‘Thrifty’ Duchess Kate recycles her teal Jenny Packham gown for Tusk Trust event

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are seen at the Tusk Conservation Awards

Prince William has long been the royal patron of the Tusk Trust for many years. Some people believe that his work with Tusk Trust connects him to Jecca Craig, which may be why William tends to go solo to Tusk Trust events most of the time. But not last night! Last night, William’s wife joined him at the Tusk Conservation Awards at Banqueting House in London. We did know about this beforehand – Kensington Palace announced both William and Kate’s scheduled presence at this event days ago.

Kate decided to be “thrifty” and recycle a Jenny Packham gown which she’s had in her closet since 2012. That was when she first wore this teal Packham, to an event ahead of the London Olympics. I actually went back and looked to see what I wrote about the Packham dress back in 2012, and I realized that even back then, I knew Kate had a thing about buttons and lace. I think that’s what always bugged me about this dress – it’s a beautiful color, beautiful skirt, beautiful cut, all of that. But the combination of the delicate, doily-like lace and the itty-bitty buttons down the back just looks so grandmotherly. Or, like what a grandma would pick out for her young granddaughter. And of course the Daily Mail is running with the “Thrifty Kate” narrative. Clever Buttons.

In that 2012 appearance, Kate wore her hair up in a lovely – if slightly too-mature – upswept bun. This time, she decided to style her hair down. While I hate when she wears her hair down for black-tie evening events, I have to say that I actually really like the hair length she’s got these days. It’s not too long, not too short. She’s not teasing it up or popping on cheap wiglets. I swear she’s done some lighter highlights too. All in all… she looks fine.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are seen at the Tusk Conservation Awards

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are seen at the Tusk Conservation Awards

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at the Tusk Conservation Awards

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

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134 Responses to “‘Thrifty’ Duchess Kate recycles her teal Jenny Packham gown for Tusk Trust event”

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  1. Erinn says:

    I like the dress – though I wish it was a slight bit darker.

    • I like it too, it’s lovely. I really like teal it’s so complimentary, but just a bit darker would be nice.

    • TooMany says:

      This is my favourite dress I’ve seen on Kate. This was the dress that I was going to get as my wedding dress (which is what it was originally designed as but Kate got it in a different colour), so I’m glad to see it in use again. That being said, wearing it twice is hardly thrifty!

  2. Char says:

    Kate barely changes since 2012, but William hairline, omg…

    • ds says:

      why doesn’t he go full bald?

      • Christine says:

        It’s a pride thing. When my husband started losing his hair it took a long time to convince him to just shave it. I come from a family of bald men so to me his hair loss made no difference because that’s what I was used to but it was something that really bothered him. A beauty standard for men I guess you could say

      • Clementine says:

        I agree! Full bald is sooo much better than brushing over a few strands. Ugh.

  3. dietcokehead says:

    I don’t see the problems with the buttons here. It’s a gorgeous dress.

    • Jan90067 says:

      This has always been one of my favorites; was hoping for a public repeat. I’m flabbergasted after 3 kids she can still fit into it so perfectly!

    • minx says:

      It really is stunning.

    • Eliza says:

      I love the buttons down the back.

      Confession: I had them added to my wedding dress down the lace back because it seemed more delicate than seeing the zipper seam in the lace to me.

      • Aoife says:

        I wanted to say the exact same thing about my own wedding dress! And I still love it almost a decade later.

    • Milla says:

      Its an amazing dress. I really wish teal and mint came back into stores. I’m sick of all the brown and yellow shades. You cannot find a decent black coat it’s all mustard and poop.

    • emerson says:

      About two years ago a friend informed me the only thing “bespoke” about this dress is the color. This is a Jenny Packham wedding gown circa fall 2013 (that explains all the lace and buttons)

      Also, I want to put a rod in her back. She has the posture of an aging linebacker.

    • RoyalSparkle says:

      +1
      One of the VERY FEW for The Duchess Sussex need to follow – wearing royal gowns with colours than dark- black at Official Royal evening events.

