Kate before Cambridge

As Duchess Kate's popularity increases, I have decided to add another page to the blog entitled Kate before Cambridge. The purpose of the page is to chronicle photos and stories about Kate before she became the Duchess of Cambridge. I have been surprised at the number of photos I've seen recently that were taken some years ago. I will attempt to add each entry chronologically and (hopefully) after some hard work. The page will be an interest archive on Kate's life. I would greatly appreciate all suggestions as there are no doubt many photo's I have not seen (and wouldn't find alone :)) 
Please feel free to comment and let me know about any photos you would like to see added to the page.  Also I have a Facebook Page and Twitter.


I would also like to say a huge thank you to everyone who follows this blog. I love blogging about Duchess Kate and it's excellent to see people enjoying it! :)


This is the first entry to the page, I thought I would post it on the blog as a taster of what I hope the page will be like! If there are any outfits you love, or have suggestions on similar fashion items I will add them in too!
I would like to give a huge thank you to the wonderful Kate fans at the What Kate Wore Facebook Page for discovering these amazing photos.


These delightful photos of William and Kate dressed up as John Wayne and Pocahontas at a friends birthday bash were taken back in 2006. William greeted newcomers to the party saying 'Howdy Pardner' (Can you imagine it?) A fellow guest in Batcombe, Somerset said 'He spent the whole night talking like John Wayne. He was the life and soul) The beautiful Kate, then 24 gave William a very friendly hug. Dressed in a beautiful white silk dress and Pocahontas style headband, They look like any other couple here.

Kate targeted by negative 'celebrity' comments

I'm sure you have all seen the recent press headlines regarding Kelly Osbourne's comments about the Duchess of Cambridge. Osbourne appeared on the Jay Leno show and spoke about Kate recycling clothes 'Only in this country they call it a faux pas. In England, they're like, look how thrifty she's being, showing the British public that the Royals are in a recession as well. I'm sorry If I had that job I would only wear it once. If I'm going to be the future bloody Queen of England, I'm going to wear that dress once and that's it'. (The Queen famously recycles her outfits as do most of the Royals, obviously Ms Osbourne didn't do her research :) The daughter of singer Ozzy Osbourne later defended her comments on twitter stating that the press blew the story out of proportion.
Just as the dust began to settle on that story, Another celebrity is today, making headlines due to her comments about Kate's style. British fashion icon Vivienne Westwood said 'I would have loved to have dressed Kate Middleton but I have to wait until she catches up a bit somewhere with style. Let me put it this way, It seems to me her style is ordinary woman, high street shopper'. If that wasn't enough she proceeded to discuss her make up too! 'I think she's got a problem with eye make up. The sharp line around her eyes makes her look hard'
One would imagine Westwood would aspire to have Kate as a client in the future given the fact that almost everything she wears goes out of stock in a matter of hours. Perhaps it is a reflection of how out of touch celebrities have become with reality. The idea that wearing a dress more than once or shopping on the high street could possibly make one less fashionable is quite frankly ridiculous. Duchess Kate has been photographed shopping on the high street since she met William. Why she should conform and change her style just because she is married? Kate is not a model, actress, singer. Is it fair for her appearance to be so highly scrutinised? If her style was appalling or incredibly flamboyant one could understand how it would make headlines but the fact is she never looks anything less than elegant, classic and chic whether it's a public engagement or a trip to the shops. Her fashion sense has become so popular that Vanity Fair named her on their best dressed list. 
Prince Charles reportedly said he felt the couple were becoming 'overexposed'. The press decided he was jealous of their popularity but perhaps it was meant as a word of caution. Naturally with worldwide fame comes good and bad press. Celebrities who mention Kate know it will be front page tabloid news and they may do it to boost their own profile. What are your opinions on these comments? Do you think Kate's appearance is to highly publicised? 

