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The Princess chose a navy and white ensemble for today's visit to the new V&A East Storehouse. The Storehouse just opened to the public two weeks ago. The Princess has been the V&A's patron since 2018. Today, she enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum's newest facility. Simon Perry has more in his People article. The Princess of Wales, 43, stepped out in East London on June 10 to visit the new V&A East Storehouse, a branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum that offers unprecedented public access to more than 500,000 objects spanning fashion, film, visual art, design and performance. During Tuesday's engagement, Kate toured the East Storehouse behind the scenes, observing how pieces in the museum’s vast archive are collected, conserved and displayed. Wherever possible, glass barriers have been removed to allow visitors to get closer than ever to the historic works. We learn more about the facility from this AP piece. The 16,000-square-meter (170,000-square-foot) building, bigger than 30 basketball courts, holds more than 250,000 objects, 350,000 books and 1,000 archives. Wandering its huge, three-story collections hall feels like a trip to IKEA, but with treasures at every turn. The V&A is Britain’s national museum of design, performance and applied arts, and the storehouse holds aisle after aisle of open shelves lined with everything from ancient Egyptian shoes to Roman pottery, ancient Indian sculptures, Japanese armor, Modernist furniture, a Piaggio scooter and a brightly painted garbage can from the Glastonbury Festival. Here you see the Princess with the V&A's director, Tristam Hunt. And in this image, the Princess is shown the largest Picasso canvas in the world. The Daily Mail reports, The gigantic canvas measuring 30m by 40m has spent most of the last 80 years rolled up in storage. The canvas was created as a backdrop for the Ballets Russes' 1924 season. The Telegraph explains, The picture, which the Princess stood in front of, is a copy of the original 1922 painting Two Women Running on the Beach, created by another artist but which so impressed Picasso that he later signed it personally, making it authentic in the eyes of the art world. Below is a quick video of the Princess viewing the canvas. In this next image, you see the Princess looking at a 19th-century riding habit with Oriole Cullen (c), the museum's senior fashion and textiles curator, and Kate Parsons (r), the director of collections care and access. The Princess and curator Oriole Cullen look at another item of clothing. This Telegraph story by Hannah Furness has more about the item the Princess viewed. The Princess, known for her support of the fashion industry, immediately identified that a black and gold coat dress was by Alexander McQueen, the British fashion designer. She said: “You see a certain shape and you know the designer.” You have a somewhat better look at the garment in this photo; I believe it is the Alexander McQueen design referenced in The Telegraph article. This next photo shows the Princess viewing a ballet shoe that the museum was photographing. We return to The Telegraph's coverage. The team needed to photograph a 1943 ballet shoe worn by Alice Markova at a performance of Giselle at the Old Vic. The inside sole of the shoe had been signed by the ballerina who had also written a message. Watching how it was photographed for the collection, the Princess said: “Gosh it’s so small and I like the fact you can see her handwriting.” Below, the Princess views another large piece of art. Arguably, one of the most fascinating features of the new museum is the Order an Object service. We return to the Associated Press piece. In the museum’s biggest innovation, anyone can book a one-on-one appointment with any object, from a Vivienne Westwood mohair sweater to a tiny Japanese netsuke figurine. Most of the items can even be handled, with exceptions for hazardous materials, such as Victorian wallpaper that contains arsenic. The Order an Object service offers “a behind-the-scenes, very personal, close interaction” with the collection, Parsons said as she showed off one of the most requested items so far: a 1954 pink silk taffeta Balenciaga evening gown. Nearby in one of the study rooms were a Bob Mackie-designed military tunic worn by Elton John on his 1981 world tour and two silk kimonos laid out ready for a visit. The Wandsworth Guardian reports, With a keen interest in the arts and a love of the natural world, she chose a number of items themed around nature, a large William Morris sample book, rolls of ornate textiles, and a musical instrument for the private moment. Here you see the Princess looking at textiles. I *think* this may be one of the William Morris pieces referenced above. Here