The Princess in Separates for Portrait Gallery Engagement & Prince Louis’s Photo of His Mother

The Princess chose separates for today’s engagement at the National Portrait Gallery.

The Princess arrived on a bus with four and five-year-old students from All Souls CE Primary (CE = Church of England). More about the little girl you see holding the Princess’s hand from The Daily Mail.

While Her Royal Highness bonded and chatted to dozen of pupils, Grace, five, became firm friends with the Princess, clutching her hand as they arrived after they sat together on the bus.

Alix Ascough, executive headteacher at All Souls, said: ‘Kate had been asked if she would have a partner, and she was sat next to Grace on the coach and Grace had chatted away to her the whole journey.’

But the youngster did not know she was holding hands with the future Queen.

Victoria Murphy shared a video of the Princess as she arrived with students.

The Princess of Wales arrived at the @NPGLondon this morning on a bus with school children. She is highlighting a new exhibition linked to her early years work. pic.twitter.com/5fAgn2N0i1

— Victoria Murphy (@byQueenVic) February 4, 2025

We return to The Daily Mail’s coverage talking about little Grace.

‘She knew it was a very special visitor,’ added Alix. ‘We told her she was a princess. She just called her Catherine.’

She said of the bus journey: ‘The children, they’re four or five years old. They’re completely oblivious to everything that’s happening.

‘They were just like, “we’ve got a posh coach with nice lights and aircon” and Catherine was wonderful, really chatty with the children.

A news release explains that the children were at the Gallery to take part in the Bobeam Tree Trail, which was developed by the Centre for Early Childhood and the Portrait Gallery.

The Bobeam Tree Trail leads them on a path through the Gallery, using portraits for a variety of activities that help them use and develop different social and emotional skills.

More from The Daily Mirror’s story by Russell Myers.

The Bobeam Tree Trail, which is based on work by her Royal Foundation for Early Childhood, was created using the Shaping Us Framework, which outlines 30 social and emotional skills that are crucial to living a healthy, happy life at all ages …The trail is based on a magical tree with beautiful, colourful leaves, which thrives when surrounded by stories. Children were asked to help the tree by discovering the stories of people depicted in the artworks – exploring facial expressions, listening to audio recordings and using props.

The Framework was launched this past weekend.

In her foreword to a report on the Framework, the Princess wrote the following:

To create a physically and mentally healthier society, we must reset, restore, and rebalance…

That means taking a profound look at ourselves and our own behaviours, emotions, and feelings. It means getting much better at acting with compassion and empathy towards one another… better understanding how we can protect and build upon what connects and unites us… and acknowledging that society is something we build together, through the actions we take every day.

At the heart of all of this is the need for us to develop and nurture a set of social and emotional skills which we must prioritise if we are to thrive.

We return to the Daily Mirror article.

Bringing together two of her passions, art and early years development, the outing saw her join youngsters in activities designed around portraits to help them to use and develop these important skills… Children were asked to help the tree by discovering the stories of people depicted in the artworks….

The children explored the ways faces can express feelings and emotions.

They also drew self-portraits.

Upstairs in the Ondaatje Wing, the Princess walked past portraits of Winston Churchill and a young King George VI, and discussed how portraiture could help younger children learn about empathy.

“It’s such a great way for children to engage and understand other people’s perspectives in a creative and less intimidating way,” she said. “They don’t have the language yet, but they’re finding ways to talk about emotions and feelings and understand them.

“I’m really excited to be using portraiture to explore social and emotional skills because I feel it’s such an untapped potential, but also to make it accessible to lots of kids so it’s not just in school but is something that’s embraced by the community.”

When the children reach the trail’s end, they can “feed” their pictures to the tree so it grows big and strong.

Liz Smith, director of learning and engagement at the National Portrait Gallery, tells PEOPLE, “We were absolutely delighted to be a place where the framework could be animated and brought to life.”

“It was a regular school trip with a very special person on the bus,” Smith adds. “That was quite deliberate. It’s planned to be for children, and it can lose that magic if you have that formal launch.”

Smith says the children were “really excited to be with her. But I think her opportunity to get down with them, to make portraits with them, to discover those stories and be one of the adults on a school trip was such a treat.”

The Bobeam Trial is free and runs through March 16. The NPG website is also offering related activities to do at home.

While at the Gallery, the Princess met Victoria Siddall, the recently appointed Director of the National Portrait Gallery. She replaces Dr. Nicholas Cullinan, who is now the director of the British Museum.

The Sun’s Jack Hardwick shared a video of the Princess leaving the Portrait Gallery.

Bumped into the Princess of Wales looking beautiful as ever leaving the Royal Portrait Gallery pic.twitter.com/mzVJk13GE4

— Jack Hardwick (@jackhardwick93) February 4, 2025

The Princess posted a personal message on social media after the engagement.

Kensington Palace posted a video covering the visit.

Working with @earlychildhood to launch the new #ShapingUs framework.

The Bobeam Tree Trail is just one example of how organisations can empower children to thrive emotionally and socially. With initiatives like this at the @NPGLondon, the foundation is laid for the next… pic.twitter.com/DZx1npmfOa

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) February 4, 2025

Now for our look at what Kate wore for today’s engagement.

