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The Duchess in Alexander McQueen Coatdress for ANZAC Day Service

The Duchess in Alexander McQueen Coatdress for ANZAC Day Service

The Duchess brought back a familiar design for today’s Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving, commemorating ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day

A video as the couple arrived.  

The service was at Westminster Abbey. 

More from The Telegraph’s story

The Duchess of Cambridge made a surprise appearance at a service of commemoration marking Anzac Day and joined the Duke in honouring Australia and New Zealand’s war dead.

Prince William and his wife, who wore red poppies, were welcomed to Westminster Abbey by the Dean of Westminster and joined hundreds of guests from Australia and New Zealand’s communities in the UK.

The Duke and Duchess after entering the Abbey. 

More about ANZAC Day from the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia. 

Anzac Day is inextricably linked with the landings at Gallipoli in the Dardanelles Strait on the 25th April 1915. On this day ANZAC troops were committed to their first major action of the war, and though the campaign would ultimately prove a bloody failure and leave more than 8,000 Australians dead, it marked the beginning of the Anzac legend.

This legend was poignantly put into words by Sir William Deane, Governor-General of Australia on Anzac Day 1999:

Anzac is not merely about loss. It is about courage, and endurance, and duty, and love of country, and mateship, and good humour and the survival of a sense of self-worth and decency in the face of dreadful odds.

People reports the anniversary has been “…honored in London since the first anniversary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli in 1916 when King George V attended a service at Westminster Abbey.”

Below, New Zealand High Commissioner for the UK Bede Corry (L) and Australia High Commissioner George Brandis (R) laid wreaths at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at the service.

ANZAC Day now honors Australians and New Zealanders who have served in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.

More about the service from this Sky News story. 

The Dean, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, said to those gathered in the Abbey: “Today we gather to remember what must never be forgotten. We are also here to honour not just bravery, but common cause. We will reflect on the complex history that makes allies and enemies and leads us through war and peace.

“We remember the loyalties that bound the men and women of Gallipoli together. We think of their courage at a time when we are conscious of a very different conflict and of other challenges.

“We look around and find reason to pray for those caught up in war today. We look back and remember the recent anxieties, loyalties and demands of a pandemic which is not yet over.

“Knowing that trust, respect, service and resilience are virtuous acts, we commit ourselves once more to a renewed determination to seek peace and to work together for the good of all.”

More from the Dean’s message via Sky News.  

The Dean went on to say: “We have been tested in pandemic, we are tested now by what is happening in Ukraine. We’re asked to consider what we think of our own humanity – our purpose. We’re tested, not just in courage but we’re tested in hope.

“Do we believe that we are better than the worst that we can do? Do we have the resource to imagine and name something better when we look around and see the waste places of our wrath?”

The Duchess greeted people after the service concluded.

The duo outside after the service. 

Earlier today, the Duke of Cambridge also participated in the ANZAC Day ceremony at the Cenotaph, laying a wreath on behalf of HMTQ.

“In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.” Elsewhere in London today, the Dawn Service at the Australian and New Zealand War Memorials at Hyde Park Corner in London.

The dawn service always attracts a crowd.

Across the miles, a scene from the ANZAC Day Parade in Sydney, Australia.

Another view from Sydney. 

A veteran at the Sydney parade.

There are events throughout Australia and New Zealand. Below, this morning’s service at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance.

Here you see Lance Corporal Arthur Davis Salutes on the steps of the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. 

The Auckland War Memorial Museum just before dawn this morning in New Zealand.

Poppies were laid at the Cenotaph at the War Museum. 

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern lays a wreath at Mt. Albert War memorial hall in Auckland. 

In Christchurch, you see part of an ANZAC Day observance before a Super Rugby Aotearoa match at Orangetheory Stadium.

Below, a social media post from the Cambridges.

We move now to our look at what Kate wore for today’s service. 

She brought back the Alexander McQueen coatdress first seen at Princess Charlotte’s July 2015 christening.  Quoting my original post, “this was an intricately engineered piece; the multiple gores and darting made for a complex tailoring job. It also featured a fitted bodice with wide, winged lapels.

This is the fourth time the Duchess has worn the garment. Its second appearance was at the 2016 Trooping the Colour events

We saw it again when the Duchess attended ceremonies in Belgium commemorating the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele. 

A view of all three wearings. 