is a quick video via Hello! The Princess seemed to enjoy her time at the museum thoroughly. We return to the People article for thoughts on today's engagement, quoting Mr. Hunt, who is seen in the photo above with the Princess. Following the outing, Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A, told PEOPLE: “It was about celebrating the opening of the Storehouse it was about our royal patron championing what we’re doing here in terms of art and design and creativity and getting young people involved in the creative industry, and celebrating the breadth and enormity of the collection. “Her Royal Highness was really interested and knowledgeable, particularly around textiles, around some of the woven silk material from William Morris, looking at some of the wallpapers, he added. She’s got both great passion and interest in material culture, so for her I think it was also a really enjoyable visit.” Deputy Director Tim Reeve also spoke about the Princess's visit; more from LBC's story. Mr Reeve said later about Kate: It's clear today she really loves the idea of what we're trying to do, show that back-of-house world and to be a member of the public seeing that behind-the-scenes experience is what this is about. She's obviously fortunate to see quite a bit of the back-of-house world, but I think she really understood today that she was sharing it with the public, everyone is seeing the same space, everyone has that privileged access to our collection. The Daily Mail reports, Kate's two-hour visit ran over by 30 minutes as she was so engrossed in the artefacts and artwork on display. Victoria Murphy shared a video as the Princess left the Storehouse. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Victoria Murphy (@byqueenvic) A quick wave to those gathered, hoping for a glimpse of the Princess. Here is a brief video about today's engagement posted by Kensington Palace on social media. A special visit to V&A East Storehouse and a new kind of museum experience. Built to open up access to over 600,000 objects, this purpose-designed space brings people closer than ever to the V&A’s remarkable collections. From fashion to film, design to performance, every object… pic.twitter.com/kDk8VHYypU — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 10, 2025 Now, let's take a look at what Kate wore. She brought back her Alexander McQueen separates in the 'electric navy' colorway, the Leaf Crepe Jacket and Cigarette Trousers (no longer available in this color). The single-breasted style is crafted from a blend of 52% viscose and 48% acetate, featuring peak lapels, sharply angled front flap pockets, and a double back vent. The Leaf Crepe Cigarette Trousers are done in the same fabric, featuring side pockets, a front zipper, and a jetted back pocket. We do not yet have an ID on the white top worn beneath the jacket. We saw the Princess return to her Prada Pumps. She also brought back her Laura Lombardi Portrait 14kt Gold-Plated Chain Necklace ($105 on sale at SSENSE). It showcases a chunky design with round and oval links, accompanied by a T-bar fastener. The necklace is described as being plated with 14kt gold using a zero-waste technique. The necklace was first worn to the Boston Celtics game the Royals attended in 2022. The necklace is available at Laura Lombardi ($188). (I have added some less expensive options on the RepliKate Necklaces page.) The Princess repeated her Stella Lapis and Moonstone Earrings ($165) by British brand Carousel Jewels. The earrings feature a 22K gold finish on 925 sterling silver. They were first noted on Easter Sunday, 2023. NOTE: The post originally stated that the earrings were first worn on Easter 2024, which is incorrect. Thank you to Anastasia for her comment, which brought the error to my attention; my apologies for the mistake. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hello! Magazine reports the Princess returned to work last week after the children's school break ended. The publication notes, ... the Princess held an Early Years Meeting at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, according to the Court Circular. The Princess's next engagement is likely to be this Saturday at the King's Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour. Rehearsals for the annual event have been underway for weeks. Here you see the Massed Band of the Household Division on parade at the Colonel's Review last Friday. This photo shows a rather sodden rehearsal at Horse Guards Parade as members of the Household Cavalry go through their paces in the pouring rain at the end of May. Here is a quick glance back at the Princess's Trooping the Colour style over the years. In 2011, the Duchess wore an ivory Alexander McQueen coat with Lock & Co.'s 'Lion Tamer' hat. The next year, we saw a blue-grey Erdem dress and a Jane Corbett