The Cambridges Join The Queen For Sunday Service at Crathie Kirk

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, styled as the Earl and Countess of Strathearn in Scotland, joined Her Majesty today for Sunday service at Crathie Kirk.

Embed from Getty Images

A wave from the Duchess.

Embed from Getty Images

The royals were photographed arriving with William in the front seat and Kate beside the Queen in the back.

Embed from Getty Images

William and Kate arrived with the children on Thursday morning and have been enjoying several days with members of the family.

Embed from Getty Images

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall arriving.

Embed from Getty Images

Kate debuted a navy coat with gold buttons for the occasion.

Embed from Getty Images

Samantha suggests the Duchess wore the Navy Herringbone trench coat by Guinea London. The £525 piece is described as: "The Trench is an amazing and dramatic coat, which takes its inspiration from the long straight line of a military greatcoat but with the sassy flowing shape of the '60s maxi coat.  Available in sizes 6 to 20, it is very flattering and easy to wear. It is shown here in Navy Herringbone - one of our House Tweeds, designed by us and woven for Guinea in Yorkshire in top quality 100% wool. The coat has complementary navy blue trims to the cuffs and back. The navy blue velvet lining on the lapels ensures that the coat looks amazing when worn open."

The Duchess teamed the coat with her very stylish £158 peacock print MICHAEL Michael Kors Women's Midi Dress in joule green. Kate debuted the piece in March for an away day in Blackpool.

It appears the Duchess accessorised with her Asprey Oak leaf earrings.

It appears Kate wore the same Lock & Co hat as last year (or a very similar style). Below, Kate wearing it for a 2016 RAF service at St Clement Danes Church in London.

Crathie Kirk is a small Church of Scotland parish church in the village of Crathie. It is known as a regular place of worship for the British Royal family when they are staying in nearby Balmoral.

Queen Victoria worshipped there from 1848, and every British monarch since has attended services at Crathie Kirk. Initially, Victoria's decision to worship at Crathie Kirk caused a scandal, particularly when it was discovered that she had received communion there. As Supreme Governor of the Anglican Church of England, it was expected that she would visit the Scottish Episcopal Church, which recognised the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Undeterred by criticism, she laid the foundation stone for a new, much larger, church in 1893. Below, the Kirk in 1895.

The Royal family first became interested in Balmoral in 1847 when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited Ardverikie on the edge of Loch Laggan which is in the west Highlands of Scotland. Their time there was marred by terrible weather - Queen Victoria mentions the 'pouring rain'​ many times in her diary. While at Ardverikie the son of the Queen's physician, Sir James Clark, wrote a number of letters to his father who was convalescing at Balmoral. The letters from Balmoral described blue skies and fine weather - the news of dry weather interested Prince Albert. In 1848 it was therefore suggested that the Balmoral climate would make a more suitable Scottish residence for the Queen, with the artist James Giles commissioned to make watercolours of a plan of the house. The decision was soon made to acquire the remaining 27-year lease for Prince Albert, and in 1852 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought the castle outright.

Victoria would later described Balmoral as "a paradise in the Highlands. All seemed to breathe freedom and peace, and to make one forget the world and its sad turmoils".

The Queen and Prince Philip have spent two months every summer at the retreat, and have a lifetime of family memories there. It is said Her Majesty is happiest there. William and Kate's own tradition of visiting the highlands began in the early years of their relationship and now continues with George, Charlotte and Louis.

The royals enjoy going for long walks, exploring all the natural beauty the estate has to offer, along with family picnics and plenty of fun and games for the children.

As we approach the end of August, members of the family will return to London ahead of their autumn schedules commencing. I think it likely we'll begin to hear engagement announcements for early September next week. Following the 'Back to Nature' installation at RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court, it will move to its final destination - to form part of a new children's garden at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey on 3 September. I expect we'll see Kate there for the preview day. On Thursday, 5 September Charlotte will attend her first day at Thomas's Battersea where she'll join big brother George.

The Cambridges Make Annual Sojourn to the Highlands!

The Cambridges are enjoying their annual summer sojourn to Balmoral to spend time with the Queen, Prince Philip and other members of the family before they all return to England from summer break to commence their autumn schedules. William, Kate, the children and Nanny Maria Teresa were filmed travelling early yesterday morning (the brief video can be viewed on the Mail Online). Today, William and Kate were photographed arriving for lunch with HM, Philip, Princess Anne and her husband Tim Laurence, and Peter Phillips and his family. It's possible Carole and Michael Middleton are staying with the family too; a fellow traveller reportedly spotted Mrs Middleton on the flight.