      The Duchess Sussex need to ditch her unroyal stylist friend.

      • Fluffy Princess says:

        I agree! For once, I think Meghan should take a leaf from Kate’s book and wear prettier jewel tones for formal wear. Like her “Fiji blue” dress on tour–fabulous on her.

        and she does need to ditch her stylist friend. When she was an actress the styling is fine, but there are a few misses now that Meghan is a Duchess.

    • sa says:

      Gorgeous dress that she looks gorgeous in. If I had this dress, I’d probably wear it to work every day, just to show it off.

      The buttons look fine on this dress.

    • PattyCakes says:

      Me, too. Always, always have to find fault with this woman. It is annoying and why I don’t come here often.

    • Tiffany :) says:

      I agree, it is a lovely dress. I’m confused as to why it was called “grandmotherly”. A sheer back to the waist and plunging neckline isn’t something many elderly women wear.

  4. Annie. says:

    I liked this dress back then and I like it now. I preferred it with her hair up, but the loose hair gives it a more relaxed vibe, and it differentiates it from its first outing, so I’m okay with that.

    Now I need Kate to repeat the lilac McQueen she wore in her first tour, and the black velvet McQueen she wore to some event with William and Harry.
    Seeing her wearing this from 2012 (before having three kids!!!!) gives me hope to see again those two dresses

    It is not the first time that Kate has attended this event with William… The Jecca connection is so annoying at this point.

    • Becks1 says:

      That black McQueen may just be one of my favorite dresses of all time. It was stunning.

    • Lolly says:

      Yes, Annie. I don’t understand the Jecca connection either, and I really only see it here. I like the dress and she looks fantastic in it.

      • Mac says:

        The Jecca thing is to make us suspicious that William is cheating on Kate and her fairy tale life is a lie or something like that.

    • Eliza says:

      The dress is nice, I’m glad she’s giving it another go.

      Jecca is married with baby and lives in England if I recall, anytime Wills in Africa shes brought up like he’s visiting her although she’s still in Europe Id assume. It’s weird she’s always brought up. William stayed friends with many exes, as his social circle is very tight. I don’t think the implications are fair but they are gossipy so I guess that’s why they continue.

    • Amelie says:

      Kate did repeat the lilac McQueen awhile ago. I forget when but I know she has reworn it since.

    • PattyCakes says:

      Oh, I forgot about that black gown!! I love this teal gown and the lavender one – those are my favorite two gowns she ever wore. After that, her evening wear got boring.

  5. Other Renee says:

    I remember this dress because it is so stunning.

  6. Digital Unicorn says:

    Like the colour and she’s appropriate for the event but lols at the Fail for calling her ‘thrifty’, she rarely repeats an outfit – shoes and accessories yes but clothes not so much.

    I wonder if everyone will be at the Remembrance event at the Royal Albert Hall tomorrow night – the RF usually turn up en masse.

  7. W1hatever1 says:

    Gorgeous gown, one of my all-time favs I’m glad she has worn it again.

    P.S is William hair growing back again? It looks like it.

    • MeghanNotMarkle says:

      Maybe Rogaine got the Royal Warrant and we’ll be seeing new fuzz on Edward and Harry, too.

  8. Abby says:

    This is one of my favorite dresses she owns, so I’m glad to see it again. She really looks gorgeous.

  9. ItReallyIsYou,NotMe says:

    I also like the dress. It’s Saved from being too froufrou by the low neckline and body-skimming proportions. It’s great to see Kate looking so healthy. She seems fit and toned, but not too thin. My kids are the same ages as George and Charlotte and I am still trying to take off 15 pounds in baby weight. So I am glad for her that she seems so healthy soon after her 3rd.

  10. Kate Kack says:

    It is very low cut. Don’t care for the color either.

