Kate Middleton turned to Victoria Beckham for visits to The Treehouse in Ipswich, Suffolk, and Café 98 in Hoveton, Norfolk, today.
The Princess of Wales leaned into autumn’s earthy palette, wearing the olive-green wide-legged suit with a charcoal-grey knit and a rich burgundy-coloured belt, all from the British designer. Skip to Kate’s outfit
The Princess began her day of engagements at The Treehouse, run by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). Here, she met children, families and staff, and learned how the hospice’s expansion is progressing. She added a white hard hat and orange high-vis vest to her outfit as she toured the site.
The project includes a hydrotherapy pool, a wellbeing and therapies suite and an additional bedroom, with completion expected in 2028.
Inside, Kate joined children and families for music and visited the sensory room.
Thirteen-year-old Charlotte Freegard sang Ed Sheeran’s Perfect for the Princess, who applauded her performance. Eleven-year-old Freddie Ormrod played chimes and a tambourine, prompting a light-hearted exchange about noisy instruments.
“Often in our household, the noisier the instrument the better,” Kate said, according to reports.
The Princess also spent time with a bereavement group and learned about the support available to parents and siblings after the death of a child.
Kate formally opened The Treehouse on 19th March 2012, shortly after becoming EACH’s patron. She also delivered her first-ever public speech there.
After her visit to The Treehouse, Kate made a surprise stop at Café 98 in Hoveton. The engagement had not been publicly announced in advance.
Located within an EACH charity shop, Café 98 is the organisation’s first and only café. The visit recognised its volunteers and highlighted how charity retail and community fundraising help support children’s hospice care.
Here, she met EACH’s Director of Retail, Ian Nicolson, and café manager Morgan-Rose Neary. They spoke about how the café had become a place for people to meet and chat.
Kate sat down for a coffee and chatted with customers and representatives of groups that use the space. She also toured the shop, meeting staff and volunteers.
She also joined volunteers in the sorting area to help prepare donated items for sale, hearing about the part they play in supporting the charity’s work.
During the visit, Kate also revealed that she enjoys a good charity shop rummage herself, recalling the many shops in St Andrews during her university years.
“You never know what you’re going to find,” she said, according to royal reporter Emily Ferguson. “It feels a bit more like a treasure hunt.”
There was also a little family news during her conversations with customers. Ferguson reported that Kate was looking forward to the children’s half-term break, which began the following day.
Denise Ashton, 68, who was sitting with two friends when Kate stopped for a chat, said: “She said she's looking forward to George coming home - she's missed him.” The young prince has been away at Eton for around six weeks.
As news of the unexpected visit spread, more than 100 people gathered outside to catch a glimpse of the Princess.
Shall we take a closer look at Kate’s outfit now?
Kate’s outfit
The Princess debuted a new Victoria Beckham suit for today’s engagements.
She wore the Katherine jacket and Alina trousers in ‘Marsh Green’.
Some of you will spy this is a new suit, and the second olive green Victoria Suit in Kate's closet. The Princess wore a lighter green iteration twice last year (below, Kate leaving a messy play session in Oxford).
Today’s look was darker and earthier. The grey knit and burgundy belt added contrast to the matching suit, giving a familiar combination a fresh feel.
The single-breasted jacket features notched lapels, two front buttons and patch pockets. Its straight cut gives it a slightly relaxed feel, while the wool-blend fabric keeps the overall look tailored.
The coordinating Alina trousers sit high on the waist and fall into a wide leg, with patch pockets adding a little detail at the hips. The long silhouette worked particularly well with the tucked-in knit and belt, keeping the waist defined beneath the open jacket.
Underneath, Kate wore Victoria Beckham’s Marie jumper in Dark Grey Melange. The wool polo neck features a saddle shoulder, ribbed trims and VB monogram embroidery.
Her belt was another Victoria Beckham piece, the Portofino Mirror style in burgundy. The narrow calfskin design features a broad, rectangular gold-tone buckle. Kate debuted it last month during her visit to West Sussex.
I’d have expected her to wear a black belt with this suit to match her shoes and charcoal sweater. So the burgundy colour was a welcome twist.
Kate finished with Kiki McDonough’s Kiki Classics Green Amethyst Pear Drop earrings. The pale green gemstones are set in 18-carat yellow gold, adding a softer shade of green beside the deeper suit.
Kate debuted the earrings in 2023, and today marked their sixth public appearance. Previous outings include her visit to the Natural History Museum’s gardens. Their simple shape made them a delicate finishing touch to the more substantial tailoring and knitwear.
Finally, Kate wore black ankle boots beneath her trousers. First seen during last month’s Leeds engagements, the boots made their second public appearance today. A past-season Gianvito Rossi style has been suggested (the Lyell boots, shown below in brown), although the identification is not yet confirmed.
With thanks to MiddletonMaven and Gabi for their work identifying the clothing for today’s post.
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