The Duchess in 2012 Blazer & Boden Cardigan for Hold Still Events

The Duchess brought back a familiar piece for a Hold Still video released tonight. 

A refresher on the project from the Hold Still microsite at the National Portrait Gallery: 

We invited people of all ages to submit a photographic portrait, taken in a six-week period during May and June, focussed on three core themes…Over 31,000 submissions were received from across the country… From these, a panel of judges selected 100 portraits, assessing the images on the emotions and experiences they conveyed.

….the final 100 present a unique and highly personal record of this extraordinary period in our history. From virtual birthday parties, handmade rainbows and community clapping to brave NHS staff, resilient  keyworkers and people dealing with illness, isolation and loss. The images convey humour and grief, creativity and kindness, tragedy and hope – expressing and exploring both our shared and individual experiences.

As of Friday, the Hold Still digital exhibition has had more than 5.2 million page views.  There was also a community exhibition showing the 100 images in 80 cities and towns across the UK. You may remember the Duke and Duchess’s October visit to south London to see some of the images displayed in the community. Below, a billboard featuring an image titled The Look of Lockdown.

In the new video, the Duchess marks the community exhibition’s end by thanking everyone who submitted an image to the project. From Kate’s remarks in the video: 

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who submitted an image to Hold Still. I launched the project with the National Portrait Gallery back in May because I wanted to find a way to allow everyone to share their stories and experiences of lockdown.

We have been thrilled by the response to the project and I couldn’t be more grateful to each and every one of the 31,000 people who submitted an image. It was so hard to select the final 100 photographs but we hope we have created a collective portrait of our nation, reflecting on what others have experienced as well as our own journeys through this difficult time.

Here is the video in a tweet posted by Joe Little of Majesty Magazine. 

The Duchess of Cambridge marks the end of the UK-wide #HoldStill community exhibition with a video message thanking everybody who submitted a portrait to the project. © Kensington Palace https://t.co/w5zOYJmq07 #royal #DuchessofCambridge pic.twitter.com/Rx2ANGpccd

— Majesty/Joe Little (@MajestyMagazine) November 15, 2020

 During the October visit to south London, the couple also saw a photo called Melanie, March 2020. Johanna Churchill, a nurse, took the photo.

The image shows one of Ms. Churchill’s colleagues as she was working on setting up a COVID clinic in London. The portrait was recreated on the side of a building in Manchester.

This week the Duchess spoke with Johanna Churchill (r) as well as Dr. Edward Cole (center); the doctor was also involved in getting that clinic up and running.

More about the call via Kensington Palace: 

During the call, they discussed the important role the photograph has played in helping to represent the experiences of frontline workers across the nation as they continue to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak. Johannah also told The Duchess how the image has led her to receive messages from medical staff from across the UK, and around the world, and has allowed them to share their own experiences of working during these extraordinary times.  

Here is a video from the call. 

This is a tweet posted by Ms. Churchill in late October. 

❤️ Thank you so much for this exhibit #HoldStill2020 it’s moved me to my core. I’m so glad to see how Manchester have embraced her at such a tough time. Thank you to those who have taken the time to message me. #Manchesterlockdown #Manchester #COVID19 https://t.co/sFWKSbxxem

— Johannah Churchill (@JohannahChurchi) October 23, 2020

 

The image has led Johannah to receive messages from medical staff from across the UK, and around the world, and has allowed them to share their own experiences of working during these extraordinary times. pic.twitter.com/24jLL3rHCg

— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) November 15, 2020

Now for our look at what Kate wore for the new video.

It appears she brought back a piece by Zara first noted in August 2012.

The blazer was worn for Olympic events on August 3rd, including a thank you to Team GB House volunteers.

And women’s swimming at the Aquatic Centre.

The ‘Blazer with Gathered Shoulders’ was done in a viscose/poly blend with a touch of Elastane for stretch and ease of movement. It featured angled flap pockets, peak lapels, a single gold button front closure, four gold buttons at the cuffs, and the gathered shoulders referenced in the product name.

The Duchess appeared to have on an ivory or eggshell knit top beneath the jacket.

Initially, I thought Kate was wearing her All the Falling Stars Personalized Gold Three-Layered Disc Necklace ($127.65) with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis’ initials on the three circles.  But the charms on the necklace seen in the new video look like they are spaced further apart, and they look just a bit smaller to me. Below, the Duchess in the new video and wearing the All the Falling Stars necklace at the University of Derby event in early October. 

What do you think? Does it look like a different necklace altogether?  UPDATE NOV 15: It looks like the Duchess was wearing a new necklace, the Paleontology Nugget Necklace (£360) by Alex Monroe. The necklace is 16″ – 18″ in length, and the charms are sterling silver with gold vermeil (I think). Many thanks to Royal Wikipedia for this ID.

The piece features gold charms etched with “botanicals, animals, and Alex’s iconic bumblebee!” It is part of the jeweler’s Natural History Collection, inspired by the ‘breath-taking wonder of a first visit to a grand museum.”  The Duchess has been the Natural History Museum’s patron since 2013. Here is a closer look at the charms.

Alex Monroe describes itself as specializing in “Ethical & Sustainable Jewellery Handmade in England, Inspired by Nature & British eccentricity.” The company has done multiple collaborations with the Royal Collection Trust.

Mr. Monroe created his first collection in 1987 with a goal of producing “excellent quality jewellery, which was originally designed, hand made and well priced.” The label has boutiques located in Covent Garden and London Bridge and still makes each item by hand in England.  Alex Monroe jewelry is also offered at Liberty of London, John Lewis, Harper’s Emporium in Perth, Farfetch, and also ABC Carpet and Home in the USA. 

And a slightly larger view of the Duchess in the blue cardigan. 

UPDATE: Ace IDer CopyKate suggests the Duchess is wearing the Abercorn Scallop Cardigan ($110) in the ‘frosted blue’ color as offered by Boden.  I think she is right. You can just see a hint of the scallop detail on Kate’s right shoulder in the photo above.  The semi-fitted piece is a blend of merino wool and cotton with the scallop detail at the neckline.

A closer look at the details.

There are a few possible repliKates here that I stumbled across while searching for the piece.  

NOTE: I originally wrote the Boden sweater was in the ‘conker’ colorway which is clearly not the case. The post has been updated with the correct color name.  

UPDATE #3 NOV 16: In looking at screengrabs from the call with Johanna Churchill and Dr. Cole, longtime WKW friend Stephanie Champion Helton (Lady Coventry om Twitter) suggests Kate is wearing a new (to us) pair of Catherine Zoraida earrings.

Stephanie believes it is the Gold Mistle Kiss Hoop style (£180), curved mistletoe leaves, perfect for the approaching holiday season.

The company confirms the Duchess owns the style; I think Stephanie is spot-on with the ID.  Thanks to Middleton Maven for her assistance on this one!

LINKAGE: 

• Click here to view the Hold Still microsite; click here to see the full gallery of 100 images.  
• Simon Perry’s People story is here; Omid Scobie’s piece for Harper’s Bazaar is here; Jamie Samhan’s article for ET Canada is here.