Duchess Kate's 'whirlwind of fashion successes' earns her a spot on Vanity Fair best dressed list

Duchess Kate has received the ultimate stamp of approval in the style world by landing a spot on the 72nd Vanity Fair best dressed list. The Duchess of Cambridge is one of the most famous faces on the international list. She joins First ladies Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni on the prestigious list which also features Princess Charlene of Monaco and British actress Carey Mulligan. 
The magazine chose Kate due to her 'whirlwind of fashion successes'. From her stunning wedding gown to the magnificent array of style she displayed during her tour of Canada. Kate is one of the few women in the public eye who feel as comfortable wearing Zara as McQueen. She recycles pieces that she may have had for years and updates them with different accessories. Such as her brocade coat at Zara Philips wedding, She transformed the look with her eye catching Gina Foster hat. I think this is only the beginning for the Duchess we shall see her on many best dressed lists in the coming years. I'm still hoping she may grace the cover of Vogue someday! :)


The Best Dressed list for Women is as follows:


CARLA BRUNI-SARKOZY, First Lady of France
H.H. SHEIKHA MOZA BINT NASSER OF QATAR, wife of H.H. the Emir of Qatar
H.R.H. THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE, wife of the future King of England
ANDREA DELLAL, mother of four
CAREY MULLIGAN, actress
CHRISTINE LAGARDE, managing director, International Monetary Fund
TILDA SWINTON, film-maker and actress
LIZZIE TISCH, entrepreneur
H.S.H. PRINCESS CHARLENE OF MONACO, Wife of Albert II, Prince of Monaco
JANE LAUDER WARSH, president of Origins and Ojon

Kate Middleton's University car set to fetch £30,000 on ebay tomorrow

A very special piece of Royal memorabilia is set to go on sale tomorrow! Bidders will have the chance to purchase Duchess Kate's university car. The indigo blue Volkswagon golf was purchased by the Middleton's in Edinburgh for £10,000 back in 2001. They gave it to Kate when she began attending St. Andrew University. She was often pictured driving around in it during her early years with William. In 2007 Kate was famously given a ticket by a traffic warden. (Note his smug expression standing behind Kate in the photo Also I love her style, this photo was taken back in 2003, the preppy look looked lovely on her.)
The car was sold by Kate's brother James to Sonny Brazil. Sonny has barely driven the car as he suspected it would be worth a substantial amount should William and Kate ever choose to marry. There were also a pair of cufflinks left in the car which will also be sold. Perhaps they once belonged to William? Brazil has high expectations about tomorrows auction 'I went to an auction house in Dorset a few weeks ago and they said it would be worth 30k plus, purely because of the name on the log book. It's amazing to think I only paid £1,400 for the car and now it's worth far more than that. James Middleton was very nice, a real gentleman. At the time I didn't put two and two together but when I saw the first owner on the log book was Catherine Middleton I was very excited'. Bids for the 1.4 golf will be begin at £20,000 tomorrow, If any of you reading choose to place a bid, I wish you the best of luck! :)

The Best Moments of the Royal Tour

The Royal tour was filled with many wonderful, memorable moments. If (like me) you are missing the daily updates on William and Kate. I thought it would be nice to reflect on the best ones. I have chosen ten that I feel represented Duchess Kate best, from formal visits to Kate's interaction with the crowds. Please vote for your favourite on the poll to the right of the page.  I look forward to seeing the results. :)


1 Duchess Kate meets Diamond Marshall

When Duchess Kate arrived at Calgary International Airport, Six year old Diamond Marshall ran into her arms. Diamond was different to the other children William and Kate had met, She suffers from Sarcoma a rare cancer. Four years earlier her mother passed away from cancer. Diamond's wrote a heartbreaking letter to the Duchess telling her how she would love to meet her and that her 'mother is in heaven with Diana'. Watching Kate interact with Diamond was a very special moment, you could clearly tell she wanted it to be everything Diamond had hoped for. For me this was the defining moment of the tour, I don't think Kate's success should be measured by how many dignitaries she meets or the number of formal events she attends, It is moments like this that make her a true princess!

2 And She Can Cook

William and Kate attended a cookery workshop at the Institut de Tourisme where Kate teamed chef's whites with sparkling silver heels. (She even looks like a supermodel cooking?)  The Duchess prepared a wonderful dish and commanded the kitchen with ease, After all she looks after their home in Anglesey. (Where the couple are right now) I imagine it was nothing new to her!

3 A Romantic Moment for the Royal Couple

The couple had enjoyed a busy day at the Canada day celebrations. After which they attended a concert in Ottawa and later retreated to a private spot to watch the firework display. Very romantic moment, I always get the impression they are simply Will and Kate together, not the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge which is very good for William ,Kate keeps him grounded. Watching William and Kate together is beautiful, from their hug at the dragon boat race to their kiss at the polo match, they are a couple very much in love.

