The Duchess Wears Eponine London for COP26 Receptions

The Duchess of Cambridge wore Eponine London for COP26 events this evening. 

The first function was a reception recognizing key members of the Sustainable Markets Initiative and the winners and finalists of the first Earthshot Prize Awards. The Sustainable Markets Initiative “brings together business leaders to collaborate and identify solutions that will help the transition to a sustainable future.”

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were also at the reception.  It was at the Clydeside Distillery in Glasgow, the first dedicated Single Malt Whisky distillery in Scotland in more than 100 years.

More from Australia’s News.com: 

The couple were all smiles at the event. At one stage, Kate, 39, was seen attempting to give dead larvae – which is used as livestock feed – to her husband William, 39. His face says it all.

William decided he needed to look at the container. (I’m still not clear why there was a container of dead larvae at the reception but will continue to look for an answer to that riddle.)

This was the first time that many of The Earthshot Prize Winners Finalists met each other and the royals.  

The Duke and Duchess.

Following this event, the Duke and Duchess joined the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at a reception to mark the opening day of COP26.  Below, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who hosted the event, Prince William, the Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince Charles as they arrived.

And the Cambridges as they arrived. 

 That event was at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Richard Palmer posted a video of the royals arriving. 

The royal party arrive at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum for a reception with world leaders. pic.twitter.com/AYE121aX9Y

— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) November 1, 2021

The Queen was originally planning to be at the reception but canceled upon advice from her doctors.  She was also scheduled to address the gathering. More from Metro UK:

Her message was prerecorded on Friday at Windsor Castle.

The Queen pulled out of her in person appearance at the crucial climate conference in Glasgow after spending her first night in hospital in eight years in October.

The Royals watching the speech.

Here is a video. 

“I, for one, hope that this conference will be one of those rare occasions where everyone will have the chance to rise above the politics of the moment, and achieve true statesmanship.”

The Queen has delivered a video message to mark the start of #COP26

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 1, 2021

Another view of the Royals watching the address. 

From The Telegraph’s coverage: 

The Queen also spoke warmly of Prince Philip, who died in April aged 99, and his own passion for the environment.

She revealed that she was particularly happy to welcome leaders to Cop26 because “the impact of the environment on human progress” was a subject close to his heart.

She said of her husband: “I remember well that in 1969, he told an academic gathering: ‘If the world pollution situation is not critical at the moment, it is as certain as anything can be that the situation will become increasingly intolerable within a very short time. 

“If we fail to cope with this challenge, all the other problems will pale into insignificance.

Prince Charles and Prince William. 

Below, the royals and Prime Minister Boris Johnson. I am not sure who the gentleman is second from the left in the photo. With thanks to Nicola for her comment, the gentleman is Alok Sharma, President of COP26 and a member of Parliament who has held multiple government positions.

President Biden and Prince William at tonight’s reception.

The Duchess of Cornwall and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The Duchess with Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister.

Rebecca English reports the guests “will be offered refreshments of traditional Scottish canapes, Ridgeview Vintage English Sparkling Wine and COP26 blended whisky supplied by the Scottish Whisky Association. Guests will enjoy music from a string quartet from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.” 

The Duchess speaking with another guest. 

A group shot.

The Duchess of Cambridge and Duchess of Cornwall. 

Now for our look at what Kate wore for tonight’s engagements.  She was in a past-season coatdress by Eponine London.

With thanks to Laura for her ace detective work, you can get a glimpse of the design on the right in this Instagram photo posted by Eponine London. 

Laura points out the Instagram post is from 87 weeks ago.  The Daily Mail reports the design is from the spring/summer 2020 collection, so it is possible it is something the Duchess planned to wear to an engagement that ended up being canceled because of the pandemic. 

The dress is midi-length, and it looks like it is a will crepe, a fabric the Duchess is fond of and Eponine London uses. It features pleating details at the neckline, a snug waist, and black buttons.  

The Duchess appeared to be wearing her Rupert Sanderson Malory pumps. And her bag could be the Emmy London Natasha style ($365) in midnight blue suede, minus the contrasting piping on the flap. 

UPDATE NOV 2: As pointed out by Regal Fille on Twitter, it looks like the Duchess carried her Frome Clutch by LK Bennett.  

UPDATE NOV 3:  The always-on-top-of-things Elizabeth at Kate’s Closet contacted Emmy London, and they tell her it was their clutch the Duchess carried Monday evening.  The Natasha Midnight Self-Piped clutch is available online ($365).  

It appears the Duchess brought back her Kiki McDonough blue topaz and diamond earrings.

She had on a poppy that I am not sure we have seen her wear previously. UPDATE: With thanks to several commenters, the brooch is one we have definitely seen before.  It is the Codebreakers Poppy (£29.99). Kate’s grandmother, Valerie Glassborow, and twin sister Mary, both worked in signal intelligence during WWII.

The Duchess first wore the brooch for Remembrance Sunday events in 2019.  

VIDEO:

This is the Queen’s speech in its entirety.