hat. For the 2013 festivities, the Duchess chose a soft pink Alexander McQueen maternity coat with another Jane Corbett hat. The Duchess opted to wear a skirt suit by Alexander McQueen in 2014, paired with a Jane Taylor hat. In 2015, the Duchess wore the 'Astrid' coat by Catherine Walker and the 'Marisabel' hat by Lock & Co. She brought back Princess Charlotte's christening look in 2016, an Alexander McQueen design paired with a Philip Treacy hat. In 2017, the Duchess paired a hot pink Alexander McQueen dress with the 'Lyssa' hat by Jane Taylor. She chose a soft blue Alexander McQueen dress in 2018 and a Juliette Botterill hat. For the 2019 ceremony, the Duchess was in a pale yellow design by Alexander McQueen, topped with a Philip Treacy hat. In 2022, the Duchess repeated an Alexander McQueen design accented by a Philip Treacy hat. The Princess of Wales wore a vivid green Andrew Gn dress in 2023 with a Philip Treacy hat. And in 2024, the Princess updated a Jenny Packham design with another Philip Treacy hat. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ One more bit of royal fashion news, this one covering the Princess's brooch worn to the HMS Glasgow naming ceremony in mid-May, when she debuted a new brooch. We have a few more photos of the brooch to share with you. The piece was designed by James Porter and Son, one of Scotland's oldest jewelers; these photos are courtesy of the jeweler. The brooch was inspired by the crest of the Royal Navy warship HMS Glasgow. The jeweler explains the brooch is Crafted from sterling silver, it features a depiction of St Kentigern — patron saint of Glasgow — framed by the Scottish thistle. We'll see you Saturday, if not before! VIDEOS: The Royal Family Channel has more than three minutes of coverage from today's engagement. Test https://youtube.com/shorts/QZVgzxzFW8A?si=JakqPunlcqpOPYkp
The Princess of Wales chose a deep aquamarine coatdress by Catherine Walker for this year's Trooping the Colour ceremony. Below, the Princess with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis as they leave Buckingham Palace for the ride to Horse Guards Parade. The Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte settled in their carriage. Prince William in his Welsh Guards uniform and Most Noble Order of the Garter Sash as he departed Buckingham Palace. You can see Prince Louis watching his father from the doorway. The King asked those taking part in the parade to wear black armbands as a sign of respect for the victims of Thursday's Air India plane crash. The King and Queen on their way to Horse Guards Parade. The King is wearing the uniform of the regiment Trooping the Colour this year, the Coldstream Guards. Here is a quick video from the Royal Family of preps for the event. The final preparations are being made to the horses and carriages ahead of this year’s Trooping the Colour. 🐴 pic.twitter.com/alFDa3Rwkc — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 14, 2025 Prince George and Prince Louis. And four Wales family members on their way to Horse Guards Parade. A quick video of the carriage ride. 🎥 ZDF pic.twitter.com/R5UnIudTje — ChristinZ (@ChristinsQueens) June 14, 2025 The Duchess of Edinburgh and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. Princess Charlotte watching her mother. An elevated view of the carriage. Christin posted a video as the carriages arrived at Horse Guards Parade. 🎥 ZDF pic.twitter.com/Zk8KgNJxtk — ChristinZ (@ChristinsQueens) June 14, 2025 And here is a video via Matt Wilkinson of The Sun as the Wales family exited their carriage. Watch as Princess of Wales arrives at Trooping the Colour with Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte.. and finally Prince George pic.twitter.com/HDl15QM6Gs — Matt Wilkinson (@MattSunRoyal) June 14, 2025 More from The Telegraph's coverage. Once the procession arrived at Horse Guards Parade, the King inspected the hundreds of guardsmen lined up before a minute’s silence was held in honour of those killed in the Air India disaster. In her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards, the Princess joined the King on the dais for the ceremony. More about the event from the BBC's coverage. ...the military parade includes an inspection by the King, music, pageantry, a gun salute, and an RAF flypast over central London. During the event, a regiment flag is “trooped” through the ranks of soldiers, with this being rotated among the five regiments of Foot Guards. Also known as the King's Birthday parade, the event features more than 1300 soldiers and 300 musicians. We return to the BBC's coverage. “Colours” is the name given to the different flags representing different regiments of the British Army and was used so soldiers could easily spot their unit when on the battlefield. The colours of the Coldstream Guards are being