4 William and Kate Play Street Hockey

In Yellowknife Prince William and Duchess Kate participated in a game of street hockey. Kate threw the ball to get the game started 'I would have taken a shot if I wasn't in heels'. However William gave it his best shot, Sadly street hockey isn't where his sporting talent lies but he gave it his best shot and it was all in good fun. In Charles and Diana's day we would never have seen Royals participating in games like this. William and Kate bring something completely new and vibrant to the monarchy and this moment displayed it perfectly!

5 William and Kate go Native

The Royal couple experienced native life in Blatchford lake. They watched meat being prepared for smoking, smelled local aboroginal medicines, paddled a canoe and were given hoodies by the Canadian rangers. (I love the above photo of William adjusting Kate's hoodie) I chose this moment because we saw the couple take part in multiple activities in a sparsely populated area. For them it was about getting to know the locals and their way of life which sums up the theme of the tour.

6 William opens up about Diana

As William and Kate toured Canada, Princess Diana would have been firmly fixed in William's mind. It would have been her 50th birthday and inevitably it was a sad time for the 29 year old prince. William and Harry are fiercely private regarding their mother but while speaking to three sister who lost their mother to cancer in 2002, He opened his heart. 'I know what it's like to lose your mother at such a young age. I can empathise with your loss. I think of my mother every day'.

7 The Bafta Reception

It was the moment we had all been waiting for. The BAFTA reception was William and Kate's first glamourous Hollywood function and they didn't disappoint. Kate wore a stunning Alexander McQueen grecian gown and was the toast of tinseltown. Even diva Barrbara Streisand made an effort to speak to William. Tom Hanks and Nicole Kidman were among the stars who simply loved the Royal couple. I look forward to seeing them attend more events like this in the future!

8 Duchess Kate visits inner city arts academy

On the last day of their Californian visit, The couple visited the inner city arts academy where Duchess Kate painted with one of the kids, William and Kate also left their handprints for the school to keep in memory of their visit. The children seemed to really enjoy their company. Kate's whistles outfit on the day was one of the most stylish she wore throughout the tour.

9 Calamity Kate

The Royal couple were called 'Calamity Kate' and 'Wild Will' after they attended the Calgary Rodeo. The pair wore stetsons, jeans and cowboy boots to celebrate 'the greatest show on earth' As you'll see in the photo above Kate spent the day talking with the crowds. I love this moment because, again it is something you would never normally see Royals do!

10 The Duchess of Cambridge's 'Marilyn' moment

Throughout the tour, One moment made all the headlines! After arriving at Calgary International Airport, unsettling, windy conditions caused slight wardrobe issues for the Duchess. Wearing a beautiful primrose Jenny Packham dress, the weather was against her causing her dress to blow upwards (It's happened to us all) The Duchess was very graceful and the moment was reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe's infamous white dress scene :)

Kate's waist.........

It was a truly memorable Royal tour for Duchess Kate, They couple accomplished everything they could have possible hoped for. Yet one headline has prevailed since the Royal wedding, The debate about Kate's waist!..........I woke up this morning to read an article in a tabloid newspaper stating that standing next to Kate, Nicole Kidman looked 'dumpy' and in need of a month no the dukan diet. Nicole Kidman is one of the slimmest movie stars out there. Before departing Kate met actress Reese Witherspoon who did look much heavier than Kate in photos. However there are many factors to consider, Kate is 5'10 and enviably toned. 
Carole White, founder of Premier Model Management would put Kate's statistics at 32-24-35. Other spectators think her waist is just 23 inches. Yet those who know her claim she eats sensibly. Paul Sykes, contributing editor at Vogue says people have got it wrong, Kate is simply dressing better. 'It's not necessarily that she is too thin and I don't think she is, It's that expensive well cut clothes make you look taller and thinner. That's the whole point of them. She emphasises her narrowest point- her waist plus she has the advantage of youth'. I'm inclined to agree with this to be honest. Kate is definitely very, very slim but the factor I would be observing is that she looks healthy.Her eyes and skin are glowing, She always looks alert and energetic which simply isn't possible if you are malnourished. What do you think? Like Diana, Kate's weight will always be a topic of discussion for the press. Diana suffered from bulimia and one would swear the tabloids are hoping for the same revelations about Kate. In my opinion that will never happen. She is healthy and taking care of herself. 
The couple have returned to their Anglesey home where William is working towards his captaincy with the RAF. Duchess Kate is said to be settling back into relaxed, married life and choosing carefully which charities she wishes to represent. Hopefully we will see them out and about in the not too distant future! :)