With a full turnout at the 'Big House' every summer, the Cambridges have stayed at Charles' private residence Birkhall and a three-bedroom cottage on the estate, Tam-Na-Ghar, which holds very fond memories for the couple. People reports: 

'William and Kate have spent some of their most romantic times at the residence, staying at a cottage called Tam-na-Ghar during their breaks from St Andrews University. The Prince also surprised his then-girlfriend in 2009, arranging a candle-lit dinner in a remote log cabin on the banks of the River Dee. A year later, Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton were guests of Prince Charles at his mansion on the estate, Birkhall. It was a sign that William and Kate's relationship was becoming even more serious – days later their engagement was announced.'

Visits to the highlands include plenty of fresh air, long walks, hearty meals and plenty of fun and games for the children. It's a great opportunity for the family to spend quality time together at the Queen and Prince Philip's beloved retreat. Previous visits have included picnics in the hills above Loch Muich.

In previous years, we've seen the Queen driving Kate and Carole Middleton around the estate. In ITV's documentary Our Queen at 90, Kate remarked: "I suppose what's really struck me is her love for the simple things in life. You would expect a lot of grandeur and a lot of fuss, but actually what really resonates with me is her love for the simple things, the lack of fuss, and I think that's a special quality to have." Below, Kate travelling with HM in 2016.

The stunning scenery...

On Sunday, we expect to see photos of the Cambridges arriving for Sunday service at Crathie Kirk. Last year, Kate chose her grey and black Catherine Walker coatdress.

Do you have any outfit predictions for this year?

The Duchess of Cambridge Joins Her Majesty for Sunday Service at Crathie Kirk!

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made their annual sojourn to Balmoral with George, Charlotte and, for the first time, four-month-old Louis. William and Kate, styled as the Earl and Countess of Strathearn in Scotland, were photographed arriving at Crathie Kirk with Her Majesty for Sunday service this morning. William sat in the front seat. There's additional images available on the Mail Online.

More from the Mail Online:

'It was a family affair at the service with Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, the Countess of Wessex and their children all making an appearance.'

In previous years, William and Kate elected to visit the Queen's Scottish retreat in September, but with term at Thomas's Battersea beginning on 6 September and William resuming duties the same day, we expected to see the family make the trip earlier this year. The Cambridges enjoyed a fortnight on the paradise island of Mustique with the Middletons and spent much of the summer at their Norfolk country home Anmer Hall. Following their Balmoral visit, they will likely return to Kensington Palace for much of the remainder of the year.

Kate looked elegant in a grey coat with black trim. What Kate Wore received confirmation it is a Catherine Walker design. It could be a bespoke version of the Liza coat.

Several of you noted Kate's hat appears to be a Lock & Co piece she's worn several times. Below, Kate wearing it for a 2016 RAF service at St Clement Danes Church in London.

Kate accessorised with the Queen's Bahrain pearl drop earrings. Kate has worn the earrings on several occasions including Royal Ascot in 2017. In 1947 the then Princess Elizabeth received seven larger pearls from the ruler of Bahrain, and two of the pearls were used to create the beautiful pair of earrings. From Her Majesty's Jewel Vault reports: "The earrings each contain one large round diamond and four smaller ones, three baguette diamonds, and a Bahrain pearl dangling below. The Queen seems to have worn them mainly in the early years of her reign; they were later unearthed for the Buckingham Palace summer exhibit marking her 60th wedding anniversary." More recently they were loaned to the Countess of Wessex and now the Duchess of Cambridge.

Emily Andrews tweeted:

'Kate, William, George, Charlotte & Louis are spending this weekend at Balmoral with HM. George was taken to his first grouse shoot on Friday by Kate, with the Queen, Charles, Edward, Sophie, Louise & James, Anne, Zara & Mike Tindall joining for lunch.Quite the family fun!'

Click here to view a photo of Kate and Zara with George and Savannah. Note, George is very adorably clutching a toy bunny.

Crathie Kirk is a small Church of Scotland parish church in the village of Crathie. It is known as a regular place of worship for the British Royal family when they are staying in nearby Balmoral.

