 2020

I completely agree about the christening outfit! You put it so gently, I have been hesitant about knocking Kate’s christening outfit, because it just feels so wrong, but I did feel it was overload

Sue

Wednesday 28th of October 2020

I have always liked the whole look of that 2011 engagement and thought Catherine looked fabulous. While there is a lot of skin showing - arms, shoulders - it is not an indecent or even unsuitable look: HM in her young days was frequently wearing strapless gowns which show even more shoulder, etc, so cannot see why anyone would think this dress was 'unsuitable' for an attractive young woman.

LadyLeah

Wednesday 28th of October 2020

To clarify—I don’t think showing skin is problematic. I think strapless or bare arms and shoulders can look exceedingly elegant. (As the Queen has shown) It’s the style of this particular dress that I find a bit “tacky.” The sparkling straps and raised waist give the impression of very fancy bra straps. I would not call this indecent, it’s just more of a prom look than a Duchess look to my eyes.

Khloe

Wednesday 28th of October 2020

With everything so uncertain this year, I'm sure the cupcakes that the Cambridges made meant a lot to the Legion. It must have also been a way to get the kids involved and make it meaningful for them. I am very much hoping that Susan can update about the proceedings. The Wakeley dress is lovely. The colour suits the duchess very well, and the sparkly straps and belt make it fun. And, since I am the very definition of sentimental, I love how Catherine wore jewelry that the Prince of Wales gave her. And George's christening. I loved everyone's outfits all around. The DOC's essemble was gorgeous... as usual. I loved how she wore a hat that shared a name with her son, and how she kept the same colour palette for all of her children's christenings. Is it a thing for royal mothers to always match their babies at christenings? I am just curious because both the DOC and Meghan Markle have both worn shades of white/cream to their children's christenings. Totally agree with everyone about Princes George and William. George is absolutely adorable and looked like a pretty chill baby. William definitely did not look his age. He looked so much younger. Both he and Kate looked so very happy. Together they all were so adorable!

Bonnie

Wednesday 28th of October 2020

Khloe, It is not especially traditional for royal mothers to wear white or cream to their children's christenings. Diana wore a hot pink floral for William's event. She wore royal blue for Harry's christening. Just Google the two occasions, as there are many photos online.

hrhdhd

Wednesday 28th of October 2020

For one example (it came to mind), Diana wore a pink dress to William's christening and a blue one to Harry's. So, no, they don't always match.

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