  11. Becks1 says:

    I have always liked this dress. It’s so nice to see her in an evening gown that is not a doily dress (she has so many of those!) I do wish the color was a bit darker – I think the teal is better for summer than November – but whatever, it looks nice on her. It’s a little lace-y and button-y but this is a good example of how to use lace and buttons to “add” to a look and not detract.

    I also agree that her hair looks really good her – shiny, bouncy, good length – but I wish she had worn it up, I think this dress looks much better with her hair up.

    So overall – she looks nice, this is not my favorite evening look of hers but its better than most so I’m going to give her a win for this one.

  12. Flying fish says:

    Thrifty? She simply wore a dress she’s worn before. It’s normal to rewear clothing, or is it just me, stupse.

  13. Tina says:

    Dress looks nice. Hair is covering the poppy, which is not great on 8 November.

  14. canadiangirl says:

    That is a gorgeous dress. I liked it slightly better with the hair up, but she looks phenomenal.

  15. Rose says:

    I like Kate – but it can’t just be me who has noticed she re-wears things more often now Meghan is on the scene. Normally, people, including royals will re-wear but re-style how it’s worn (look at CP Mary or Letizia of Spain). Kate repeats an entire outfit to a T, so it is picked up on. While Meghan is doing what every new royal is doing – building a new, more appropriate wardrobe, Kate is maintaining her ‘angelic’ image.
    Major side eye but good PR I guess.

    • Lolly says:

      I feel like you’re projecting a bit. Kate has always recycled outfits (usually to a T) since before Meghan. It was something people always mocked her for. The tabloids are now calling her better names for it. I don’t think she’s doing this to look angelic at all. I’m not sure why there has to be a continuous push that the girls do not get along and they are competitive with each other. I highly doubt Kate is wearing a repeat outfit because of Meghan, just like I’m sure Meghan isn’t working to tick off Kate. They seem like they enjoy each other. Let’s keep that narrative until we see otherwise, maybe?

    • Annie. says:

      Not really. I was reading the other day that on 2017, like 60% of what she wore were repeats, and the porcentage of her repeats has never been less than 40%… So she does tend to repeat outfits and accessories
      I wish she would change the accessories when she repeats her clothes, but Kate has never been a fashion girl, let’s be real, so she will always play it safe. If it worked the first time why change it seems to be her MO

    • Becks1 says:

      I think it just seems that she is repeating more because we have seen very few engagements since Meghan and Harry got married. So if she has done 10 events, and 5 of those outfits are repeats, it looks like a 50% repeat rate, but had she done 15 events she may have still just repeated those 5 outfits. (or maybe she would have repeated 7 or8, I’m just making up numbers, ha.) Also she often repeats outfits but not the exact pieces – like the black jeans and blazer from last week – so it gives the illusion that she is recycling pieces more than she might actually be doing.

      I do admit that she knows how to play the game though in terms of appearing thrifty. It’s one area where I think she is very good at handling the PR portion of it. We have seen her in 4 bespoke McQueen pieces this summer/fall and no one says “boo” at the cost of bespoke dresses that all look remarkably similar to things she already owned. Meghan wears Givenchy and people start screaming for her head. I don’t think Kate wore this gown to show Meghan up or anything, because Kate has long established this pattern (several bespoke pieces, then she recycles a look and no one talks about how much that McQueen from the state dinner must have cost.) Or she debuts new earrings that probably were expensive with a previously worn dress, etc. Like I said, I just think she knows how to play this part of the game very well, and I don’t think it has anything to do with Meghan.

      • wha1ever says:

        @Becks1

        Where have you been? lots of people did question the cost of the McQueen bispoke dresses and people most defiently did question how much the McQueen from the state dinner cost. The rumoured figure was £10k but there was no actual confirmation of the price.

      • Becks1 says:

        @wha1ever I know we discussed here a bit and it got some coverage in other outlets, but it was nothing at all compared to the criticism that has come Meghan’s way.

        It’s almost a year later and someone yesterday was STILL bringing up the cost of Meghan’s dress from the engagement pictures.

