Kate Middleton christens a cruise ship in a Dalmatian print Hobbs coat
See Kate’s outfit up close »
Kate Middleton’s last solo engagement pre-maternity leave was certainly a big one! This morning the Duchess of Cambridge smashed a magnum of Moët & Chandon Champagne against the hull of the Royal Princess cruise ship, officially naming the ship and becoming her godmother in one fell swoop. While this appointment is certainly more of a commercial venture than the charitable organizations we’re used to seeing Kate involved with, there’s a bit of royal history behind it. The first Royal Princess cruise ship set sale from Southampton in 1984 and Princess Diana christened the ship as godmother, doing the same Champagne smash and speech.
So what do you wear when you’re becoming godmother of a cruise ship? Kate Middleton stepped out of her sartorial comfort zone today in a Dalmatian print coat from Hobbs. Has any other royal worn such a bold animal print before?
(Can we take a moment to picture this coat on the Queen?) And yet, like all things that the Duchess of Cambridge wears, it looked perfect for the occasion. There’s a style lesson to be learned here: When experimenting with a bright colour or crazy print, try it on a cut you’re comfortable wearing. Kate’s Hobbs coat is the same silhouette she’s been wearing throughout her pregnancy—and the busy Dalmatian print even helps to disguise her baby bump.
Becoming a ship’s godmother is clearly an occasion deserving of a fascinator, and Kate chose to wear a black hat by Lock & Co. Her hair is half up, in the same classic style she wore to the Queen’s coronation ceremony. While her shoes are a favourite and often worn pair—black suede pumps by Episode—Kate debuted a new purse this morning, a white Alexander McQueen Wicca satchel that’s said to be a custom design.
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