It looks like the Princess wore a new brand today: a blazer by Petar Petrov, a Ukrainian-born designer who founded his eponymous label in Vienna in 2009. The label is described as offering “Refined Luxury Womenswear with a Taste for the Unexpected.” With thanks to Royal British Fashion and Middleton Maven for their speedy ID work on this piece, the Viennese-based brand’s Wool-Blend Blazer ($664 on sale) is 50% wool and 50% viscose. It features a nipped-in waist, shoulder pads, jetted front pockets, and a single-button front closure.

Mr. Petrov is also the head designer for Eponine London, a brand worn frequently by the Princess. Below is an Eponine Instagram post from Christmas Day 2024 featuring Mr. Petrov’s artwork.

It’s possible the trousers are by Max Mara, the Rea Pinstripe Stretch-Twill Pants ($321). The Rea is made in a blend of wool, cotton, and elastane. The grey trousers have a light brown pinstripe, and they are a high-rise style with a front zipper and side pockets. Thanks again go to Middleton Maven for this ID!

We have not yet identified the top worn by the Princess today. We do know she repeated her Russell and Bromley Blade pumps (no longer available).

The Princess wore her Halcyon Days bracelet, the Salamander Torque style in Forget-Me-Not ($215, sold out).

She also brought back her Bruna Earrings ($60, now sold out) by Sézane.

You can download the Shaping Us Framework guide here.

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Also today, a delightful picture of the Princess that Prince Louis took!

The photo was shared on social media yesterday in advance of World Cancer Day today. Prince Louis, who is just six years old, seems to have a pretty good eye!

The second photo used in the post was taken by the Princess with a message added atop the image.

A closer look at Prince Louis’s photo of his mother, taken this winter in Windsor. It looks like it was taken on a chilly day, with the Princess wrapped up warmly against the elements.

The Princess is seen wearing her past-season Barbour X Alexa Chung Elfie Coat (no longer available), a style she was seen wearing a year or two ago at one of the children’s football games. The coat is 98% cotton with 2% elastane for stretch and ease of movement. It has an oversized fit with a button front, flap pockets, a collar with detachable trim, a narrow self-belt, and deep flap pockets.

She also had on her Penelope Chilvers Tassel Boots ($695).

VIDEOS:

The Royal Family Channel offers more than eight minutes of coverage of today’s engagement in this video.

The Times has a bit more than one minute of coverage in this video.

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Katie

Tuesday 4th of February 2025

Such a fun outing and what a fantastic concept for the Portrait Gallery! Any opportunity to connect kids with the arts is truly wonderful. While I am fine with the whole look, it feels a bit corporate for the activity. I do love the trousers, they made me want to dig out my old chalk stripes, but I just can't with her tailor - length is so off every time, just too long. And honestly, no mum wears heels to chaperone a school outing, kudos to her for sticking it out but it just begs the question why?!

Susan

I saw the news about how Catherine wants people to focus on the charity work as opposed to her clothing, and well, she couldn't have picked a better outfit for that! I am generally not a fan of black and brown together, but she looks fine.

Anne

@Susan, I don’t know if I’ve viscerally hated anything she’s worn before now. She is stunning probably even in a sack, but those pants are ill fitting, I dislike the odd looking fabric of the jacket, and while black and brown sometimes work, I didn’t think this did at all. It definitely felt like a message to everyone that the clothes don’t matter, but i think there’s a balance to be had.

ElizaMo

The march of the pants resumes from last year it seems, and Catherine looks comfortable and professional in her subdued mis-match of brown, black, and pinstripes. I applaud this low-key mix up, very city-chic.

At the same time Catherine can't escape the fact that her outfits sell her projects and promote them, and she is in danger of denying those causes the very publicity, and even funds, they need if she hides her fashion light neath a bushel of dark neutrals.

At least her height means she can carry these Max Mara wide legs well, and she seems to enjoy wearing them long over the Russel & Bromley heels. Their width gives a ladylike vibe to the outfit. It is certainly a challenge to ID these items and I applaud Midddleton Maven for her success in coming up with a name.

The Petar Petrov jacket is fun and nicely tailored, with impeccable current pedigree from Ukraine via Vienna. Interesting to learn of the connection with Eponine. I prefer single breasted jackets for workwear, and especially with an elegant single button and those handy jetted front pockets. I always prefer subdued jewellery as well.

It was delightful to see Louis have his early photographic efforts used to boost the World Cancer day message.

Erin

Sadly I find this outfit kind of messy. I like the pants but not with that blazer. But I really don't understand wearing 4in heels for a school outing with kids. Flats or at least a lower heel would have been perfect. I think one of her many pretty sweaters, pants and flats would have fit professional and a school outing much better

Theresa

It looks like a great day out and Catherine looks lovely as always.

I really don’t feel like outfit though. Like others have said, it seems very lacklustre for a day out with children. I’m also firmly in the no-black-with-brown camp and pinstripes also seem a a bit 90s and the jacket seems bulky over the jumper. I really struggle to find redeeming qualities.