Wrap Up on the Wales' Boston Trip
Was it a success? And thoughts about Kate's wardrobe.
William and Kate wrapped up their three-day trip to Boston on Friday evening. The couple took an overnight flight back to the U.K. after the Earthshot Awards. They were home with George, Charlotte, and Louis in time to take the little ones to a Christmas fair at their Lambrook school on Saturday, according to The Times (of London).
During the couple’s trip, The New York Times ran a strange piece that has some questioning whether the royal visit was a success. Titled “Bostonians’ Take on the Royals’ Whirlwind Visit? Whatevah,” the article starts with a downbeat report:
Crowds had gathered at rain-swept City Hall Plaza to welcome Prince William and Princess Catherine of Wales, the photogenic royals who touched down on Wednesday for a whirlwind three-day tour.
So were patrons abuzz about the visit two miles away at Santarpio’s, a bare-bones bar and pizza joint, and East Boston institution?
“Not yet,” a bartender said dryly as he hustled crispy pizzas and plates of steaming sausage to a row of diners Wednesday night, his expression suggesting the likelihood of any buzz was quite low.
The primary thrust of the article seems to be that many locals were indifferent to or unaware of the royal visit. That is undoubtedly true, and yet does not mean the trip was not a success. William and Kate are not America’s royalty, and it stands to reason many Americans wouldn’t care much about their visit.
That’s all the more reason to note that the crowds the royals did draw were impressive and filled with very enthusiastic state-side fans. Everywhere the couple went, they were greeted with enthusiasm, and the press coverage—despite the Lady Susan debacle and the Netflix bomb—was flawless.
The reality is, although some Americans have sided with Meghan and Harry, the majority of royal fans in the United States are just that, royal fans. The monarchy and the monarchy’s primary royals remain the focus and favorites. Plus, Kate is still the massive international draw and super star she has been for well over a decade.
Despite the naysayers, America warmly welcomed the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their visit was a success by every metric.
The Fashion
I thought the Princess's wardrobe for this tour was wonderful, and it struck a nice balance between professional and royal. There is no doubt that Kate has been trending toward pant-suits for some years now. It is always interesting for me to watch how many DMs I get when Kate wears trousers. Most fans truly prefer her in skirts and dresses. This isn’t a huge shock. There is something more corporate and less royal about trousers. Royals aren’t just celebrities, and fans follow partly for that extra royal pomp.
I was thinking about this again this week, because my husband and I have been shopping for a stroller for when our baby arrives. I was showing him the Silver Cross models. I pulled up a picture of Kate with the custom/vintage Silver Cross pram at Sandringham for Charlotte’s baptism. It is similar to the brand’s Balmoral version. Obviously, we would never buy that pram. Extravagant cost aside, we would look ridiculous! But the vintage pram looked stunning and just right rolling along the walkway toward St. Mary Magdalene with the Duchess of Cambridge at the helm…because Kate and William and their little babies are royals. Their clothes and accessories can be and often are a little different from our own.
So I do think there is a fan bias toward dresses and skirts. That said, the occasional pant-suit can be sleek and chic. I am not opposed to Kate wearing trousers just because she is royal, but I agree with those who don’t want it to be her uniform. Perhaps this is one reason I didn’t mind the trousers so much on this trip. Unlike a trip to a Commonwealth country, William and Kate were in America as honored guests, not as the country’s royal family. It was a little more business and a little less royal.
I will also say that Kate hit it out of the park with these particular pant-suits. She arrived in a beautifully tailored McQueen and her second suit on Day 2 (the maroon one pictured below) was Roland Mouret. The fit on that suit was exquisite. When Kate first started getting into pant-suits, they didn’t always fit all that well, but she has been debuting much better fits of late.
I was delighted to see Kate mix in the dresses at the end of Day 1 and on Day 2. Her Gabriela Hearst separates under McQueen coat added a punch of color to her chilly visit to Piers Park (above). The houndstooth Emilia Wickstead on Day 3 (below) was gorgeous. It looked a little hard to walk in, but she hasn’t favored that slim of a cut in years…and she looked fabulous.
Finally, her finale ensemble—the lime green dress from Solace London—was quite the showstopper. As everyone knows, the dress was rented, but I do have to wonder if it was also tailored for her. Kate has a model figure, but it fit so, so perfectly. Adding the choker made famous in our modern era by Diana, Princess of Wales, was the ultimate royal power move.
Harry and Meghan’s Netflix trailer was undoubtedly a declaration of all out war—even if, as we have discussed, the Sussexes might have wanted to call off the assault before it took place. In some ways, this trip couldn’t have come at a better time. As the Sussexes announced their show, William and Kate were on full and glittering display, pressing forward with their royal roles. It was a stark reminder of the difference between the two couples.