Queen Victoria worshipped there from 1848, and every British monarch since has worshipped at Crathie Kirk. Victoria laid the foundation stone for a new, much larger, church in 1893. Victoria's decision to worship at Crathie Kirk initially caused a scandal, particularly when it was discovered that she had received communion there. As Supreme Governor of the Anglican Church of England, it was expected that she would worship in the Scottish Episcopal Church, which recognised the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Below, the Kirk in 1895.

The Queen simply adores Balmoral and it has been said she is happiest there.

The Royal family first became interested in Balmoral in 1847 when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited Ardverikie on the edge of Loch Laggan which is in the west Highlands of Scotland. Their time there was marred by terrible weather - Queen Victoria mentions the 'pouring rain'​ many times in her diary. While at Ardverikie the son of the Queen's physician, Sir James Clark, wrote a number of letters to his father who was convalescing at Balmoral. The letters from Balmoral described blue skies and fine weather - the news of dry weather interested Prince Albert. In 1848 it was therefore suggested that the Balmoral climate would make a more suitable Scottish residence for the Queen, with the artist James Giles commissioned to make watercolours of a plan of the house. The decision was soon made to acquire the remaining 27-year lease for Prince Albert, and in 1852 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought the castle outright.

Victoria would later described Balmoral as "a paradise in the Highlands. All seemed to breathe freedom and peace, and to make one forget the world and its sad turmoils".

The Queen and Prince Philip have spent two months every summer there, and it has become a staple on the Cambridges' calendar since they married. It also holds many happy memories for them. People reports: 'William and Kate have spent some of their most romantic times at the residence, staying at a cottage called Tam-na-Ghar during their breaks from St Andrews University. The Prince also surprised his then-girlfriend in 2009, arranging a candle-lit dinner in a remote log cabin on the banks of the River Dee. A year later, Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton were guests of Prince Charles at his mansion on the estate, Birkhall. It was a sign that William and Kate's relationship was becoming even more serious - days later their engagement was announced.'

Now, almost a decade later, it's the location where they enjoy days filled with outdoor pursuits in the scenic Highlands.

The royals enjoy going for long walks, exploring all the natural beauty the estate has to offer, along with family picnics and plenty of fun and games for the children.

A number of you have been in touch asking when Kate is expected to resume duties: the only official word from the Palace was "the autumn". I imagine we'll hear something in the coming week or two.

Sunday Service at Crathie Kirk & The Queen Drives Kate and Carole Around Balmoral!

As expected, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have made their annual sojourn to Balmoral, taking Prince George and Princess Charlotte to the royals' Scottish retreat to spend time with the Queen and Prince Philip before the summer closes. Kate's parents Michael and Carole Middleton also joined the group. They reportedly arrived on Thursday and will only be staying for several days as Prince William has an engagement in Battersea on Wednesday. This morning, the couple - styled the Earl and Countess of Strathearn in Scotland - were photographed arriving for Sunday service at nearby Crathie Kirk. Also in attendance were the Queen and Prince Philip, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall and the Middletons. (You can view photos at the Mail Online, we will update should they become available to license).

Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William drive to Crathie Kirk for this morning's service #royals #kate pic.twitter.com/JsXES3Wzcs

— Emily Andrews (@byEmilyAndrews) September 11, 2016

Crathie Kirk is a small Church of Scotland parish church in the village of Crathie. The walls are built of local granite and the roof made of Scots Pine. Building materials were donated by the surrounding estates, and £5000 raised by the local population to fund construction. It is known as a regular place of worship for the British Royal family when they are staying in nearby Balmoral. The Princess Royal married her second husband, Timothy Laurence, at the church because she was divorced and, at the time, not permitted to marry in the Church of England.

Indeed, the picturesque church's royal connections are many. More from Wikipedia:

• Queen Victoria donated two stained glass windows which commemorate author and social reformer Reverend Norman MacLeod, and endowed the kirk's Father Willis organ.
• Victoria's highland servant John Brown is buried in the churchyard.
• Princess Beatrice (later Princess Henry of Battenberg) donated four bells which continue to hang in the bell tower.
• Edward VII donated two marble medallions commemorating his brother Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and sister Victoria, Princess Royal and Empress Frederick.
• Edward's son George V donated a communion table dedicated to the memory of his father. This was made from white marble quarried on the island of Iona, the site of Columba's monastery.
• Elizabeth II donated a Bible decorated with the Royal Coat of Arms.

