NOTE: This was originally scheduled for publication on Wednesday.  Clearly, that would not have been appropriate and yesterday still felt raw, like an open wound.  I struggled with posting it today because we remain in such an unsettled situation.  I am doing so in part because of past comments about the merits of ‘distraction’ from the continued turmoil. 

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I am back with a couple of news updates and then the first of our annual polls on what Kate wore last year. Today we’ll look at the new coats worn last year by the Duchess.  But first, the news updates: 

• England has started a new lockdown phase. The Cambridge family will remain at their Anmer Hall country home where they have been for the last several weeks. Normally the family would have returned to London at this point and George and Charlotte would have headed back to school at Thomas’s Battersea.  It’s also likely an announcement would have been made about Prince Louis starting nursery school. The restrictions are expected to be in place until at least mid-February, so it is back to homeschooling for George and Charlotte.   
• Earlier this week Buckingham Palace announced that this year’s garden parties in London and Edinburgh have been canceled.  The Telegraph reports: “Deadlines were approaching for contractors and work would soon have had to begin on drawing up guest lists for the 30,000 or so people who attend annually.”    
• At this point Trooping the Colour is still on the books.  This is not an event that involves enormous catering issues, among other things, so making a decision about holding the event can be delayed. 

Now for our overview of the new coats worn by the Duchess in 2020. The year in coats began with a delightful new Roksanda Ilincic design worn in early January when the Duke and Duchess attended church.

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