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It’s Catherine Walker for Engagement with Prince Charles & the Duchess of Cornwall

The Duchess of Cambridge joined Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall for an engagement at Trinity Buoy Wharf today.


The center is located on the Thames in East London. 

The trio visited The Prince’s Foundation training site at the center and met students “…learning traditional industries including textiles, stone crafting and wax sculpting…” per this Daily Mail story

More from The Evening Standard’s coverage:

Graduates and entrepreneurs from the Modern Artisan project, a collaboration between the Prince’s Foundation and the YOOX Net-a-Porter Group, talked to Charles, Camilla and Kate about the techniques behind traditional kilt production and silk smocking.

Charles invited his daughter-in-law to join him and Camilla on the engagement because of her interest in and longstanding support for the arts and creative industries.

The royals spent time in the Future Textiles and Pattern-Cutting Studio.

Here you see the Duchesses with Nicole Christie of Ellipsis Fashion.  The label’s site explains, “All garments & accessories are designed and handmade strengthening artisanal skills that have been lost in a mass-produced industry.”

On the brand’s Facebook page, Ms. Christie wrote: “It was the most surreal and incredible experience and humbled I was able to gift both the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge with a handmade Silk Ellipsis bag along with a Silk hair accessory for Princess Charlotte.”  Below, a photo shared by Rebecca English of The Daily Mail showing the gifts.

Ms. English noted on Twitter that the Duchess of Cambridge had her eye on one of the dresses being displayed at the venue. 

Below, the Duchess speaks with a life drawing student.

More from The Daily Mail’s story

The royals joined a life drawing class with the latest intake of students at the Foundation from September, although any potential blushes were spared as the model was fully clothed.

Speaking to Hildy Biernoff, 20, from London, said: ‘Kate told me she was amazed by all the different styles everyone has. She said when you step back and look at everyone’s drawings it shows a different aspect of their perception of what we are all seeing.’

The Duchesses seemed to thoroughly enjoy today’s engagement.

The trio speaking with another artisan.

The Duchess chatting with students.

As they left the engagement, the royals were met by students. 

The Duchess speaking with one of the pupils from Faraday Prep School. 

Another view.

A wave from the royals.

And a wave for students inside the building.

Now for our look at what Kate wore for today’s engagement, beginning with the Catherine Walker design seen on two previous occasions.  The dress features a fitted bodice with a full, pleated skirt, a favorite silhouette for the Duchess. There is also a self-belt, velvet collar, and velvet-covered buttons at the pleated and flared cuffs. 

The frock was most recently seen in January 2020 for Holocaust Memorial Day engagements (below left).  Previously it was worn in March 2019 for an engagement at King’s College London with HM (c), and later that day for another engagement at the Foundling Museum (r).  

The Duchess carried a new (to us) Mulberry bag. With thanks to Bojanana, it looks like the small Amberley Crossbody style, now sold out.

She also brought back her Gianvito Rossi Piper 85 pumps ($695).

The point-toe pumps are suede with a 3.5″ block heel. They are available in limited sizes at Net-a-Porter.

The Duchess wore her hair partially up, and she had on her diamond/sapphire earrings.

I’ll leave you with one more photo from today.

 

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M Cain

Monday 7th of February 2022

She wore this outfit when she visited King's College with the Queen a few years ago. I was lucky enough to get to see her live and in person that day. Interesting that she wore the same outfit for two engagements that were guaranteed to bring extra attention due to the fact she was with her in-laws. Perhaps it makes her feel especially confident and beautiful?

admin

Monday 7th of February 2022

How fun for you to have been at King's College!

laura

Monday 7th of February 2022

I would like to know.. hasn't she cold outside or warm inside? How can she use a dress coat and not feeling the weather?

Jenn

Saturday 5th of February 2022

While she looks lovely, styles have changed and this dress looked a bit outdated but the tailoring is fantastic. I would love to see it with a black belt and less volume in the skirt. This is a re-wear that hasn’t had any alterations.

Nice to see real gemstones return, makes me wonder if the original earrings were a present from Charles to Diana and wearing them when with him is a nice tribute.

Barbara

Friday 4th of February 2022

How I would love to have been along on this engagement. That artisan silk looks exquisite. I really like this CW dress and the way it is styled with dark tights and a chunky heeled shoe. The Duchess's hair-do is a work of art and shows off those lovely sapphire earrings. I don't care for the handbag since these small purses always remind me of a little girl's dress up purse.

Jessica

Friday 4th of February 2022

Wow, I just love the full-on princess hair. I remember how the "her ponytail made me want to be a better person" guy also described it as a magnificent ice sculpture. I like seeing her as a "real person" too, but I also think it's glorious when her natural gifts and all the powers of the office come together, as they do in this perfect coiffure.

I like this dress--and this vibe, in general--a lot, but I have always found myself wishing for a black velvet belt to match the collar. Maybe it would be too matchy; I don't know--but I want to see for myself!

I do celebrate the return of a tailored working-Duchess look, which is my favorite.

Sue

Saturday 5th of February 2022

Or even the suede belt worn recently with the sludgy green/khaki dress; I think that could have worked well, similar width to the belt of this dress. A velvet belt might just be a step too far into ‘little girl party dress’ direction. Just my opinion.

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