      • Nic919 says:

        I am guessing she wore a repeat last night because she will have something new for the Remembrance event. She tends to have a pattern of wearing a repeat and then new stuff several appearances after that. The media is also playing up the thrifty non thrifty story between the two duchesses. In the real world it’s not thrifty to wear a Packham twice in 6 years.

    • M.A.F. says:

      It’s a you thing. She has always re-worn either whole outfits (with different hair) or pieces from a previous outfit.

  16. Busyann says:

    There is something slightly different abput her face. I cant pinpoint it.

    • Becks1 says:

      I cant tell if its makeup or not but her eyes look bigger. When you compare these pictures to the 2012 pictures in the same dress, its a noticeable difference. But, her makeup is very different so that could be it too.

      I was looking at old pictures of her on IG the other day and her face is definitely different compared to 10 years ago.

      • Linda says:

        @BECKS1
        My face is different from how it was ten years ago. I think this is normal and to be expected.

      • Becks1 says:

        @Linda my face is different too – But there’s different and then “different.” But I cant pinpoint what about Kate’s has changed exactly like @busyann said.

      • Mel M says:

        Honestly I think it because when she first wore the dress it was during a time that I think she had eye work done. If you look at pics from that year you can see her eyes look different and it’s not just makeup. I don’t think she’s done that again because it was pretty obvious to me. You can see in photos of her from when she was younger and when she gets pregnant with George and after that she has downturned eyes but that year they look a lot more upturned. I think she’s beautiful all the same but yeah I think she had eye work done then.

        I do love this dress though and am glad she wore it again. I think it looks more beautiful in daylight though.

      • Lexa says:

        I think she’s lost some of the fullness of her upper cheeks, right below her eyes. I’m not sure if she had fillers put there for the wedding, but I think it’s just a natural loss of fullness that comes with age.

      • Busyann says:

        Yeah, I can’t pinpoint what it is either so I didnt want to speculate, but there’s enough of a difference there to make me look at the photos a little harder. There’s some change around the eyes and I think its more than makeup changes but who knows really. Im just glad that other people see it too, and my eyes were not deceiving me.

      • Reese says:

        IMO, not a popular one, I believe it can be troubling slagging off women for having injections or whatever face stuff they choose to do. If we comment and believe that women should have freedom of choice and be control of their own bodies and forgo body shaming what gives us the right to make insinuations about cosmetic surgery? Kate and MM should have the right to do as they please without judgement and prejudice. Both women should be given this equally. It’s their choice, their body, their faces.

  17. guest says:

    How stunning does Kate look? 3 babies in 5 years and she puts in the work to eat healthy and work out regularly. Other people can have all the money/help in the world, but they won’t look like Kate if they’re lazy to work out and eat like crap! I like that she’s repeating her outfits. This is like the 3rd or 4th time she has repeated since coming back from maternity leave. Yes, she’s had some things done to her face to give her a fresher look, it’s subtle. I love her new hair too, gorgeous colour. And for the millionth time, Jecca lives here in London – she isn’t in Africa!

    • Apalapa says:

      What an odd comment. So much of how she looks is genetics, just at it is for supermodels?

      • rose says:

        she’s thin because she eats healthy and works out . Genetics can help a tiny bit but it’s not like you can eat whatever and never work out and still look like Kate.
        That is a gorgeous gown on her and she looks stunning ! I never usually like much of what she wears but I love this .

      • Lady D says:

        Maybe she had lipo? Millions of women do.

      • LizB says:

        Looking at Carole and Pippa, it’s pretty obvious genetics plays a significant role in Kate’s figure.

      • ccny says:

        Supermodels workout pretty much everyday, and a lot of them starve themselves. It’s not genetic at all.

        And if Kates thinness was due to genes, she wouldn’t be 20 lbs lighter after 3 kids than she was as a college student.

    • LizB says:

      Kate doesn’t eat a lot – that is obvious – but we have no clue if that means she eats healthy.

