The Princess of Wales stepped out today in yet another pantsuit—this time, forest green Burberry, a rewear, and, for those counting, her seventh in a row—for an engagement at a textile factory, AW Hainsworth, in Leeds. (Kate’s green suit was bespoke, but we found the blazer in a grey colorway; she is believed to be wearing her Holland Cooper bodysuit.) Widely celebrated as a global fashion icon—particularly for British brands—Kate “spent the day learning more about the heritage and innovation in an industry that plays such a high-profile role in Britain,” People reports.
AW Hainsworth is a family-owned heritage textile mill, and Kate has familial connections to it, as a matter of fact—People reports that “her paternal ancestors were owners of a local woolen manufacturer and merchant William Lupton and Co., which was sold to AW Hainsworth in 1958.” Kate’s great-grandfather Noel Middleton was a director of the company; Noel was married to Olive Lupton in 1914, and they had three sons, including Peter Middleton, Kate’s grandfather and the father of her father, Michael.
AW Hainsworth’s fabrics have a deep connection to the royal family: the fabrics were used during both the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953 and King Charles this past May; it also creates the bright scarlet fabric that’s the mainstay of the ceremonial uniform of the Buckingham Palace guards.
In a show of her appreciation for fashion and how it is created, Kate stayed at least 30 minutes longer than expected at the engagement, before heading off to another textile manufacturer, Standfast & Barracks, in Lancaster. While still at AW Hainsworth, per The Daily Mail, Kate shared that she “loves the feel and smell” of freshly-woven fabric; she also had a minor wardrobe malfunction, The Mirror reports—“just after she got out of her car…one of her trouser legs had become stuck inside her shoes,” the outlet reports. “Luckily for Kate, she quickly noticed and expertly balanced on one leg while she pulled the trouser straight so it [would] then lay over her heels perfectly.” A fashion pro, indeed.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more.
-
Hilary Duff Welcomes 3rd Child With Husband Matthew Koma
Townes is her fourth child overall.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Upgrade Your Vacation Wardrobe With Summer Staples From Shopbop and Nordstrom Rack
Next stop: The airport.
By Julia Marzovilla Published
-
Well, Netflix’s ‘The Crown’ Might Not Be Completely Done After All
The success of ‘Scoop’ is reportedly prompting the streaming giant’s bosses to bring ‘The Crown’ back in a new, interesting form after the show concluded last year.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Princess Kate Refuses to Be Anything But “Resolutely Cheerful” Around Her Kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, Royal Author Says
More than ever, as she receives treatment for cancer, the hope is to “keep the prevailing mood as upbeat as possible.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Kate Middleton Omitted This Word from Her Wedding Vows to Prince William So That, From the Start, They Would Be Seen as Equals
Her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, had broken tradition and done the same in her own vows to Prince Charles 30 years prior.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince William “Has Never Been More Protective” of Princess Kate Than He Is Now—and Will “Make Sure She’s Spoiled” on Their Anniversary Today
To mark 13 years since their royal wedding, the couple released a never-before-seen photo from the big day.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Former Royal Butler Describes What It Was Like to Work for Princess Kate
“I’m really grateful for all those memories.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Princess Kate Makes History with New Appointment from Father-in-Law King Charles
The two have grown especially close in recent months as both undergo treatment for cancer.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis “Are Following Some New Rules” at Home to Help Make Life Easier for Princess Kate
As their mother receives treatment for cancer, the Wales trio is reportedly pitching in and taking on some extra chores around the house.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince William Single-Handedly Planned His and Kate Middleton’s Romantic Honeymoon
Kate had no idea where they were headed on their two week luxurious break from reality until after their 2011 wedding.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Princess Kate Reportedly Carries These Four Items in Her Enviable Collection of Handbags
Guarantee we all carry at least one of these items in our own, as well.
By Rachel Burchfield Published