presented this year. Prince Edward (left) wore the full ceremonial uniform of the Scots Guards in his role as the regiment's Colonel. Princess Anne rode her horse Noble, a horse the King rode at Trooping the Colour in 2023. She was dressed in the full mounted ceremonial uniform of the Blues and Royals. A news release notes that the Princess was Gold Stick-in-Waiting for this year's parade, with her uniform including aiguilettes (ornamental braided cords) and the cypher of King Charles as a Personal Aide-de-Camp to His Majesty. You can see Princess Charlotte in one of the windows, and the Gloucesters in another. The Telegraph reported, With their mother on the dias and their father riding, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are watching the parade from the offices, under the supervision of their long-serving nanny Maria. King Charles reviewing his troops. A view from behind the dais. After the ceremony, it was time to return to Buckingham Palace. Here you see staff prepping the iconic balcony for the flypast. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'XrLf-3GaQNZYTnr36lFNGg',sig:'xXuwxo6kHADlV9gyHQJWvNK83IB2WxS2GcQ88jDCuMI=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2220071549',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); A view of the King and Queen's carriage on the Mall as the procession heads to Buckingham Palace. The Princess of Wales with a smile for her daughter. A wide shot of the King and Queen. A view of the crowds along the Mall. Royal Central posted a video as the Royal Family arrived on the balcony. The King and Queen appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside their family, much to the delight of the crowd.#TroopingTheColour pic.twitter.com/3vRIhUUYZu — Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) June 14, 2025 A wave from the King. The Wales family. Today's aerial display was described as the world's first eco-friendly fly past, using sustainable fuels. 34 Royal Air Force aircraft took part in today's celebration. The Wales family as the aircraft flew over Buckingham Palace. Among the aircraft used today were a Lancaster Bomber, Voyager, A400M Atlas, CH-47 Chinook, C-17 Globemaster, P-8 Poseidon, and Typhoons. Below, another view of the Red Arrows, with smoke trails created using a renewable biofuel – Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). More from The Telegraph's story. The move, which was part of a Net Zero measure, is thought to be the first time anywhere in the world that two environmentally friendly fuels are being used at the same time by a national aerobatic team. The King, who is celebrating his third birthday parade as monarch, will “obviously be delighted” about the RAF’s use of sustainable aviation fuel, an aide said. In this photo, you can see the Duke of Kent with Princess Anne and Sir Tim Laurence. The Gloucesters and the Edinburghs. A video showing a portion of the flypast. The Royal Family appear on the balcony to watch the flypast on The King's official birthday.https://t.co/IK4azOw6eF 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/CmrwixF0A0 — Sky News (@SkyNews) June 14, 2025 Prince Louis waves to the crowd. And a cute moment as Prince George nudges his brother to stop waving. Another wide shot of the balcony. I'm not sure at what point in the day this was taken, but it offers a relaxed look at the King, Prince William, Princess Royal, and staff. I have a quick review of the ensembles worn by some of the other members of the Royal Family, starting with Queen Camilla. She wore a dress by Anna Valentine in white silk crepe with silver embroidery and a hat by Philip Treacy. The Duchess of Edinburgh chose the Francine Dress ($1001) by Beulah London in a bespoke color, Jane Taylor's Roma Pillbox Hat ($1673), G. Collins and Sons Infinity Pendant, and Giulia Barela Small Drop Earrings ($213). Princess Charlotte was in a soft aqua dress that coordinated with her mother's ensemble; it hasn't yet been identified. The dress featured a round neck with white piping, puffed sleeves, a full skirt, and a white ribbon sash that matched the white ribbon in her hair. She wore her Papouelli Siena shoes (£87). She also wore a brooch that was a gift from the late Queen, a horseshoe shape with diamonds, that she first wore at the late Queen's funeral. It originally belonged to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who then gave it to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Now, for our look at what Kate wore for Trooping the Colour 2025. As mentioned above, she chose a design by Catherine Walker, the brand's Bria style, described as a deep aquamarine wool coatdress with ivory contrast lapels and cuffs. While described as a coatdress, it was clearly worn as a coat atop another garment, which appeared to be a satin dress. The color