How Kate Middleton Gave a Fashion Tribute to British Health Care Workers

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales from England, paid a fashion salute to British health workers this week during an unannounced visit to members of the charity marking 75 years of the National Health Service (NHS).

On Tuesday, Kensington Palace said that Kate and Prince William attended a private NHS Big Tea party for staff and patients from across the UK in London. The royal couple helped set tables and iced cakes, then surprised guests who had not been told the couple would appear.

The prince and princess became patrons of the organization NHS Charities Together in 2020 and have made numerous visits to hospitals, treatment and training facilities over the last three years.

For the NHS Big Tea party, Kate paid for one of her signature style nods to the occasion by wearing a blue-and-white polka dot gown by her new favorite designer, Alessandra Rich.

The colors match those used by the NHS in its branding and logo, first revealed in the 1990s and have been synonymous with healthcare in England ever since.

The dress itself was first worn in public by Kate in 2022 during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II. Then the duchess wore the outfit a month later to attend the Wimbledon tennis championships in London.

The silk crepe de chine design decorated with pleats is a bespoke version made for Kate. It removes the bold slit at the back and features the crystal button detail seen on the ready-to-wear models, available for purchase.

Kate has worn a number of Alessandra Rich designs in the last 12 months. Recently, the princess unveiled a new dress from the designer with a monochrome polka dot print. It is worn for the Garter’s Day ceremony at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England, in June.

In 2022, Rich describes what it’s like to dress Kate, who has a hands-off approach when dealing with commissions. “We only knew she was wearing one of the dresses when we saw her in it – we were never told anything beforehand,” the designer told British newspapers. Daily Telegraph. “We didn’t ask and they didn’t say,

“Princess of Cambridge [as she then was] is such a style icon,” Rich added. “I could never say I wasn’t happy that she liked my clothes.”

Throughout her 12 years of marriage, Kate has developed a style of dress for formal occasions that often includes an aesthetic nod to the host of the event she attends.

This is often seen on official visits abroad. The princess will wear the colors associated with the flag of the country she represents somewhere on her dress. Most recently, Kate used this trick while dressing for her 2022 royal tour of the Caribbean with Prince William.

Kate’s fondness for honoring her hosts was taken from Queen Elizabeth II. Throughout her youth and beyond, the late king would often order evening gowns to include embroidery in the form of the national flower of the countries she visited. Elizabeth will also wear items of jewelery from the royal vault associated with the places she will be visiting.

During their time at this week’s NHS Big Tea party, William and Kate met a number of healthcare workers and patients featured in a new video released to mark the occasion.

In the video, the royal couple can be seen helping organize the party, which includes meeting the former emcee Great British Pastry Show and TV personality, Mel Giedroyc. At one point, William navigated the polarized British debate over whether jam or cream should be put in a scone first at high tea.

“I’m jam, then cream, because I think jam is heavier?” Giedroyc said, with Kate responding: “I always make jam and then cream.” To this, William said he only agreed with “whichever is closest to me!”

Once the scene was set, the royal couple then surprisingly entered to greet the party guests by singing “Happy Birthday” while presenting a special cake marking the 75th anniversary.

James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek London based royal reporter. You can find it on Twitter at @jrcrawfordsmith and read on the story Newsweek Royals Facebook page.

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