Kate in blue Emilia Wickstead dress for National Emergencies Trust launch

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the launch of the National Emergencies Trust at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London on November the 7th 2019.

The National Emergencies Trust (NET) is an independent charity that will provide an emergency response to disasters in the UK. More from the organisation’s website:

Victims often find it difficult to know who to turn to in the tragic aftermath of a national emergency. The Trust will be there for those victims to facilitate a single point of contact to apply for help with a simple application process. Financial awards can be made to victims quickly and efficiently, avoiding the bureaucracy of multiple applications. It should also help use money more effectively and minimise fraud.

NET will work with local charities and distribution partners to ensure aid is delivered where it is needed the most. 

The organisation formed after a series of emergencies in 2017: the terrorist attacks at Manchester Arena and Westminster Bridge, plus the tragic Grenfell tower block fire.

The intensity of [the] emergencies in 2017 … led the Charity Commission to convene a number of people in the charitable sector to see if there was a better way of responding to national emergencies. This has led to the creation of the National Emergencies Trust, which will collaborate with charities and other bodies to raise and distribute money and support victims at the time of a domestic disaster.

During their visit, William and Kate met with a small group of people affected by the disasters outlined above. They also met with a children’s choir (pictured below) who performed at the launch. 

William delivered a speech during his visit. You can watch it (and further footage from the engagement) below:

Kate’s outfit:

To launch NET, Kate wore a knee-length blue dress by Emilia Wickstead.

It has an A-line skirt,  slim-fitting bodice and long sleeves. The piece might feel familiar. Kate owns it in forest green and lilac purple too.

I believe Kate’s dresses are custom-made. However, Emilia Wickstead did manufacture a ready-to-wear line of the dresses a couple of years ago in three different colours: red, pink and navy.

The dresses were named ‘Kate’ after the Duchess and were available from Matches Fashion for £1,350 (now sadly sold out).

Kate paired the dress with a matching blue belt also by Emilia Wickstead. Below, we show the belt in black from the designer’s ready-to-wear collection:

The piece features a rectangular belt buckle and metallic hardware. Selfridges sold the belt. They described it as “eternally chic”. 

Kate’s black clutch bag should feel familiar too, she’s carried it before.  It’s a piece designed by Beulah London and Aspinal of London. 

The two companies collaborated on the limited edition piece for charity.  25% of profits went to the United Nations Blue Heart Campaign. 

The black croc print bag features Beulah London’s signature blue heart print on the inside.  You’ll also spot Aspinal’s distinctive signature shield clasp closure. Beulah London described the bag as a “grown-up classic”. Sadly, the piece is no longer available for purchase.

The Duchess debuted a new pair of patent black leather heels by Jimmy Choo.  They’re the Romy 85 style. The Italian-made heels feature a 3.5-inch stiletto heel and a softly pointed toe.

Net-A-Porter describes the shoe as “a versatile addition to any well-edited wardrobe.”  They stock the style in patent black as worn by Kate and seven other colours for $650 USD / £450 GBP.

Kate chose her blue sapphire and diamond earrings for the engagement.

Sadly, nothing is known about the earrings at this time.

Finally, you will have noticed Kate wore an enamel poppy brooch ahead of Remembrance Day:

It’s from the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Collection. It’s their Women of The First World War Brooch.  Here’s why they created the piece:

Women played a huge role in the First World War. They served as nurses in the field hospitals, and here at home. They worked in factories, making munitions. They worked on the land. And they were recognised afterwards with the right to vote.

100 years on, The Royal British Legion have created this special brooch dedicated to the memory of the courageous women who served and lost their life as a direct result of the First World War.

You can purchase the brooch from the Royal British Legion’s website for £29.99.