      Thin does not equal healthy.

      • Aurelia says:

        Kate is naturally much bigger. Just google it. She virtually has an eating disorder and probably smokes. Remember the shots of a packet of fags seen in her purse back in the day. And she has untold help to enable her the time to work out 2 hours a day.

      • Andrea says:

        I agree. This comes from a place of concern not an oh god I wish I was thin place. Kate used to look healthy/athletic. I have a dear 32 year old friend who looked similar years ago. Now my friend barely eats in front of anyone, just pushes food around. She cooks elaborate meals and doesn’t eat much of anything. This friend lements on old pictures when she was oh so fat at 120 lbs! She has struggled between 85-100lbs and everyone knows she is anorexic but doesn’t seem to want to say anything to her. Kate looks gaunt to me similar to my friend.

      • guest says:

        Meh, you could say the same about Meghan. Her past photos show a fuller figure than the very slim, dainty figure she started sporting after Harry. Pics of Meghan smoking with her gal friend Jess Mulroney are recent and around too. I don’t like diagnosing women with eating disorders online when you don’t know their eating habits. Kate probably does eat healthily and works out regularly, she’s clearly strong.

    • Natalie S says:

      Your post makes me think of Keira Knightley’s comments on how Kate looked after giving birth. People said that’s how Kate felt comfortable and her appearance was not meant to shame anyone else.

      But now Kate’s post pregnancy body and shape is being used to shame women based on assumptions on how lazy or unhealthy these women are. So is Kate’s appearance an example/rebuke to other women or not?

      By the way, what is putting in the work to eat healthy? If there were time and money constraints, sure. But if not, how does making a choice about what you eat count as work?

      • Nic919 says:

        Kate was also lucky enough to only gain weight where the baby was and not all over. She didn’t swell up like some women do and often that has nothing to do with exercise or diet.

        Again why is how she looks something to be praised. How about some actual charity work that helps people. We have tons of celebrities and super models we can look at, but the BRF is supposed to be about using their privilege for good. That’s what they tell us anyway.

      • guest says:

        lol “putting in the work” is a phrase I see you’re not familiar with. I’ll leave it at that. It doesn’t literally mean Work Work, but clearly, that’s the way you took it.
        Btw, many women gain weight only in their tummy area and never anywhere else. They also lose their baby weight in a couple of months. Kate isn’t the only “lucky” one. Many women are also fortunate to have a nanny or family members to help with the new baby, so the new mother can have time to herself. Kate isn’t a unicorn when it comes to having babies! Women all over the world look like her after having multiple kids and they don’t achieve their post-pregnancy body goals by eating the wrong stuff and by never working out. Genetics are not the only factor but I guess people can keep telling themselves that to make themselves feel better.
        They are Royal Duchesses, of course people are going to talk about their looks! Meghan is stunning and gorgeous – Kate looks stunningly beautiful. You seem to have a problem when somebody compliments Kate and that’s on you.

      • Natalie S says:

        I don’t have a problem with people complimenting Kate. I have many times. I do have a problem with using a woman’s body to denigrate other women. You did that and I responded to your comment. Why are you so focused on how women should physically look or their weight and level of fitness?

        And I agree that in the context that you used, “putting in the work,” it certainly doesn’t mean actual work. I think it’s quite self-absorbed for someone to use that phrase for making decisions about what to eat.

      • Nic919 says:

        She certainly doesn’t put in the work when it comes to her patronages. How many has she not visited in the last two years?

  18. L84Tea says:

    I’ve always wondered when she was going to wear this again. I always thought this was a very beautiful gown. Only shame is she’s covering up the back with her hair.

  19. Birds eye view says:

    I think she looks stunning.

  20. Cerys says:

    It’s a lovely dress and she suits it. However I fail to see how wearing an expensive dress twice in 6 years is “thrifty”.

