Kate Middleton brought back a fan-favourite suit for a surprise engagement in Liverpool on Thursday.
The Princess of Wales rewore her cornflower blue Edeline Lee suit to visit Everton Football Club for engagements marking World Suicide Prevention Day.
The colour was particularly fitting for the visit. Everton are famously known as “The Blues”. Blue also features prominently in the International Association for Suicide Prevention’s World Suicide Prevention Day campaign.
Kate paired the vibrant tailoring with gold jewellery for the engagement, where she supported the launch of a new suicide-prevention initiative for the sporting community.
Kate’s appearance came as something of a surprise. The Prince of Wales had originally been expected to attend the event alone, with the Princess joining him unannounced on the day.
The visit marked William and Kate’s first joint official engagement since their summer break. The couple had, however, been seen together just two days earlier, accompanying Prince George as he began his first day at Eton College.
Prince William has campaigned on suicide prevention and mental health for several years, with a particular focus on tackling the stigma that can prevent men from seeking help.
At Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, the future King brought together leading athletes, sports organisations and suicide-prevention experts to explore how sport can play a greater role in preventing suicide.
Household names included Dame Kelly Holmes, Gabby Logan, Jill Scott, Sir Jason and Dame Laura Kenny.
The Prince officially launched On Your Side, a first-of-its-kind suicide prevention toolkit created specifically for sport.
The resource is intended to help clubs and sporting organisations recognise when someone may be struggling, start potentially difficult conversations and direct people to appropriate support.
Major organisations, including the Football Association, the Premier League and British Cycling, have committed to incorporating the guidance into their work. William said sport was uniquely placed to create connection and support, particularly for people who might otherwise be reluctant to seek help.
The toolkit was developed by The Royal Foundation in partnership with the British Standards Institution and mental health charity Chasing the Stigma.
The Royal Foundation also released a short film to accompany the launch, featuring figures from across British sport including Harry Kane, George Russell, Carl Frampton, Rocky Clark and Ruqsana Begum.
Elsewhere during the visit, William and Kate spent time at the Gary Speed Memorial Talking Bench outside Everton’s new stadium, where they were joined by the late footballer’s mother, Carol Speed.
The bench was installed in 2025 in memory of Gary, a former Everton captain and Wales manager who died by suicide in November 2011, aged 42. An Everton supporter from childhood, he made 65 appearances for the club during the 1990s.
The memorial bench was created to encourage conversations around mental health and signpost anyone who may be struggling towards appropriate support.
William and Kate spoke with Carol about the importance of opening up conversations around suicide and mental health, something she has publicly encouraged in the years since her son’s death.
Mental health has been a major strand of William and Kate’s royal work for more than a decade. The couple have repeatedly used their platform to encourage more open conversations around mental wellbeing, most notably through the Heads Together campaign launched in 2016.
Let’s take a look at the Princess’s blue suit.
Kate’s outfit:
For the engagement, Kate brought back her cornflower-blue suit by British designer Edeline Lee.
She wore the label’s structured Lola jacket with the coordinating Averill trousers. Here’s a look at the suit on the model:
If the striking blue ensemble feels familiar, that’s because Kate debuted it earlier this year during an official visit to Reggio Emilia in Italy. Here’s a reminder:
Crafted from a georgette champion fabric, the jacket features a fitted silhouette with sculptural detailing through the waist and back—which is cinched and ruched, creating a sort of peplum effect.
The garment is finished with Lee’s signature hand-covered buttons in contrasting white. RRP £1,400.
The high-waisted wide-leg trousers give the outfit a softer, more contemporary feel. They fit at the hip and feature a pleat down the centre, and pockets on the front and back. RRP £650.
Each item is hand-crafted in England and made-to-order in 3-4 weeks.
The suit comes in three other colourways: navy, grey and black. The trousers are also available in brown.
Edeline Lee has become a growing presence in the Princess’s wardrobe. Kate debuted the designer’s Padernal dress in 2022 (see below), for a fashion industry event hosted by the British Fashion Council. Since, she’s added a skirt, dress and a pair of trousers to her collection, too.
The London-based designer is known for feminine tailoring, strong silhouettes and carefully constructed occasionwear. She is known for her immersive and performative shows at London Fashion Week. Her line is stocked at premium department stores Harrods and Fenwicks.
Kate chose a meaningful piece of jewellery for the engagement: the Issy Star earrings by Earsass in gold. Those who have followed this blog for several years will recognise their significance, no doubt.
The small star-shaped hoops were created by Earsass founder Sophie McGown in memory of her cousin, Issy Phipps, who died by suicide in April 2023, aged 17.
The Princess was gifted the earrings after meeting Issy’s mother, Sarah Renton, during a visit to Maidenhead Rugby Club in June 2023.
A few months later, Catherine chose the earrings for World Mental Health Day in Birmingham on 10th October 2023 (below). Just two days later, she wore them again during an engagement with SportsAid.
The Issy Star earrings are made from 18k gold-plated stainless steel and measure 1.5cm across. They remain available to buy from Earsass for £35, with £5 from every pair sold donated to Brave Mind, a charity working to improve mental health and wellbeing within the rugby community.
The Princess paired the earrings with a gold necklace by Laura Lombardi—the American jeweller’s Portrait necklace.
The chunky gold chain features interlocking round and oval links.
Kate wore the necklace earlier in the week, to accompany Prince George for his first day at Eton College.
The necklace is crafted from 14k gold-plated brass and finished with an oversized toggle fastening, which Kate wears at the back. (Lombardi styles the toggle at the front on her website).
The chain is available in 18- and 20-inch lengths. It currently retails for £145 online.
Kate first wore the Portrait necklace publicly in Boston in December 2022, pairing it with her vintage blue Chanel blazer at a Boston Celtics basketball game.
Kate finished her ensemble with the Hugo Boss Staple P90-L pumps in anthracite grey.
The pointed pumps are made in Italy from embossed leather and feature a slim 9cm heel, leather lining and leather sole. A small branded bar at the heel provides the only obvious embellishment.
The shoes are something of an old favourite. Catherine debuted them exactly a decade ago, during an engagement at London’s Natural History Museum in November 2016. She has worn them repeatedly since. More recent outings include an appearance on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast in 2023 and engagements in 2025.
The Staple P90-L pumps originally retailed for £315 but are sadly no longer available to buy.
TBC: Kate’s white lightweight knit.
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