It appears the Duchess wore her Michael Kors skirt suit this morning. A recap on the details: the slate/claret Virgin Wool Plaid Blazer is described as a "vintage-inspired equestrian silhouette" with notched lapels, long sleeves, four-button closure and plaid knit print. The piece originally retailed for £1000. Once again, Kate wore a black top underneath. The Guncheck Wool Trumpet Skirt is crafted from heritage guncheck wool with the trumpet silhouette offering a flattering feminine fit. Kate also wore a new burgundy hat and what may be her sapphire and diamond earrings.

Yesterday, Her Majesty took the wheel as she drove Kate to a picnic lunch. There is so much I love about this photo, and it's lovely to observe the closeness of the Queen with her granddaughter-in-law. It's clear they have much in common and have likely bonded over their love of country life. In ITV's documentary Our Queen at 90 Kate remarked: "I suppose what's really struck me is her love for the simple things in life. You would expect a lot of grandeur and a lot of fuss, but actually what really resonates with me is her love for the simple things, the lack of fuss, and I think that's a special quality to have." It's simply wonderful to see the Queen, at 90, completely in her element driving herself about with a protection officer sitting in the back. We see few glimpses into the royals' private lives and this is a lovely snapshot to see. You can view more photos here.

Queen shows who's boss as she chauffeurs Kate around her Scottish estate https://t.co/X60fT9JAbg pic.twitter.com/HEhtpoJay5

— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) 11 September 2016

More from the Mail on Sunday's story:

'A smiling Kate looked happy and relaxed as she sat in the front passenger seat of the dark green Range Rover in a khaki coat and patterned scarf. William, 34, was also spotted driving a converted Land Rover Defender up the Capel Mounth path on the way to Glen Clova for a grouse shoot shortly after 10am yesterday. Walkers on the public path at Loch Muick were delighted to see the Queen, who appeared not to be wearing a seatbelt, driving Kate – who had her belt on – to the grouse moors.'

There's also a photo of the Queen driving Carole on Saturday. Again, it's excellent to observe the closeness between both sides of the family. Carole and Michael reportedly arrived on Thursday night. There are more photos available here.

The Queen chauffeurs Carole Middleton as she joins family trip to Balmoral with Prince George & Princess Charlotte. https://t.co/BIDvWFT8yt

— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) September 11, 2016

The royals had their lunch in the hills above Loch Muich.

The Duchess was casually attired sporting what appears to be a green jacket with a patterned scarf, which several tweeters have noted looks very similar to her Really Wild Autumnal Partridge Scarf worn on Christmas Day 2014 and her Alice band.

The Cambridges are reportedly staying at Prince Charles's private residence, Birkhall, and enjoying plenty of fresh air, walks and time with HM and Prince Philip ahead of their first overseas tour as a family of four later this month.

The Royal family's love for the Scottish retreat is continuing with the younger generation. An interesting article from Hello! Balmoral: Why the Royals Love Spending Time There:

'A "paradise in the Highlands" is what Queen Victoria called Balmoral. On arriving at the Scottish retreat she famously recalled in her diary: "All seemed to breathe freedom and peace, and to make one forget the world and its sad turmoils."
The magnificent estate, set amid mountains, lochs and glens, held a special place for the late monarch – just as it does for the present Queen and her family. Victoria and her husband Prince Albert first visited the Highlands in 1842, and were so struck they resolved to return.

In 1852 Albert formally purchased Balmoral property for his wife. The original house was deemed "small but pretty", which led to the commission of Balmoral Castle. Unlike other properties such as Buckingham Palace, it is privately owned.

Ever since, the Scottish holiday home has become a firm favourite with the royal family. The Queen and Prince Philip regularly spend two months a year at Balmoral, with other members of the family including Prince William and Kate dropping in for summer visits.'

William and Kate already have many happy memories there:

'William and Kate have spent some of their most romantic times at the residence, staying at a cottage called Tam-na-Ghar during their breaks from St Andrews University. The Prince also surprised his then-girlfriend in 2009, arranging a candle-lit dinner in a remote log cabin on the banks of the River Dee. A year later, Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton were guests of Prince Charles at his mansion on the estate, Birkhall. It was a sign that William and Kate's relationship was becoming even more serious – days later their engagement was announced.'

Princess Eugenie described Balmoral as "the most beautiful place on earth. I think Granny is the most happy there. I think she really, really loves the Highlands. Why? Walks, picnics, dogs – a lot of dogs, there are always dogs – and people coming in and out all the time. It’s a lovely base for Granny and Grandpa, for us to come and see them up there; where you just have room to breathe and run".