  21. Darla says:

    I think that gown is absolutely stunning and she looks beautiful. She’s come into her own. This often happens to women when they enter their 30’s. Frankly, that was the height of my beauty too. And you can see her confidence these days.

    • Thirsty Hirsty says:

      My 30’s were awesome years…young son, (tho’ his Dad left before he turned two cause I wasn’t paying enough attention to him, after a cesarean, hemorrhaging so second operation required, going back to work full time when babe was 4 mos, that bit was heartbreaking but the rest was good!) great job, good people around me holding me accountable. It was the height of my beauty too, as per @Darla.

    • Aloe Vera says:

      I agree, but isn’t Kate closer to entering her 40’s than entering her 30’s?

  22. Vava says:

    I like the dress more than I did when she first wore it. Not sure why really. It’s good that she is re-wearing these things, think about the thousands of dollars they cost.

    • Nic919 says:

      Same here. Mostly I find the top looks odd with the tulle over the satin, which I didn’t notice originally. The fit is fine, it’s just too fussy looking now.

      • Vava says:

        Agreed. It looks dated from a fashion perspective.

        You know what? I find Kate to be an escape for me from the reality in my country, the USA. I follow her fashion just to focus on something that isn’t completely offensive like my country’s current situation. The reality of it all is I don’t care what Kate wears. I wish she was more active in social issues, but I doubt that will happen. I certainly would never aspire to being in her situation where she is critiqued about her body, her face, her makeup, or her fashion. Wear a dated dress. Princess Anne does all the time and I think that is fantastic. I’d love to see Kate just throw it all to the wind.

  23. Veronica S. says:

    It’s one of her prettiest gowns, so it’s a forgivable repeat. Never knew the back was all lace, though. I’m kind of surprised because you would think they’d be stodgier about that sort of thing.

    • Vava says:

      I think there is a nude colored fabric under that lace in the back, so it’s not sheer like some folks are saying.

  24. Beth says:

    She looks gorgeous. The dress and its color are beautiful, and her hair has been looking great lately.

  25. Kerfuffle says:

    Pretty much every royal woman re-wears dresses, the only weird thing is that anyone would find it particularly noteworthy about Kate. And I think this is a fantastic gown.

  26. Jessica says:

    I thought she looked a little off at this event… like perhaps she wasn’t feeling well, or may her and Will had an argument before hand. Not sure, but she seemed off.

    • Annie. says:

      I thought she looked tired. Maybe Louis was not feeling well? Or George or Charlotte… She looked like a tired mum that couldn’t hide how tired she was even with make-up.

  27. Amelie says:

    I’ve always loved this dress on Kate though like most people I wished she had worn her hair up. She has never been a very good judge of hairstyles. We all know she prefers to wear it down but she really needs a better hairstylist to advise her on these kinds of things. In this case, not only does it hide the dress’s beautiful detailing on the shoulder/back but it hides the beautiful earrings loaned to her by the Queen (according to What Kate Wore).

  28. gm says:

    Gorgeous dress, she looks lovely and I had to look very closely to see which photo was from 2012 and now. I like this hair length better then the very long she used to have.

  29. Harryg says:

    I like being thrifty. I like Kate.
    At the moment the royals are so much fun! They are smart and kind and good-looking.

  30. Liz says:

    Please, Kate, blowdry your hair straight. This wavy Dynasty look was awful and aging back then, as it is now. Imagine Meghan with that same hair. Yikes.

    • ex-Mel says:

      Why should she? Those of us who have naturally wavy (not frizzy) hair generally feel very fortunate. Wavy hair gives a luscious look that nothing can replicate. In terms of attraction, it substitutes a ton of makeup.

  31. Annie says:

    Gorgeous dress and she looks fantastic.

  32. LizB says:

    Why wear a brooch and mega earrings just to have your hair cover it all? I don’t get it.

  33. MeghanNotMarkle says:

    She looks fantastic. Only quibbles are her posture, which I don’t think will ever improve, and her continuing to cover the poppy pin. If you’re just gonna cover it with your security blanket, why bother even wearing it?

