News Updates Plus Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals

Hello, and happy extended weekend to all celebrating the time off! I am back with a few news updates and then our annual look at sales and savings opportunities on products and brands the Princess favors. We begin with news about the Princess’s role in next week’s state visit by Qatar. 

• On Tuesday, December 3, the Prince and Princess of Wales will greet the Amir of the State of Qatar and Sheikha Jawaher at their residence on behalf of the King on Tuesday morning. The Prince and Princess of Wales will travel with Their Highnesses to Horse Guards Parade, where the Amir and Sheikha Jawaher will receive a Ceremonial Welcome. Their Highnesses will join the King and Queen, and The Prince and Princess of Wales, in a carriage procession along The Mall to Buckingham Palace.

Below, the Prince and Princess greet South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at his London hotel during that state visit in November 2022. 

It’s believed the Princess of Wales will attend the lunch at Buckingham Palace following the morning’s ceremonies and take part in viewing a special exhibition in the Picture Gallery of items relating to Qatar from the Royal Collection Trust and Turquoise Mountain Foundation. She will not attend the state banquet that evening at Buckingham Palace. Below, the Prince and Princess with dignitaries from South Korea as they viewed an exhibit in the Picture Gallery in November 2023.

Of course, we’ll also see the Princess on Friday for the taping of her Together At Christmas Carol Service at Westminster Abbey. The Princess has invited children who were wounded in the Southport stabbing attack to the concert with their families. You may remember the Prince and Princess’s visit to Southport in October, where they met privately with the families of three little girls killed in a knife attack this July.

Our other news update is a sad one about Liz Hatton, the young photographer the Prince and Princess met in October at Windsor Castle. Below, you see Liz in the aqua sweater with her mother, Vicky Robayna (on the far right), her stepfather Aaron (on the left), and brother Mateo.

The teen was diagnosed in January with DSRCT (desmoplastic small round cell tumors), a rare and aggressive form of cancer. She was a budding photographer who met the royals when Prince William heard about her “bucket list” wish to take photos at an investiture.

She was able to do that in October. 

Simon Perry’s story in People adds this information. 

Hatton appeared on the Today program on BBC Radio 4 and said of the royal couple, “Talking to them was amazing ‘cause it was like talking to anyone, like just a normal person. There was no sort of grandeur about them, there was just humanity and kindness.”

Yesterday, Liz’s mother shared the news online that Liz passed away. 

Here is more from the post. 

She was not only a phenomenal photographer, she was the best human, and the most wonderful daughter and big sister we could ever have asked for. No one could have fought harder for life than she did. There is a gaping Liz shaped hole in our lives that I am not sure how we will ever fill. We have so much gratitude to every single one of you, whether you offered to help, or liked or shared posts – you ensured Liz’s last two months were her very best. She flew high until the end.

To read the entire post, including information about a fundraiser, click here. The Prince and Princess posted their reaction to the news on social media. 

Liz’s mother responded to that post with this message.

The BBC reports, “As part of her bucket list, Liz photographed comedian Michael McIntyre, circus performers, the Royal Ballet, models from the Storm Model Agency, the London Air Ambulances and the red carpet at the MTV Europe Music Awards.”

You can see some of the photographs taken by Liz on her Instagram page. 

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We now make a very tough turn to the topic of post-holiday sales. We’ll start with the jewelry category. 

• Kiki McDonough is offering 15% off sitewide (excluding Special Editions) with promo code THANKSGIVING15. This includes the Princess’s Citrine Drops (usually £695, about $880, now £590, roughly $748), the Grace White Topaz & Diamond Studs, as well as the Green Amethyst Drops and the Classic Diamond Hoops.

• Annoushka is offering 20% off most merchandise with promo code NOVEMBER20, including the Princess’s Baroque Pearl Drops (usually $535, they are on sale for $428) and the Princess’s Eclipse Eternity Ring (normally $2200, the discount of $440 brings the price to $1760).

• At Missoma, merchandise is discounted up to 40% off its regular price; no promo code is required. The Princess’s Mini Pyramid Charm Pink Rhodochrosite Earrings are marked down to $110 from $138, and her Zenyu Chandelier Earrings are also on sale, discounted 30%, bringing the price to $136.50 from $199. 

• At Monica Vinader, the jeweler’s Siren Green Onyx Earrings worn by the Princess are 40% off ($106.80, normally $178), and her Nura Pearl Necklace is 30% off (now $125.80 instead of $186 for both the pearl pendant and the necklace).

• Orelia Jewelry is taking 25% off everything with promo code BF2024. This includes the Chain Huggie Hoops Earrings (now $26.25, normally $35). 

• Catherine Zoraida is offering discounts of up to 30% in its Golden Week sale. Included in the sale are the Gold Double Leaf Earrings (discounted from $214 to $182), the Gold Fern Hoop Earrings (on sale for $171), and the Spread Your Wings bracelet (now $385 instead of its regular price of $453). 

