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
All the greens look lovely, and those beautiful plants are making me very envious! I have a plant-eating cat, so all of mine are just bedraggled sticks. That lush palm is so marvelous!
PRINCESS KATE LOOKS CHARMING
HERE. KATE IS SO NATURAL AND
I REALLY LIKE THIS CASUAL BUT
STYLISH LOOK. GORGEOUS HAIR
AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HER
HAIR STYLED IN A LONG CHOPPY
LAYERED SHAG, IT WOULD BE
ADORABLE ON HER. IT WOULD
STILL HAVE PLENTY OF LENGTH
TO WEAR UP!!! I LIKE HER OWN
NATURAL DARK HAIR COLOR BEST,
IT REALLY GIVES HER THAT LOVELY
ENGLISH ROSE COMPLEXION. SHE
IS SO DOWN TO EARTH AND SINCERE.
Adore it all! What beautiful greens on Kate, and the background is so soothing. Somehow it doesn’t add up to too much green, possibly because of the varying shades (the pale sofa, printed throw pillows). The plants and the detailing on the wall behind her are lovely too.
Because of these publicized Zoom calls, it is now easier for the wider public to see Kate’s gentle and humorous side. Earlier, while her commitment to her work was always visible, her prepared speeches did not do justice to her personality. I’m sure the people working closely with her always knew she was self-deprecating and kind, but we only saw the slightly nervous and not-comfortable-with-public-speaking face.
On the fashion side of things, I really adore the Massimo Dutti blazer, and it looks even better with the green sweater. Her new office looks great, too! Really good Zoom background. It shows that they’ve accepted that even with vaccines, most of us will be working remotely for the majority of 2021.
I always love Kate in green, and this is no exception.
It’s been especially enjoyable to “get to know” Kate in Zoom settings. Her warmth and approachable personality shines in these informal settings.
I really do enjoy she has been showing up more in office wear uniform of blazers and sweaters recently instead of the too long flouncy dresses. I liked this blazer the first time I saw it and it definitely coordinates better with the green sweater shirt underneath.
I thought it was hilarious when she gave her math skills -5 because that’s how I would have rated myself 😂. No amount of math tutors throughout my schooling got me to enjoy or understand math and to this day any mention if numbers my eyes glaze over.
She looks very beautiful- she is very beautiful!!
I am a believer that different greens do NOT go together but this comes pretty close to proving me wrong.
Her necklace is charming- couldn’t resist…
It’s exactly what a mom’s everyday necklace is- very sentimental!
The late, great John Fowler of Colefax and Fowler, the decorating firm, said, “All greens go together.” He was a great colourist, so I tend to keep that in mind.
Dark green looks well on Kate, as ever, and that Massimo Dutti jacket looks like a very handy workpiece, though it’s a shame we’ve only seen it in seated video talks. A single button with a relatively narrow lapel is both comfy and business-like, and just a touch sleek. Thanks for illustrating the clear difference between the present mystery top and the former Mango piece. The sleuths have their work cut out on that one.
I think hair has a little more movement and bounce here, and how appropriate of Kate to wear the Midnight Moon pendant with the initials of her own children while discussing the kids-at-home situation. Her connection with the real-life challenges of lockdown parenting is convincing as well as empathetic, and she engages so naturally and effortlessly with those working on the home-schooling frontline.
This video make me chuckle!! “We have special paper packs for people like you.” Kate is doing a marvelous job drawing attention to parenting struggles during the pandemic. Her sense of humor and warmth are just sparkling.
She also looks gorgeous in this video. I am a huge fan of blazers on Kate, and I love the soft green sweater underneath. The body of her hair today frames her face. I am really loving the sleeker, simpler, more professional looks on Kate the last couple appearances she has made. May she retire the flouncy fussy pieces for ever more!
What I really like about all the video calls she is doing at the moment is that we get to see more of her sweet, grounded and easy going personality. The duchess looks gorgeous and classy, the smart casual style suits her so well and she is doing a fantastic job.
So true! She is a treasure.
We certainly all look forward to the time when we can see Kate’s entire outfit, not just from the waist up. Today dressed in green she coordinates nicely with the background, the green couch and the plants. I like this blazer with a different tone of green underneath, rather than the pink selected in an earlier wearing.
I’m enjoying Kate gentle, self-deprecating sense of humour as she scores her math skills at -5 and comments about the kiddos not being impressed when she cuts their hair. Perhaps we won’t be seeing anymore photos of George, Charlotte and Louis, until professional haircuts can take place.
Kate previously worn a top very similar to this color and style to a Team Sports Aid engagement on February 26 last year. The one worn then featured a deeper neckline then this one, but perhaps it could be from the same brand?
That was a good idea, Elizabeth, but I didn’t see anything that looked similar. 😊
Hello,
This green top looks exactly like the Mango one Kate wore for SportsAid engagement in February 2020.
I thought it was the same one, but the collar has not the same form. 🙁
You have a good memory, Anne! 😊