  34. Pandy says:

    Beautiful dress and she’s looking happy and gorgeous.

    • Elisa says:

      +1, that’s what I like best, too. She looks self-confident, relaxed, happy and it makes all the difference.

  35. TheOriginalMia says:

    It’s a beautiful and expensive dress that should be reworn. I knew she’d lost more weight this time than her previous pregnancies. Fitting into this dress after 3 kids confirms it. Wow!

  36. Lilly says:

    I both like the dress and laugh at “thrifty.” I’m really not a prude, but I’m often surprised by how low-cut she goes. It’s lovely and fine, of course, she’s a beautiful woman. I’m just usually caught off guard.

  37. themummy says:

    Two things:
    1) Jecca is the stupidiest sounding name…so dumb… Every time I see it my eyes roll so far back in my head that someone has to slap me on the back to get them unstuck.
    2) I think Kate’s highlight color looks awful on her. I don’t know exactly what it is, but something in the tone of the color just clashes with her skin.

  38. Liz version 700 says:

    The color is nice and in general a pretty dres, but I am giving myself a headache side-eyeing thrifty. My last semi formal dress was a crowd pleaser that I got on Amazon 3 days before when I realized the wedding I was going too was a much more dressy event than I anticipated. I spent $49. Kate is not thrifty lol. But her hair does look fantastic.

    • guest says:

      You spent $49 whilst people in my family spend 4 figures, lol. Different lives, different disposable income. We’re talking about Kate here though so re wearing something often counts as good and thrifty PR when the pieces are paid for by the public.

      • Nic919 says:

        The meaning of the word thrifty isn’t based on some spectrum depending on personal wealth. Spending four figures on a dress isn’t thrifty. Neither is a royal rewearing an expensive gown twice once in a blue moon.

  39. Jen says:

    From the front, it is one of my favorites of her dresses. From the back, it could be better.

  40. BBeauty says:

    I love the lace. Lace is not grandmotherly. It is elegant and classy. Not everyone likes a modern sleek line. Some people like frills and bows and lace and there’s nothing wrong with that. The dress suits here but wow has she gotten thin again.

  41. Claire says:

    The dress is beautiful and so is she!

  42. khaveman says:

    I have always loved that glamorous dress! She looks beautiful.

  43. Dot says:

    I do love this dress on her. One thing I keep noticing is how .. old? Her skin looks. She’s the same age as Meghan but her skin makes her look 10 years older.

    I know she was a smoker for a while, and that ages your skin, but hers is just so weirdly old looking – I can’t figure out why.

    • MrsBump says:

      Three kids will do that to you.

    • Andrea says:

      Also undereating will ruin your skin too due to lack of nutrients. I have a 32 year old friend who looks 10 years older or more due to her anorexia.

    • Ada says:

      Ugh comments like these are so unnecessary. Looking “old” is such a relative thing and often on this site it’s used as not just a pejorative statement about her looks but as a moral point too. Oh, she smokes, she undereats, she doesn’t take care of her skin, she tans blah blah blah.

      I have wrinkles at 30. I have never smoked nor tanned. I moisturize, eat well, yet keep getting “well-meaning” comments about what I “should” be doing, completely unprovoked on my part. Seeing these comments about well-styled and well-dressed women like Kate just adds to these anxieties.

  44. Noor says:

    Why are people here so salty and irresponsible about throwing the terms ‘starving’ and ‘anorexia’? Please educate yourselves.

    Kate does not look like shes starving herself. Do you people not see the leg muscles and the arms? She has more muscle than fat! Someone who starves themselves does NOT build a body like that. A lot of work goes into it. Ask anyone who goes to the gym.

    Also, kates reshaped her eyebrows so thats probably why she looks different. Theyre no longer ‘straight’ lines. They have a proper arch shape.

    Hopefully the people here will be more responsible with their terminology when Meghan bounces back after her pregnancy.

