Kate Middleton mixed powder blue with chocolate brown for a royal engagement today—which also happened to fall on her 15th wedding anniversary.
She wore the smart tailored separates for a visit to IntoUniversity, a charity that aims to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their chosen aspiration, including university, further and higher education, employment and work-based training.
William accompanied his wife on the visit. The charity was one of the recipients of the Royal Wedding Gift Fund in 2011.
The Gift Fund was set up so that anyone who wished to give Their Royal Highnesses a wedding gift could instead donate to their chosen charities in celebration of their wedding. It ultimately raised over £1 million for causes close to Their Royal Highnesses’ hearts.
The Prince and Princess of Wales joined a group of Year 5 students from Victory Primary School who were taking part in an educational workshop at the charity’s Walworth site.
The programme is designed to introduce students to university life and inspire interest in future study. Today’s lesson explored Astronomy, and included a team-based challenge, plus a creative design task focused on living in space.
William and Kate heard how IntoUniversity has expanded over the last fifteen years. In 2011, they operated just six centres in London. Today, they have a national network of 46 centres across England and Scotland, supporting more than 60,000 young people each year. They’ve supported over 250,000 young people to date.
Before we get into the individual pieces, there’s something I couldn’t help noticing about today’s look…
Did anybody else spot this?
I noticed that today’s outfit echoed the look Kate wore to visit the Isle of Mull last year, on her 14th wedding anniversary:
Sure, the styling couldn’t be more different: country-chic tweed and lace-up boots in Mull versus polished tailoring and wide-leg trousers in London. However, if you look closer you’ll spot the throughline: brown and blue both years. The same gold initial necklace, both years. Very similar blue topaz drop earrings, both years.
Intentional or a coincidence? I’m not sure.
Either way, let’s move on to look at each individual piece now.
Kate’s outfit, piece by piece:
The Princess looked like she meant business in a powder blue blazer.
The beautiful colour felt fresh and very appropriate for the lovely spring weather we’re experiencing here in the UK at the moment!
It’s looks like the piece is by Erdem (shown here at Harrods).
The jacket features peak lapels, long sleeves, a single button fastening, four buttons on each cuff, side flap pockets and a welt breast pocket. It’s fully lined and crafted from 100% wool.
It comes with the three crystal embellished brooches and retails for £2,595.
(If that’s out of your budget, I found a pretty repliKate at Mango, though it’s not wool. It’s a viscose/linen mix.
UPDATE: apologies, the jacket was originally identified as Roland Mouret, this was incorrect information.
Under the jacket, the Princess layered a chocolate brown sweater. It looks like her cashmere sweater vest from ME+EM.
You might recall that she debuted the garment during the US State Visit last year?
The vest is sleeveless and features a crew neckline.
If you’d like to add it to your work wardrobe, you’ll be happy to hear the design is still available in limited sizes for $345.
It also comes in black and rhubarb pink. (Which is on sale; I am obsessed with that shade!)
Kate wore her blazer with tonal brown wide-leg trousers (just like the model above!) I felt this pairing kept the look current rather than too buttoned-up and corporate.
The trousers are another repeat. They’re the Averill Trousers by Edeline Lee. Kate debuted them in Bradford earlier this year.
The trousers have a lovely shape. They’re fitted at the hip with a pin tuck pleat down the centre. They’re made in England. They remain in stock in all sizes, RRP: £650.
Kate also brought back her ‘Fixed Alphabet’ necklace by Daniella Draper for today’s engagement. The piece features the initials of George, Charlotte and Louis.
The necklace features the three initials suspended from a fine gold chain which is made in the UK from 9ct recycled gold.
Daniella Draper still sells the ‘initial‘ necklace, prices start at £220 for the necklace in gold (the cost increases for longer chain lengths and additional initials).
It was a lovely way to bring the children into the day. As I mentioned further up the page, the Princess did the same on her anniversary last year, too (see below).
Sentimental jewellery has become a real staple for Kate recently, she owns quite a few personalised pieces. I love how wearing the necklace on her anniversary is a little nod to the family she and William have built over these 15 years. Perfect!
Let’s finish by looking at her earrings now. They’re new and remain unidentified at the moment. They look like a blue topaz stone set in gold, suspended from a full hoop earring, also in gold.
Hopefully, she’ll wear them again in the future so we can get a better look and make an ID.
The couple went for an anniversary lunch:
Following today’s engagement, William and Kate headed to The Goring Hotel in Belgravia for an anniversary lunch.
For longtime royal watchers, that location will ring an immediate bell! Kate spent the night before her wedding at the The Goring some 15 years ago,
Returning there for an anniversary lunch 15 years later? A lovely idea.
A new family photo:
William and Kate also released a brand new family portrait to mark their anniversary today:
The relaxed, candid-style photo shows William, Kate, George, Charlotte and Louis lying shoulder to shoulder in the grass, with their cocker spaniel Orla tucked in next to William, alongside the new brown puppy from Orla’s litter (whose name is still under wraps).
The caption simply read: “Celebrating 15 years of marriage ❤️”
Still got royal wedding fever?
It’s been 15 years but I don’t blame you. I’m the same! I’ve just published a brand new piece that you might enjoy:
👰🏻♀️ 15 Facts for 15 Years: Looking Back on William and Kate’s Wedding Day. I talk about how Kate was in the crosshairs of trained snipers, and how William got McVities to bake him his favourite chocolate cake. Plus more besides.
And if that’s not enough Royal Wedding goodness for you, here are some more articles that you might enjoy:
- A refresher on Kate’s wedding dress and all the magnificent work that went into it.
- I expect you’ll remember she changed into a second gown? If not, find out more about it here.
- Here’s are more fascinating details from William and Kate’s Wedding Day. That’s not much overlap with the piece I shared above, so it’s worth a read too.
- Want to rediscover Kate’s wedding tiara? Of course you do! Here you go.
- And last but not least, 13 Times William and Kate Showed Their Love in the Most Subtle Ways awwww ❤️
Enjoy your weekend!
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