coordinated with the blue plume in Prince William's hat. The design features a double-breasted silhouette with princess seams, raised and padded shoulders, stand collar, deep cuffs, angled pockets with piping, self-covered buttons, and a single lapel. It is also available in red with black accents. The Princess accessorized with a new hat by milliner Juliette Botterill. It appears to be a bespoke version of the Bow Sidesweep Hat (£750), a wide-brim style featuring a bow and floral embellishment. Here you have a better look at the Princess's elaborate updo. She accessorized with her Gianvito 105 Bisque Pumps ($597). The Princess wore the late Queen's Bahrain Pearl and Diamond earrings, so named because the pearls in the earrings were a wedding gift from the ruler of Bahrain to Princess Elizabeth for her wedding in 1947. They showcase pearls suspended from round diamonds and three baguette diamonds. She also wore the Irish Guards Regimental Brooch. This is a partial post as I have a commitment that couldn't be moved. I will update later today with information on what some of the other royals wore and additional photos. The post is now updated. Kensington Palace shared this post after the day's events concluded. Here is a video recap of the day, courtesy of the Royal Family's social media accounts. 👏 A huge thank you to our Military personnel for a truly triumphant Trooping today! Over 1,000 soldiers, around 200 horses and approximately 300 musicians came together in a display of Military precision, horsemanship and fanfare to mark The King’s official birthday. And what… pic.twitter.com/dCxAvV2dfu — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 14, 2025 A video posted by Kensington Palace. All ready for Trooping the Colour! 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/S2HP8w8dLd — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 14, 2025 And a wave goodbye from the Princess. VIDEOS: This explainer, which provides background on Trooping the Colour from the Royal Family, runs for less than a minute. 🎖️🇬🇧 Ever wondered what Trooping the Colour is all about? From military precision to royal pageantry, here's a quick explainer on one of The Royal Family’s many traditions. Keep an 👀 for coverage of the parade on our channels tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/dGKsFsaCn4 — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 13, 2025 The Royal Family Channel has almost five minutes of coverage of the Buckingham Palace departures in this video. Here is coverage as the carriages return to Buckingham Palace. More coverage from the Royal Family Channel, more than eight minutes of the flypast. The Associated Press offers more than four hours of coverage in this video.
The Princess of Wales brought back a Self Portrait dress for today's Order of the Garter ceremonies in Windsor. The Duchess of Edinburgh and Princess of Wales outside St. George's Chapel. We learn more about the Order via the Royal Family site. In medieval times, King Edward III was so inspired by tales of King Arthur and the chivalry of the Knights of the Round Table that he set up his own group of honourable knights, called the Order of the Garter. Nearly 700 years later, the Order is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain. The Knights, now both male and female, used to be limited to aristocracy, but today they are chosen from a variety of backgrounds, in recognition for their public service. The spiritual home of the Order is St George's Chapel, Windsor. Lizzie Robinson of ITV posted a video as members of the Order walked to the chapel. You can see the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, as well as other royal family members, in this clip. The King and Queen and members of the Royal Family arrive for the Most Noble Order of the Garter service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle #GarterDay pic.twitter.com/MB4JkSKqXe — Lizzie Robinson (@LizzieITV) June 16, 2025 It was a sunny day in Windsor, with temperatures in the upper 70s. We return to the Royal Family site for additional background information. The annual Garter Day procession, where The King and the Knights process in grand velvet robes, glistening insignia and plumed hats, is one of the most traditional ceremonies in the Royal calendar....a grand procession of the knights takes place at Windsor Castle, accompanied by a marching band and Officers of the Order, all in grand ceremonial dress. The members and officers attend a lunch hosted by the Sovereign, and then all process on foot to a service in St. George's Chapel. There is a short service where any new Companions are installed. The Sovereign and other members of the Order then return to the Upper Ward of the castle in carriages and cars. Below, the King and Queen as they walked to the chapel. More from The Daily