The Duchess in Green Ensemble to Talk About Parenting During Lockdown

The Duchess brought back a familiar jacket for a call with parents of students at Roe Green Junior School.

In a call made on Tuesday that Kensington Palace released last night, Kate spoke with parents and the school’s headteacher Melissa Loosemore about the challenges of parenting during lockdown.  Part of the call involved Ms. Loosemore asking everyone to write answers to varying questions.  The first question requested that parents share “one word that describes parenting during the pandemic.” Here is a video clip: 

One word that describes parenting during this pandemic?

We spoke with parents about the challenges that many families are facing during the third lockdown here in the UK.

Comment with your one word below ? pic.twitter.com/zLINFmlkIX

— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) January 28, 2021

When asked to talk about her answer, the Duchess said: “I think as parents you have the day-to-day elements of being a parent, but I suppose during lockdown we have had to take on additional roles that perhaps others in our communities, or in our lives, would have perhaps supported us and helped us with.”  The Duchess also joked that “I’ve become a hairdresser this lockdown, much to my children’s horror, seeing mum cutting hair.” 

In another question, everyone was asked to rate their ability with math on a scale of one to ten.  Kate’s response: -5.  More from The Daily Mail’s coverage: 

Self-deprecating Kate scored herself a ‘minus 5’ while the others all gave themselves ‘eight’, but the parents explained they had all improved dramatically during the lockdown.

Kate laughed saying: ‘That’s pretty good! I am obviously right at the bottom of the class.’

There was a reference to the popular series Bridgerton by the headteacher when asking the group to answer a third question about who their biggest support has been during the pandemic. 

The Duchess’s response: William.  More about the call from Simon Perry’s People story: 

The video chat, which took place on Tuesday from her new office space at the Queen’s Sandringham House, was intended to build on some of the key issues that came up in Kate’s work for children aged 0-5, or the Early Years – such as parental well-being and loneliness.

“I know how challenging it is juggling work, home life, school life and everything else that you as parents are doing, so really well done,” Kate said.

“Fingers crossed, let’s hope for the positivity as you’ve all been saying,” she continued. Make sure everyone looks after themselves — it’s very hard to prioritize but it’s definitely needed now more than ever.

“It’s important for our children that we look after ourselves too.”

The Duchess has a history with the school.  

She launched the Mentally Healthy Schools project there in January 2018. 

Now for a quick review of what Kate wore during the call. 

She was in a blazer by Massimo Dutti first noted in November of last year in a video about the Early Years survey.

The 100% Wool Flannel Blazer ($199, sold out) features a single button front closure, flap pockets, peak lapels, back vent, and three buttons at the cuffs. 

The top worn beneath the jacket is thinly ribbed with even thinner ribbing at the collar; obviously, we don’t know if it has short or long sleeves. Christine Ross discovered a similar Zara style on eBay that looks much like this piece sold on Poshmark. But, until we see the piece without the jacket it won’t be possible to positively ID it.

The Duchess brought back her Daniella Draper Mini Cupid Hoop Earrings ($265) and Trio Diamond Midnight Moon Necklace ($1800) personalized with George, Charlotte, and Louis’s initials.

UPDATE: I meant to initially include this and forgot, a photo of the green Mango top worn in February 2020. You can see it is also ribbed, with a scoop neckline.

Here is the full six-minute call. 

 

LINKAGE: 

• The Mirror’s story is here; A BBC article is here; The Daily Mail’s coverage is here; The Sun’s story is here 
• Simon Perry’s People piece is here; Danielle Stacey’s Hello story is here