    • Lilly says:

      I agree with you and posters above that it’s clear from her family that their genes run to slender and they all seem to be athletic.

    • guest says:

      Salty! Yess, that’s the correct word. They sound bitter and put it down to Kate “starving” herself and genes. Please, she does have nice tone to her body and as I said before, she is clearly strong – you can see it in her leg & thigh muscles.
      So, yes she does put the work in to look the way she does @Natalie S.

    • Vava says:

      I prefer to limit my comments to the fashion part of it. Who knows about diet/exercise/weight/etc. One can only hope that Kate is happy and healthy.

    • Nic919 says:

      I am not going to comment on whether or not Kate is anorexic but it is false to state that anorexics don’t have muscles. Some forms of anorexia include excessive exercising as part of the disease. There are even overweight people with eating disorders. And since no one here is Kate’s doctor the diagnosis cannot be made nor can it be ruled out by simply looking at a photo.

  45. Sparkly says:

    I absolutely love this dress. I’m not as keen on the back either, but from the front, it’s stunning.

  46. Kari Kounkel says:

    Every time I catch site of an article about Kate, it’s accompanied by the worst of the photos available, and with Meghan it’s always something soft and sort of dewy. The choices indicate partially before I even read the article.

    Also. Kate didn’t call herself thrifty. She just wore a dress.

  47. guest says:

    @Annie. Thank you for bringing up the maternity talk in another thread. I was quite shocked to read the maternity conversations on here when Kate was on maternity leave. If people think Kate doesn’t “deserve” maternity leave, then I guess they also believe Megan doesn’t “deserve” maternity leave since they don’t “work full-time hours”. I know mat leave in the US is atrocious, but that doesn’t mean it’s the same everywhere else! Stay at home mothers, or part-time workers, are also entitled to rest without having to do the cleaning & cooking. It seems to me a lot of the commenters here are bitter about needing to go back to work merely months after having a baby and they resent stay at home mothers for the time they can spend with their babies.

    • Annie. says:

      Oh, you are a sweetheart! You are very welcome.
      I agree that maternity leave in the US is terrible, and I find it so appalling and disappointing when it’s women who want to deny the right to maternity leave to other women.

      • MeghanNotMarkle says:

        They don’t actually work. They don’t have real jobs. Their lives are one big taxpayer funded vacation so what exactly do they need maternity leave *from.* This has been addressed here before. Kate’s life is nothing but one giant maternity leave. Meghan’s will also be that way, although I suspect that her spending far more time than Kate being in touch with reality will have her out and about more than Kate ever has been. Stop acting like these women have a 9-5 and aren’t at home most of the time doing nothing or shopping. Will and Kate said that working parents are bad parents and I will never forget that. They’re spoiled, entitled leeches.

  48. Ann says:

    I personally thought it was humorous that The Times (U.K.) had a story about Meghan’s temper tantrum (exact words used) over not being able to wear a tiara with emeralds at her wedding. If that is true, she sounds a little spoiled frankly.

    • SS says:

      Wherever you are, LAK, please come back! LOL. Your insight on this new tea would be appreciated. It was always nice to hear fellow Brits talking about the Royals without believing all the fluff PR pieces they constantly put out. This is interesting juicy gossip. Everyone has gossiped about W&K to death.. from their staff to the Midds, to their costs, to their personas.. Its only right that we gossip about Meghan&Harry too especially in light of this new credible info. It is coming from the Times – it’s true. It’s also reported in the new book sanctioned by Prince Charles. The staff resignations, the petty arguments, the tantrums, Kate and Meghan having different approaches in the way they treat KP staff? Sounds like Someone inside the palace is leaking and they haven’t even been married for 6 months. Their seating at the Royal Albert Hall..Yikes. Whatever happened, something went down for the PA to leave and then it was leaked to the press.

  49. Vintage says:

    Micro criticism as always.

  50. liriel says:

    Actually I think it looks great. Repeating an outfing is always a good idea so give her due.