Mail's piece by Rebecca English. The King, resplendent in the traditional velvet robes and plumed hat of the Order of the Garter, smiled as he presided over the elaborate display of pomp and pageantry in the blazing sunshine. The Queen, also dressed in the order’s full regalia, walked alongside him as the procession snaked its way down the hill from the castle’s quadrangle to St George’s Chapel. Hundreds of onlookers, many trying to shelter from the heat with straw hats and parasols, cheered as the party slowly made its way through the grounds. In this photo, you see the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Princess Royal, the Duke of Gloucester, and former Prime Minister Sir John Major (foreground) as they made their way to the chapel. The Duke of Kent rode to the chapel, as health issues precluded walking in the procession. Another view of the Duchess of Edinburgh and Princess of Wales. Rebecca English of The Daily Mail shared a video showing the Princess of Wales, Duchess of Edinburgh, and others waiting for the procession. Catherine and Sophie await the procession at the Galilee Porch at St George’s Chapel pic.twitter.com/0i49wLvnFp — Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) June 16, 2025 If you look closely, you can see former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, who was made a Knight of the Order in 2022, and Lord Lloyd-Webber, who was invested in 2024. Baroness Amos (on the right), invested in the Order in 2022. Prince Edward with his nephew, Prince William, as they made their way to the chapel. The King and Queen as they exited the chapel following the conclusion of the service. The Prince of Wales, Princess Royal, and Duchess of Gloucester as they left the chapel. Here you see the Prince and Princess of Wales with the Duchess of Edinburgh on the chapel steps after the service. Then it was time to load into carriages for the ride back up the hill. Below, the King and Queen. The Prince and Princess of Wales. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal. Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence was also in the carriage with the Edinburghs and Princess Anne. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'7OdtRDZQRWJrixG_oEKPAQ',sig:'oNDOT-WtzTEcdtzsrvo3xUV1gIAXtJCP4pn8son0_3Y=',w:'594px',h:'423px',items:'2219721831',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); The Duchess of Gloucester, who was appointed to the Order last year. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'03wLdI8eTlNLMdjs4H1NBw',sig:'3FXQOoa2GhF_2bO9-Efp7gVqWlKxcAl2XBfxNBO3bxI=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2220422717',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Another view of the Princess during the carriage ride. A quick review of some of the royal ensembles begins with the Queen, who wore a white chiffon and lace dress by Fiona Clare beneath her robes. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'IFDcveBuRCxIESu7OKu00g',sig:'HsuH2qWpbnYdCAPx9OjmrnqaN7XIRdmrW3p65Sp0PT0=',w:'391px',h:'594px',items:'2219717558',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); The Duchess of Edinburgh chose a soft pink dress by Suzannah London and a Jane Taylor hat. Now, for our look at what Kate wore, an ensemble anchored by a Self Portrait dress. The Self Portrait design may appear to be two separate pieces, but it is a single piece of clothing. The Cream Tailored Bouclé and Chiffon Midi Dress ($575) is crafted from 100% polyester and features a fitted jacket in bouclé fabric, a pleated midi-length skirt with a lace border, satin lapels, hip pockets, a full lining, and a self-belt. This is the fourth time the Princess has worn the dress. Most recently, the dress, earrings, and necklace were worn for a concert marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The design was first noted at a September 2021 reception, then seen again at the Platinum Party at the Palace concert in 2022, and then at last month's concert. The Princess debuted a new hat by milliner Sean Barrett, a saucer style with a wide brim. She wore her hair partially up. We saw the return of the Multrees Chain Wallet ($425) by Scottish brand Strathberry. The piece measures roughly 8 x 4, is made of calf leather with a magnetic closure, internal zippered pocket, detachable chain, and the brand's signature Music Bar hardware. It looks like the Princess may have worn her Bisque Gianvito 105 Pumps ($597 on sale, similar color available here) again. The Princess brought back two jewelry items worn to the VE Day concert with this dress, both from vintage jeweler Susan Caplan. The earrings are from the 1980s, featuring a Vintage Renaissance Revival design (£75, now sold out), a gold-plated style with faux pearls in a cross pattern, and smaller faux pearl accents. The Five-Strand Faux Pearl Necklace (£275, approximately $375 at today's exchange rates) is rhodium-plated with faux pearls in graduated sizes, featuring a Swarovski crystal clasp. It is now available for ordering. Reviewing the looks worn by the Princess at Garter Day over the years, we beging with a 2011 Katherine Hooker coat; at the 2012 event we saw the return of the Alexander McQueen 'Samurai Folds' coat; in 2014 the Duchess was in a bespoke Christopher Kane coat; in 2016, the Duchess brought back a Catherine Walker ensemble; for 2019's Garter Day events, we saw another Catherine Walker design; in 2022, the Duchess wore a design believed to be by Alexander McQueen; the Princess chose an Alessandra Rich dress in 2023; today, we have the Self Portrait dress. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A quick update about Saturday's Trooping the Colour ensemble: I mentioned in the post that the Princess appeared to be wearing a satin dress beneath her Catherine Walker coat. In comments, some asked about photos showing the dress, and I explained that I wasn't able to license any. However, here is a Getty embedded image showing a glimpse of the dress. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'ex8z93TyS8drUeftj2gCQA',sig:'zmQSLFjpdM7bduPJ9Je2vcz_FjxHDH-AJA32hNUDvCI=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2219367649',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Our final note involves Father's Day photos of the Wales family that were shared on social media yesterday. The images were shot earlier this year in Norfolk by Josh Shinner. In the black and white shot, you see the Wales children with their father on a bed of daffodils. In the more formal photo, you see the foursome in a posed image. Mr. Shinner has taken multiple photos of the family, including the image used for their 2023 holiday card. As well as the photo used to celebrate Prince Louis's seventh birthday in April. I do not yet know if we'll see the Princess at Royal Ascot tomorrow or not. If she does attend, I will be back with another post.
The Princess of Wales mixed old and new pieces for a visit to the Colchester Hospital in Essex, about two hours northeast of Windsor. We learn more about today's engagement from Richard Palmer's story for Yahoo UK. The princess, who revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer in March last year, praised the centre’s “holistic” approach to the support it offers patients, relatives and carers which includes counselling and dietary advice. She spoke with patients and caregivers. More about the Princess's conversations with staff and patients from this ITV story. While chatting to a group of the centre’s users, volunteers and staff, the princess said: “It’s life-changing for anyone, through first diagnosis or post-treatment and things like that, it is life-changing experience both for the individual patient but also for the families as well. Actually it sometimes goes unrecognised. You don’t necessarily, particularly when it’s the first time, you don’t appreciate how much impact it is going to have. “You have to find your new normal and that takes time. “Someone described the sort of healing, recovery journey to me as being like a sort of zig-zag. Here is a video of the Princess talking about her journey. We return to Richard Palmer's story. She added: “There is this whole phase when you finish your treatment that you, yourself, everybody expects you, right you’ve finished your time, go, you’re better, and that’s not the case at all.” The Princess also spent time outside at the Royal Horticultural Society's Wellbeing Garden at the hospital. More about the garden from the RHS description. Located at the hospital entrance near a dedicated Cancer Wellbeing Centre and the existing lake, sustainability has been at the heart of the build and the garden has been designed to be resilient to climate change. The garden is in Essex, the driest county in the UK and includes drought-tolerant planting, reducing the need for watering. The Princess helped plant some of the fifty Catherine's Roses donated to the hospital's garden. We return to Richard Palmer's story one more time. Foregoing gardening gloves which were offered to her, she knelt down to plant the roses using her bare hands and a trowel to pat down the soil alongside Adam Frost, the award-winning garden designer who led the design of the space. You may recall the Royal Horticultural Society announced in May they named a new rose after the Princess of Wales, to celebrate the incredible healing power of nature and raise awareness of the important role that spending time outdoors plays in bringing us joy and supporting our mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing. £5 from the sale of each rose plant will be donated to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. We learn more from