With views like this, it's no surprise it remains a firm favourite.

We expect the tour itinerary will be released within a couple of days. See you all then!

Engagement Announcement for Kate, A Trip to Balmoral & More

Hello hello!

We're back with news we've all been anxiously waiting for - the announcement of a new appearance for the Duchess of Cambridge. :)

On Thursday, 17 September, the Duchess will visit the Anna Freud Centre in North London. The visit will offer Kate a first hand opportunity to see how the charity is working to lead change in children's and young people's mental health care.

More from the official press release:

'Her Royal Highness will visit the site of the Anna Freud Centre's planned Community Campus and its Family School, both located near Kings Cross. The visit reflects the Duchess's interest in child mental health issues and the importance of early intervention and working with the whole family to provide children with in-school mental health services.'

Kate will then visit the centre's family school, which provides alternative education for children with serious emotional and behavioural issues and their families. The Duchess will have the opportunity to see and participate in a range of activities that are part of the usual Family School day, including the 'SmartGym' programme that combines technology and sports psychology. It aims to build resilience, develop emotional skills and improve academic performance in children with emotional and behavioural problems.

Anna Freud Centre

The Anna Freud Centre is focused entirely on reducing the burden  of mental health difficulties carried by children and young people. They propose a "radical change" in the way services are offered - putting the child and their families at the centre of their own care and focusing on their needs and strengths.

Anna Freud Centre

Back to the press release:

'The charity is creating a new Community Campus, where experts in mental health, neuroscience and education will work together with children and families on developing new treatments and approaches. During the visit, the Duchess will learn about the AFC's development plan for the Campus, including its research and training programmes, which helps train over 3,000 professionals in this field each year.' 

Of course, it will be wonderful to see Kate out and about again and the choice of engagement is an excellent one. Given the fact we haven't seen the Duchess in quite a while, there will be sizeable press interest, and a portion of this media attention will be directed toward the Anna Freud Centre. As patron of Place2Be, Kate has an interest in supporting children's mental health organisations, and it's an area I would love to see her expanding on in the coming months.

************ 

In other news, it's expected the Cambridges will visit Her Majesty's Scottish estate Balmoral in the coming days. There's reports William and Kate will join The Queen for dinner on 9 September, a landmark day for the Queen when she becomes the longest reigning monarch surpassing her great-great grandmother.

More People's story:

'PEOPLE understands that the 4-month-old Charlotte is set for her first trip to Scotland in the coming days, as she and parents Prince William and Princess Kate head to Queen Elizabeth's highlands estate, Balmoral. 

 That means they will likely be on hand to celebrate with the Queen as she passes her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria's record-breaking milestone as Britain's longest-reigning monarch on September 9.  It's expected that William and Kate, both 33, will join the Queen, 89, for dinner at the historic castle that evening. '

There is a chance we may see photos of the Cambridges arriving/departing from church on Sunday. When they visited in September 2013, photos of the royals arriving at Crathie Kirk, a small Church of Scotland parish church in the village of Crathie emerged.

It's worth mentioning there's speculation in the Scottish press the Duke and Duchess may make a surprise appearance at the Braemar Gathering on Saturday. The event is seen as the biggest event in the Highlands calendar and will mark its 200th anniversary tomorrow. More from Press and Journal:

'The Braemar Gathering is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, and organisers are expecting thousands of people to turn out for a day of traditional heavy, light and athletic competitions. Pipers and Highland dancers will also show off their talents to the crowd, which normally includes the Queen – who is the patron of the games – and some other members of the Royal family.

 And with rumours earlier this week that Prince William and Kate will be visiting Balmoral to celebrate the Queen becoming the nation’s longest-reining monarch next week, hopes are rising that the couple will be in the royal box at Saturday’s event.

A spokeswoman for Kensington Palace said the duke and duchess did not have any official engagements planned for Saturday, adding she could not comment on any unofficial events they might attend if in Aberdeenshire.'

It would certainly be a nice surprise if William and Kate do turn up! With thanks to Royal Focus and What Kate Wore for the tip!

************ 

Royal tour stories have been doing the rounds in recent weeks. There's long been talk speculating the Cambridges will undertake a tour in spring 2016, most likely in the Caribbean. Despite initial reports Prince George and Princess Charlotte would be accompanying their parents, it now appears that is very much not the case.