Today the Duchess accessorized with a new Jane Taylor design, the Calypso Halo in Tweed (£830, roughly $1065 at today’s exchange rates).

The design is described as ” A sensational all-rounder halo headpiece made from iconic British tweed – ideal for weddings, smart events, and races – topped off with a fetching tuxedo satin bow at the nape of the neck for a smart finish.”  Thank you to Carly at Kate Middleton Style for another fab ID! 

The Duchess carried her Jenny Packham ‘Roxy’ clutch again today.

And repeated her Gianvito Rossi 105 Black Suede Pumps ($675). 

The Duchess wore the Collingwood pearl drop earrings that belonged to Diana, Princessa of Wales. 

She also wore a poppy that supports the RSA, the New Zealand Returned and Services Association, “one of the oldest ex-service organizations in the world” per this military history site. It was founded in 1916 by wounded soldiers returning from the Gallipoli Campaign and it received royal patronage in 1920, according to that same site. Many thanks to Natasha for the tip on the poppy.

The poppy was attached with what looks like a new brooch. Several have suggested the pin is a Robinson Pelham style because of its similarity to the tiara and matching headpiece worn by Ms. Matthews on her wedding day.

We will see you again on Wednesday for the Duchess’s engagement with Princess Anne. 

VIDEOS

The Royal Family Channel’s coverage runs a bit more than three minutes.

The RFC also offers coverage of this morning’s service at the Cenotaph. 

 

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Larissa

Wednesday 4th of May 2022

Thank you for sharing snippets of the Deans' words from the ceremony. What a powerful message!

Kate looks stunning. This is such a versatile and dependable coat, and I am so thrilled to see repeats nowadays – I miss those well-tailored silhouettes! My favourite wearing is still Trooping the Colour with the pink accessories, because I love the hat so much, but it was nice to see this coat paired with contrasting accessories on this outing. As with all past wearings of the coat, the hat is yet again top notch; I'm a big fan of the bow, and the texture of the tweed adds interest. A win from me!

Jack Bing

Monday 2nd of May 2022

Thank you for sharing a picture from the back. I'm always intrigued to know how these headband hats look when not in profile.

Love this coatdress and hope to see it reworn in many years to come!

Zell

Friday 29th of April 2022

Wow! The Duchess of Cambridge is so Visually Stunning here with a dramatic color scheme: her stark white coatdress, Halo headpiece and pearl drop earrings, bright red poppy pin, and the elegant touches of black with her clutch, shoes and the lovely satin ribbon of her beautiful headpiece. I love this look of white, red and black! (I'm also so Impressed with how Kate can make the same stunning coatdress look so beautiful and unique to each occasion she wears it, with different accessories and shoes). To those who don't like her headpiece: Sorry, I cannot agree! I Adore it, from the shape of it to the white tweed, to the lustrous, romantic black satin ribbon. I love how it looks: like a beautiful hat from the front, and then has an elegant satin bow in the back. It looks simply wonderful with Kate's beautiful hair and is so interesting to the eye. Thumbs up for her entire outfit!

Larsa

Wednesday 27th of April 2022

The first thing that came to mind upon seeing this headband was a mushroom - sorry! It's a pretty piece but I think the way she wore it wasn't the best. It would've looked better farther back on her head, and not sitting over a middle part. Her Louis christening headband is still by far the best piece and way she's worn these headbands. I think an updo would've been good here. Still not a huge fan of this coatdress that she obviously really likes, but oh well. I also zoomed in on it for the first time and didn't realize there was so much stitching/lining apparent throughout. Kinda odd.

Caroline A.

Wednesday 27th of April 2022

The New Zealand Defence Force explains the difference between ANZAC and Anzac in the link below. It’s something I learned a few years ago and it doesn’t seem to be widely known so I thought I would draw attention to it.

https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/nzdf/programmes-and-resources/anzac-day/

I like to think that The Duchess of Cambridge wore the maidenhair fern brooch because the maidenhair fern grows in New Zealand. Perhaps Her Royal Highness wore white instead of black because, in some cultures, white is associated with peace and the message of peace is particularly relevant at the moment.

2022 marks 100 years since the first Poppy Appeal was held in New Zealand. There’s more information about that in the link below.

https://www.rsa.org.nz/news-and-stories/new-arsas-poppy-appeal-introduces-new-zealands-younger-veteransrticle-page/

Caroline A.

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