The Telegraph's coverage. Some 500 of the plants are being donated to wellbeing and community gardens across the UK this summer, including Maggie’s gardens for people affected by cancer, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices and Horatio’s gardens for those living with spinal injuries. The Princess did a walkabout, speaking with well-wishers gathered outside. More from Rebecca English's Daily Mail story. In the pouring rain, as the engagement overran by about half an hour, she told hospital staff and patients who had waited outside to see her: 'I'm just washing my hands - I'll be back.' The deeply personal words from the Princess came as she met fellow patients at a cancer wellbeing centre at Colchester Hospital, helping to plant roses in a garden designed to help visitors find peace. She repeatedly emphasised the importance of patients and their families being able to find support through their illness, saying it was too often difficult to reach. The princess, speaking to therapist Amanda Green during a walkabout in heavy rain afterwards, disclosed that she had not yet tried reflexology but had undergone acupuncture as part of her own health journey. 'And to have a place like this to have the support network, through creativity and singing or gardening whatever it might be is so valuable and it's great this community has it. 'It would be great if lots of communities had this kind of support.' It was a drizzly, damp day. She also posed for some selfies. Here is a video posted by Kensington Palace following today's engagement. Honoured to mark the planting of Catherine’s Rose at the RHS Wellbeing Garden in Colchester. A gesture rooted in hope and care. Grateful to spend time with NHS staff and volunteers tending this space, and to see the rose incorporated into gardens supporting recovery and… pic.twitter.com/Pcm5oNw4mw — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) July 2, 2025 And here is another social media post from Kensington Palace. Now, let's look at what Kate wore. The Princess brought back her Blazé Milano Wind Hunter Charmer Pinstriped Grain de Poudre ($1910, past season, sold out). The double-breasted design is crafted of a silk/linen blend with a subtle pinstripe, peaked lapels, and the brand's signature half-moon-shaped Smiley pockets. Grain de Poudre is a tightly woven material used for suiting, often referring to wool. A closer look at some of the blazer details. The blazer was initially worn to the International Air Tattoo in July 2023. Beneath the jacket, the Princess wore a shirt by Ralph Lauren, with thanks to Middleton Maven for this ID. The Capri Striped Cotton Shirt ($470) is made of 100% cotton and features a spread collar, button-front design, and a relaxed fit. I show it as offered at Ralph Lauren, but it is also available at Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus. UPDATE: The Princess's shirt is in a past-season colorway of tan and white. The shirt shown below is in a contemporary color called moss with white. The style comes in additional colorways, including blue and white, black and white, and an orange and white stripe. There is also a linen version of the style. There are a couple of possibilities for the trousers. I will update when I return from an engagement I have this afternoon that I can't postpone. I am back from my appointment, and it looks like Middleton Maven also has an ID on the trousers. She suggests the Joseph Coleman Gabardine Stretch Trousers (originally £295, about $400 at today's exchange rates), and I think she is correct. They are a blend of cotton, viscose, and elastane, and feature a mid-rise waist, side slit pockets, jetted back pockets, belt loops, and a front zipper. The style is available in a range of colors. Thanks also to Princess of Wales Closet for her work on this ID. We saw the return of the Veja Esplar Leather Trainers ($89 on sale) in the white/platine colorway. They are also available at Veja ($150), at Feature ($175), and at Amazon($146). The Princess paired her Cartier Trinity earrings ($3350) in bands of pink, yellow, and white gold with her Auree Bali Garnet Birthstone Necklace ($490). The necklace description reads, The gold disc, which can be engraved with a name or special date, is polished on one side and brushed on the other, so you can wear it either way around. It appears that the Princess's disc, beneath the garnet, has been inscribed with text on one side. The necklace was first noted in a video released in June 2022 of the Princess baking with the Wales children. Most recently, the earrings were worn in January for a visit to Royal Marsden Hospital, where the Princess received cancer treatment. I'll leave you with one more photo from today's engagement. VIDEOS: The Royal Family Channel offers almost three minutes of coverage in this video.