Hello! quotes a senior Palace official in their piece who hasn't ruled out the possibility of overseas visits in spring and autumn.

'It was a one-off to take George to Australia and New Zealand last year and it is looking highly unlikely they will take their children with them on their next tour,” the Palace aide told HELLO! magazine.

 We are looking at either spring or autumn, but have not ruled out the possibility of them doing both.'

Obviously any trips are still in the early stages of planning, however, should the rumoured spring 2016 tour go ahead - and William and Kate do make an overseas trip in the autumn - one imagines the latter would be something similar in scale to their visit to New York last December.

Their last royal tour - to Autralia and New Zealand - took place in April 2014. If they have decided not to take the children we'll probably see a shorter tour with more engagements on each day. We're also likely to see more evening/gala appearances this time. Due to Prince George's schedule, William and Kate were eager to be back with him early in the evenings meaning, apart from a couple of evening receptions, the tour had a largely informal itinerary.

We should hear more details and snippets of information in the coming months.

************

We have a couple of news updates on items the Duchess has worn. Kate's much-loved Issa engagement dress - now renamed the 'Phylis' - is back in stock in UK sizes 8-14 at Harvey Nichols retailing for £575.

Harvey Nichols

The striking dress is available in 'chalk' at Shopbop. It is described as a "timeless ISSA dress styled with a plunging neckline and self-belt. Hidden side zip. Long sleeves. Unlined".

Shopbop

Net-A-Porter stock the dress in black-and-white silk-blend jersey, and as of writing it's available in several sizes.

Net-A-Porter

Finally, the Dune London 'Karley' Wedges - the replacement version of Kate's popular Imperia style - are currently on sale at Nordstrom reduced from $98 to $59. The slingback espadrilles come in black, cream, bronze and navy.

Nordstrom

We hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

A Royal Week in Balmoral, William and Kate's Landlady speaks, Orla Kiely, Max Mara, Matthew Williamson + More

Good evening Duchess Kate readers,

We have a mixed selection of updates to share tonight. William, Kate and George are reportedly still in Balmoral; the trio arrived by helicopter last Sunday and have been enjoying a relaxing break on the Scottish estate with senior royals. Yesterday, a couple of photos of William emerged showing the Prince driving a 4x4, accompanied by close friend Thomas van Straubenzee. Many will recall Prince William attended Mr. van Straubenzee and Lady Melissa Percy's wedding in June. The pair are very close friends.

Meanwhile, there hasn't been a sighting of Kate and George since they arrived in Scotland. It's quite cold at the moment (winter is very much beginning, we know this not only because of the cooler climate but Christmas stock is arriving in stores already).

Donald Stewart Photo Twitter Feed

British Royals noted New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key is currently visiting Balmoral.

British Royals Twitter Feed

There is a possibility William and Kate will join the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh for Sunday service at nearby church Crathie Kirk this morning. It will depend on whether or not the couple are in fact still there and, of course, on little George.

************

An interview with William and Kate's former landlady from their time at St. Andrews has surfaced offering some interesting insight into their time as students at St. Andrews University. Charlotte Smith spoke to iVillage about letting the Georgian style flat to Prince William, Kate and their friends Olivia Bleasdale and Fergus Boyd. Below we share a segment of the interview.

iVillage

Tell us about the flat

It’s a Victorian terrace built in the Georgian style so it's four storeys high. We had the top two storeys which consisted of a very large sitting and dining room. We had one big twin bedroom, two single bedrooms and two double bedrooms. I think we must have bought it in 1993. Our daughter was up at St Andrew’s so we bought it as a buy-to-let for her and her friends.

And how did Prince William and Kate Middleton come to choose your flat to live in?

Traditionally we only accepted female 4th years, and we’d always done the letting of the flat by word of mouth. We’d asked the tenants who were leaving whether they’d heard of any responsible students who would like to take it. As it happened, one of the girls said that they had got some responsible people but the thing was that two of them were young men. We’d had an unfortunate experience with some boys in the flat once before and we were determined not to have young men there again. So I’d said no, not really, we don’t want to do that.

When did you meet Prince William and Kate Middleton for the first time?

We arranged to meet Kate Middleton, Fergus and Olivia before they moved in but we thought we’d better not ask to see Prince William because we thought his credit rating must be quite good. But he insisted on meeting us. We happened to be up there doing a flat check and there he was suddenly, just out of the blue!

