News Updates, Poll Results, & a Friday Flashback – What Kate Wore

I am back with a few news updates and a look at some of your favorite 2023 styles. There is little news to report as the Princess of Wales continues her recovery from abdominal surgery. A paparazzi photo of the Princess and her mother taken on Monday near Windsor Castle was published in some US news outlets this week (search “Page Six and Kate Middleton” if interested in seeing the photo). To mark International Women’s Day today, Kensington Palace posted a thread on social media about inspiring women the Prince and Princess of Wales have encountered in the last year. 

Happy International Women’s Day! Celebrating the impact of amazing women today, and every day. Here are just a few of the brilliant women we’ve been inspired by over the past 12 months. #IWD2024

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 8, 2024

The post includes a photo of the Princess with Sarah Goldson, the Ball Boys and Girls Manager at Wimbledon. 

As well as an image of the Princess with Dr. Gubby Ayida, the Evelina London CEO, taken during an engagement last December.

A third image is from last November; you see the Princess with the founder of Sebby’s Corner baby bank, Bianca Sakol.

This Sunday is Mothering Sunday; it is *possible* that a photo will be released to mark the occasion, but I am not banking on that happening. 

The King continues carrying out a scaled-back number of engagements as he receives cancer treatment. In this photo released on Wednesday by Buckingham Palace, you see the King speaking with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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Now for our review of poll results. We’ll begin with your favorite new dress worn by the Princess last year.

Here is how the voting stacked up: with almost 2100 votes cast, the results were relatively close, with the Alexander McQueen design worn to Royal Ascot coming in as your favorite. The Alessandra Rich design worn for Order of the Garter was second, with the Andrew Gn style placing third.

Your favorite new coat was no surprise, with the teal Catherine Walker worn for the annual St. Patrick’s Day shamrock ceremony with the Irish Guards taking first place.

It was followed by the Chris Kerr design worn in early December at the taping of Royal Carols: Together At Christmas and a cape by Catherine Walker seen in November for the Korea state visit.

Now for a look at accessories, starting with your favorite new hat from 2023. The bespoke design by Philip Treacy worn at Trooping the Colour was a clear favorite.

The Jane Taylor Clio hat from St. Patrick’s Day was your second choice, followed by the Sahar Millinery style worn at an event marking the first anniversary of the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 

When it came to footwear, the Aquazzura Bow Tie Pumps worn by the Princess for a pre-coronation reception and walkabout received the most votes.

The results show that Jennifer Chamandi’s Vittorio 105 Slingback Pumps received the next highest number of votes, and a pair of Pointed Ballet Flats (sold out) by Boden came in third. One note: I forgot to include the Emmy London Lulu Pointed Flats, so the results do not accurately reflect how the voting might have gone had I remembered them.

The Princess carried several new handbags in 2023. The style you liked the most was by Strathberry, the Scottish brand’s Mosaic Grain Leather Top-Handle Bag, which came in well ahead of the next handbag choices. 

Chanel’s Mini Flap Bag in black lambskin easily took second place, with the Jennifer Chamandi Le 8 Gold Buckle bag in third.

Our final poll category is evening gowns. 

With 2130 votes, the big favorite was the Elie Saab design worn to the June wedding of Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein and his bride, Princess Rajwa Al Hussein. In second place is the vibrant blue ‘Marlowe’ gown by Jenny Packham, with the ‘Georgia’ gown, also a Jenny Packham design, receiving the third most votes.

Here, you can see how close the voting was between the two Jenny Packham styles.

I’ll close with a Friday Flashback showing the Princess a year ago today.

She took part in a training exercise with the Irish Guards.

 It was her first visit with the Guards since being named Colonel of the Regiment.

The Princess wore a standard-issue British Army Windproof Smock over Holland Cooper’s Astoria Rollneck Sweater (£99), a pair of G-Star Raw High G-Shape Cargo Skinny Pants ($120), and her Berghaus Supalite Boots (£185, roughly $235 at today’s exchange rates).