I know we haven’t made it to Thanksgiving yet (so I am holding off on Christmas music or décor), but today’s Monday Memory takes us back to December 15, 2015—Kate’s visit to the Anna Freud Centre’s Christmas party.
Kate recycled the Alexander McQueen dress she had worn for the Thames River Pageant in 2012. (That was the boat flotilla organized to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.) The piece was a bespoke version of a dress in McQueen’s line; Kate had hers made with sleeves and a boatneck.
You might also remember from back in that time that Kim Kardashian wore the off-the-rack version and there were lots of comparisons made between the two. I could not understand the media’s obsession with comparing the two woman, who are so radically different, but it was all the rage in 2012.
Anyway, Kate really loved this dress, because she wore it on two other occasions (that we know of), once to the family Christmas party at Buckingham Palace, and again to a reception with the late Queen Elizabeth. So this wear at the Anna Freud Centre Christmas party was actually the 4th public wear!
Around this time in 2015, Kate was recycling a bunch of pieces from 2012, which was very interesting to me. It made me wonder if she has closets by year and if she had dipped into the 2012 storage closet and was remembering all the pieces from that time period? Hard to say, but she had a pattern going, and she has done that again since—dipped back multiple times to pieces from the same period.
Kate carried her black Bayswater clutch from Mulberry and was wearing her Stuart Weitzman Power pumps. She added sparkle with her Kiki McDonough diamond leaf earrings.
My favorite for part of this event was this little boy. He was prominently pictured interacting with her during the party…
And when she went to leave, he came running out after her for a last wave goodbye. He had to be ushered back inside, just as Kate turned to give him a final wave. It was very sweet.
This was a memorable event. The dress was the perfect bright Christmas red for a party, and the pictures that resulted were so festive and bright.
Fabulous dress, wonderful occasion and Kate looked absolutely beautiful! I love her hair this shorter length - to me, it’s too much of a distraction when it’s longer. Kate’s interactions with children are always so joyous and heartwarming and the little boy was particularly delightful. Very incisive of you to suggest that the princess’s wardrobe could be organised by year - it makes a lot of sense. The comparisons between the princess and Kim Kardashian were unnecessary, but I know who I think wore it better 😉
I think Kate stole that little ones heart! So sweet. A memory he's not likely to ever forget. 🥰