And was he friendly?

Very friendly, very charming, he came across as a thoroughly nice man.

And Kate?

She was very friendly. She had her younger brother there at the time, I think just visiting, and she was very caring, making sure that he knew what was going on. They came across as a very nice group of people.

Were they good tenants? Did they ever break anything?

"No, nothing at all. They were ideal. We tried to treat them like normal tenants and I think the town itself accepted Prince William as he was - he would walk into the shop, ride his bike.

The press got all sorts of weird ideas about where he was living and the sort of security he was supposed to have - we read one report where he was supposed to have steel walls which we know for a fact wasn’t the case! He really had a very normal student life up there."

The full interview can be read here!

************

Next, we take a look at Kate's 'go to' designers' offerings at Fashion Week. In our last post we looked at Temperley, Erdem and Jennny Packham; tonight we begin with Orla Kiely.

WWD

More from WWD:

'Inspired by generations of intrepid British travellers to Africa and India, and by the Girl Guides - Orla Kiely sent out a collection of sweet silhouettes with a military twist. There were cropped, dusty rose jackets with patch pockets and epaulets; navy blue coats with shiny gold buttons; and stiff raffa skirts with embroidered pockets.

Prints took their cue from the African savannah: Zebras, giraffes, rhinos and lions herded onto T-shirts, knits and flocked silk organza dresses with full skirts.'

Looking through the collection, one might find it difficult to imagine the Duchess in a number of the designs. Orla Kiely is renowned for her use of prints and incorporating them into her collections, not only clothing but her accessories range too. The styling is very youthful with models gracing the runway in berets and knee high socks; hemlines appear quite short too.

WWD

However, there are a number of lovely dresses I could see Kate wearing and accessorising quite well. The animal prints could work very well for the Duchess; the light and floaty dresses for example, could be potential choices for a royal tour. Kate has a talent for wearing clothing which looks quite plain in photos but she always pulls it off with elegance. For a visit to an Oxford school last year, she wore the Orla Kiely Birdie dress, not necessarily the most striking piece in photos, but it looked fantastic on Kate.

All three Middleton women are fans of the label, and I expect we'll see Kate in more Orla Kiely in the future. Below we look at four more styles from the collection.

WWD

The Duchess has became quite the fan of Max Mara over the past year. We're gradually seeing her incorporate new labels into her wardrobe and I think the brand could become a firm favourite for Kate moving forward. I've always loved Max Mara coats, and each year they offer a selection of feminine, ladylike yet wearable outerwear garments. How did they fare with their spring collection? Take a look...

Max Mara

There were an abundance of neutral shades on display, off whites, pearl beige and pearl grey. The tailoring looks impeccable on a number of the garments, and it's a dressy collection with plenty of elements to like. Having said that, I was somewhat underwhelmed by the collection; perhaps more colour and variety would have made it more favourable. What do you think?

WWD

Finally, we look at four styles from Matthew Williamson's collection. Again, plenty of possibilities for the Cambridges reported tour of Australia next spring.

Matthew Williamson

************

Two of Kate's more popular coats are back in stock at the moment. With thanks to those of you who shared  information that Kate's M Missoni Lurex Trim Tweed Coat is available in limited sizes at Loehmann's. The coat is currently reduced from $835 to $399.

Loehmanns

Kate's Temperley Odele Sheepskin Coat is also back in stock at the moment. The garment is feminine and sharp with a nipped in waist. Leather trim and gold metal hardware complete the look. Kate has worn the piece several times, whilst walking Lupo and for various shopping trips.

Sandra Stahel/What Kate Wore FB/ @Chayo_1985 Instagram

It's certainly an investment piece, retailing for a whopping €2,720.

Temperley

************

A quick reminder for UK readers, Series 4 of Downton Abbey premières tonight at 9 pm on ITV. I'm ridiculously excited about the return of the show and seeing the direction it's going to take. One notable addition to the cast will be Lady Mary's son George. Actress Michelle Dockery jokingly addresses rumours the royal couple took inspiration from her on screen son's name:

'The day we saw the headlines with the name of the Prince was an amazing moment. I couldn't believe it at first, but the royal couple are fans of the show, so who knows...'

The show returns to the US in January.

ITV

Speaking of Prince George, William and Kate have applied for his baby passport. It is thought the proud parents plan to take him with them on a tour of Australia and New Zealand next year.

Until next time, have a great weekend :)