• Emmy London is offering 20% off almost all products. That means the Natasha Handbags the Princess carries, which are usually $495, are discounted to $396, and the Rebecca Pumps, which are typically $595, are now $476. This offer also includes the Josie Block Heel Pump worn by the Princess in green, saddle brown, and navy. The sale runs through the 4th; no promo code is needed on the US site.

• Scottish accessories brand Strathberry is offering 25% off almost everything online. This includes the Princess’s Multrees Chain Wallet (normally $425, it is $318.75 with the discount) in the Vanilla/Diamond colorway carried to Order of the Garter events in 2023 and the Mosaic Top Handled Bag (usually $555, on sale for $416) carried to last year’s Carol Concert at Westminster Abbey.

• DeMellier London is discounting merchandise by 20%, meaning the Princess’s Nano Montreal in Deep Toffee is discounted to $360 from $450. She also owns the bag in navy, but I do not see it shown as available on the site. 

• Mulberry, another royal favorite, has a sizable amount of merchandise on sale; no promo code is necessary. The Princess’s Small Amberley Crossbody in white is discounted to $796 from $995.

• Aspinal of London also offers discounts this extended weekend, including the Princess’s Midi Mayfair Bag in Deep Shine Lilac Croc (originally $915, now $697) and her Deep Shine Black Croc version (also on sale for $697). No promo code is needed.  

• Glovemaker Cornelia James is discounting its merchandise by 15%. The Princess’s Alice Merino Wool Gloves (below left) are now $187 instead of their normal retail price of $221, and her Imogen Merino Wool Gloves (center) are on sale for $148.75 instead of $175. Her Beatrice Merino Wool Gloves are also on sale for $148.75. 

• At Reiss, the discount is 25% off all full-price merchandise. Items I found online included the blue Hollie Double-Breasted Linen Blazer (originally priced at $515, now $305) worn by the Princess to the CoronationBig Lunch and the Edina Relaxed Rollneck Wool/Cashmere Jumper (usually $265, now $197), though not it is a camel color, not the ivory worn by the Princess for a baby bank visit last year. The retailer’s Larsson Blazer (below far right) worn by the Princess is not shown on its site in her exact color, although it is offered on sale in several colors and sizes. If you are looking for the Larsson in the precise color, Gilt is offering it at $149, a very good buy. 

• LK Bennett is offering 30% off everything. This includes the Fern and Floret pumps, along with the Princess’s Green Dora Clutch.   

• Boden is taking 40% off a large selection of merchandise, with everything else discounted by 20%. Items on offer include cashmere sweaters for $119, the Durham Wool Blend Coat for $210, the Marylebone Blazer discounted to $144, and Stretch Knee Boots on sale at $148. 

• Stuart Weitzman is taking 25% off full-price and sale merchandise with promo code FORYOU25. This includes a 50-50 Knee-High Boot (regularly $795, now $595) similar to the Princess’s pair but with a heavier sole.  
• Really Wild is offering discounts up to 70% off, including its Relaxed Cashmere Jumper ($73), the retailer’s Suede Spanish Boots ($150), and Leather Spanish Boots ($150). Its archive collection includes some steep discounts.

• J. Crew is offering 50% off your purchase, with an extra 60% off sale styles. The brand’s Classic Striped Boatneck Tee is $24.50, its Classic Fit Crewneck Sweater is $99.50, and the Cropped Relaxed V-Neck Cashmere Sweater is $79.50.

• Holland Cooper has a mix of merchandise discounted, including the grey version of the Princess’s Fair Isle Knit Jumper (usually $269, on sale for $169) and the brand’s Finsbury Roll Neck Sweater (now $135, discounted from $215).

• Seraphine Maternity is discounting merchandise 30% – 50%. The Princess’s Natasha Coat is on sale for $225, regularly priced at $325. 

• Hobbs London is taking 25% off everything, including its sale merchandise. The Lara Sweater worn by the Princess in ‘granita pink’ is sold out, but it is available in several other colors. 
• The Superga Cotu Classic sneakers worn by the Princess (normally $70) are on sale at Garnet Hill for $49. Ann Taylor Loft has them for $56 but in very limited sizes. They are $34.99 at South Moon Under but are only available in three sizes. 

• The current version of the Sorel Tivoli boots worn by the Princess is on sale at several outlets. I own these and can vouch for them as an excellent boot in snow and ice. At DSW, the Tivoli V Waterproof Boot is $112.50; the price is the same at Zappos and at Backcountry. Talbots is offering the Tivoli IV at $150 
• Bobbi Brown is taking 30% off sitewide. This is the makeup worn by the Princess for her wedding. Below, you see the product chart from that event. 

Let me know if you see any stellar deals we should share here on the site!