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The Princess in Holland Cooper for “Ever After” Royal Marsden Visit

The Princess in Holland Cooper for “Ever After” Royal Marsden Visit

The Princess of Wales brought back a Holland Cooper coat for a visit to the Ever After Garden at The Royal Marsden Hospital. 

The garden features 30,000 illuminated white roses dedicated to those who lost their lives to cancer.

We learn more from The Telegraph’s coverage

The garden opened in 2019 and features an array of illuminated white flowers, which are curated by a group of 400 volunteers.

It is open this year until Dec 16, with visitors encouraged to make a donation and dedicate a rose to a loved one.

Donations go to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and £1.6m has been raised to date.

One of the original participants who helped launch the garden in 2019 was Dame Anya Hindmarch, a Royal Marsden Trustee and designer favored by the Princess.

We learn more from the Royal Marsden website, quoting the designer and philanthropist. 

“The Ever After Garden was born out of the need to pay tribute to those we have lost during the year. It was an idea originally conceived with Camilla Morton in memory of Michael Howells and is named after the film for which he designed the sets. However this garden should be personal to everyone. For me, it is also in memory of my Aunt Elizabeth Hindmarch.”

“My wish is for this to be a place to reflect at Christmas in amongst all the festive cheer, and in doing so raise money for the incredible institution that is The Royal Marsden.”

Lady Helen Taylor, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, was also a co-founder of the project. Here you see her at last week’s Together at Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey.

The Princess spoke with volunteers who help maintain the garden. 

The Princess of Wales received chemotherapy treatment at the Royal Marsden. Below, you see her during a visit to the hospital in January when she thanked doctors and staff, and met with patients undergoing treatment.

Another view of the Princess this evening. 

The Princess dedicated her own rose in the garden. 

She posted a personal message on social media following tonight’s visit to the garden.

That message accompanied this Kensington Palace video.  

For those wishing to dedicate a rose but unable to visit the garden in person, the hospital offers an online option.

We now turn to our look at what Kate wore for her visit to the garden. She brought back her Holland Cooper Double-Breasted Black Watch Coat ($1270). The midi-length design is made of wool woven in the UK, showcasing a relaxed double-breasted silhouette. The coat features notched lapels, vertical-welt hip pockets with rivets, and the brand’s embossed gold-tone buttons.

Here is a closer look at some of the details. 

It was first noted in a November 2021 Remembrance video

Then seen again in December 2022 when the Princess planted a tree at Westminster Abbey

This evening, the Princess also wore her bespoke Gianvito Rossi boots. They are similar to the brand’s Glen style, but the Princess’s pair has a more sharply pointed toe.

It looks like the Princess wore a new pair of earrings, at least new to us. They appear to be Butler and Wilson’s Double Daisy Drop Earrings ($38.19) featuring Austrian crystals in a floral shape set in silver-toned metal; they fasten with a stud closure. Thank you to Kate Middleton Styled and Parky’s Princess for their speedy ID of the earrings!  

Middleton Maven noted the Princess wore Butler and Wilson’s matching Crystal Daisy Bracelet ($92) to a charity auction in 2009. She previously wore the brand’s belt buckle, as seen here at the Calgary Stampede during the 2011 North American tour.

Here is a closer look at the belt buckle. 

I also have a brief sidebar to share, updating the King’s health. King Charles appeared in last night’s Stand Up to Cancer special broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK. More from this BBC story

King Charles has shared “good news” about his cancer, saying in a personal message that early diagnosis and “effective intervention” means his treatment can be reduced in the new year.

…the King said: “This milestone is both a personal blessing and a testimony to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care.”

This news that he is responding well to treatment is the biggest update on the King’s health since he revealed his diagnosis in February 2024.

The type of cancer has not been identified and treatment and monitoring will continue, but he said: “Early diagnosis quite simply saves lives.”

Here is a portion of the King’s message from the broadcast. 


 

 

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Spruha

Wednesday 17th of December 2025

Gosh this coat is exquisite. I especially like this wearing with it open and her hands in her pockets. Is it possible that Kate's had these earrings and the matching bracelet since 2009? Maybe she overhauled her closet recently and rediscovered these? I like the high-low mixing in this outfit for this relatively casual occasion. Happy to hear the news of the King's health!

Shannon

Tuesday 16th of December 2025

Liking the plaid pattern in chic colours for a winter evening,i also have the same boots they are strangely comfortable

Bonnie A

Tuesday 16th of December 2025

The reworn coat is exquisite in both colour, style and fit. The blackwatch is a perfect choice for a thoughtful, somber Christmas occasion. The gold buttons elevate the look here at night. Likewise the gorgeous festive crystal earrings. I wish we could see what she wore under the coat. It looks like it might be a black dress or skirt with tights in one photo. I love that look and can only hope that it was.

Linda from San Jose

Tuesday 16th of December 2025

I admire Catherine’s thoughtful choices of attire - such as wearing the colors of a country’s flag, wearing the clothes of a country’s designers, spotlighting British designers or crafts, etc. - to honor people and events. I loved her entire look at the art installation, and was especially touched by her earrings, which are not only pretty at night, but also meaningful, I think.

Since Diana was President of The Royal Marsden, and enjoyed wearing costume jewelry from Butler & Wilson, I think it was a beautiful gesture for Catherine to wear the brand’s earrings to the event, and to match the installation’s flower theme and white color, in quiet tribute to Diana.

Also, since I believe the sapphire engagement ring is set in white gold, and Catherine’s wedding ring is yellow gold, Catherine technically mixes metal colors whenever she wears them together.

I am on Team Wear What Makes Your Heart Sing, which is what I see in Catherine, and why I look forward to every post.

Thank you to Susan for this wonderful site, which I enjoy so much, and wishing Susan and all the WKW community happy holidays and a happy, healthy new year!

Linda from San Jose

Wednesday 17th of December 2025

Thank you for your kind comments, Susan, Zell, Bonnie A., and JoanM, I appreciate them, and can’t wait to see what the Christmas Day walk, and 2026 will bring!

JoanM

Wednesday 17th of December 2025

@Linda from San Jose, Well said!

Zell

Wednesday 17th of December 2025

@Bonnie A,

Yes, that makes sense Bonnie A!

Bonnie A

Wednesday 17th of December 2025

@Zell, @Linda, this is perhaps in fact why Catherine's style is so fascinating to us for comment!

Zell

Wednesday 17th of December 2025

@Linda from San Jose,

"I am on Team Wear What Makes Your Heart Sing, which is what I see in Catherine, and why I look forward to every post."

That's a lovely sentiment! I think, within the constraints of her position, Catherine does this. We might all have our preferences for what she wears, but she finds a way to express herself as she sees fit, and I think that's as it should be.

Molly

Monday 15th of December 2025

What a delightful and elegant rewear. The coat looks sumptuous and cosy with its clean tailored lines. It must be freezing cold and Catherine's tonal look with the gorgeous boots simply look amazing. The earrings are delightful and slightly whimsical and suitable for the garden. This was definately a night to keep any precious jewellery out of sight and stored away carefully. Catherine always knows how to read the room and ostentatious jewellery was not on the agenda. The garden looks amazing and would be lovely to visit. The weather must be immensely cold and whilst I did manage a British Xmas some years ago I longed for the warmth and sunshine of our Australian summer. Long hot days, fresh seafood, delicious salads, mouthwatering desserts mixed in with traditional fare. Plus a game of arvo cricket but now not the time to talk about the Ashes.

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