The Princess Mixes Old and New Styles for Baby Bank Visit

The Princess mixed old and new styles for a baby bank visit today. 

Her engagement was at Sebby’s Corner, north of London. The baby bank has supported more than 5,000 families since it opened in January 2021.

In this photo, you see the Princess with Sebby’s Corner founder Bianca Sakol (center) and Emma Parker (left), the operations manager.

One of the reasons she visited the baby bank was to kickstart an initiative from The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to support families with young children in the run-up to Christmas—more from this Telegraph story by Hannah Furness and Victoria Ward. 

The Princess warned of the “desperate” times that families faced in the run-up to Christmas and expressed concern that the country’s 250 baby banks were a “hidden” resource and should be “more visible”.

She visited the charity….as she sought to encourage members of the public to donate funds, products and pre-loved items, or to volunteer their time to support their local baby banks.

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And from a piece in the Telegraph and Argus.

Speaking to members of the newly formed Baby Bank Alliance, Kate said: “The work going on here is so essential… you are such a lifeline in so many ways, but you’re also hidden.

“We need to be able to normalise this and make this more visible.”

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The Princess spent time speaking with a mother helped by Sebby’s Corner.
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More on that conversation via this Sky News article. 

The woman, called Jennifer, told Kate she had cried the first time she visited the centre. She said: “There is a stigma but… sometimes we don’t realise how much we need help.

“I’m just so thankful for this incredible support. That stress has been taken away.”

The Princess met volunteers and staff, as well as representatives from the Baby Bank Alliance. In this photo, you also see Shaping Us champion Giovanna Fletcher (emerald green dress).

Ms. Fletcher is an author and podcast host. Some readers may recall the Princess recorded a podcast episode with Ms. Fletcher in 2020.

While at the baby bank, the Princess helped restock the Sebby’s Corner Christmas pop-up shop. 
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More from a Sebby’s Corner post about today’s visit. 

This unique shop allows parents to choose gifts for their children but at no cost so they can experience Christmas and receive gifts that they otherwise might not. We are expecting to give out over 4,000 new gifts to families in need in the coming weeks. 

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In this photo, you see the Princess and Ms. Fletcher holding softcover books, some of the fifty copies of The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark ($7.99) donated by the Princess today.

The children’s book is said to be a favorite of all three Wales children, and Sky News reports, “As the princess and Giovanna put the books she had brought on the shelves, Kate said: ‘It’s one of the books I enjoy reading with the children.’”.

As part of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week in 2022, the Princess read the book as a CBeebies Bedtime Story.

A Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood post notes, “The Princess joined a conversation with representatives from Baby Banks from across the UK to discuss the increasing demand on their services. There are more than 200 baby banks around the country, all of which are currently seeing rising demand for their services.” Below, the Princess with some of those representatives.

We return to the Telegraph piece; the quotes are from the Princess. 

“Every child should have the basic essentials,” the mother of three told volunteers.

“The baby banks need to be in the community. They are a real lifeline for people facing poverty.

“We need to normalise it and make it more visible, put them where families and children are.”

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Now for our review of what Kate wore, beginning with her coat. It very much looks like the ‘Ezor’ by Sportmax, with the exception of the pocket flaps, which are not visible in photos from today. It’s possible they were tucked into the pockets, or that she had the pockets done in a welted style.

This past-season design is made of 95% virgin wool and 5% cashmere in a felted weave. The single-breasted style features a fitted, darted bodice, broad notched lapels, a deep back vent, self-belt, and the flap pockets. There is also a closely spaced row of tortoise buttons. An almost identical style, minus the belt, is available at LN-CC (£423, roughly $535). Thank you to Regal Monarchist via Middleton Maven for this ID.

Today’s skirt appears to be the Flippy Suede Skirt ($575) by longtime favored brand Really Wild. It is 100% suede with a tiered panel and concealed back zipper. Thanks to Danielle for this ID; the information also comes via Middleton Maven.

I don’t yet have a positive ID on the turtleneck. 

The Princess brought back her black bespoke Gianvito Rossi boots. The closest style to her pair remains the Glen ($1750), but it lacks the sharp pointed toe seen in her pair.

We saw the return of the black Polo Ralph Lauren Crocodile-Stamped Leather Belt ($168). The belt is 1.75″ (45 mm) wide with a double-prong brass buckle.

The Princess wore her hair down today. 

She accessorized with a familiar pair of earrings, the Rhodochrosite Gold Mini Pyramid Charm Hoops ($92 on sale, usually $115) by Missoma.

VIDEOS: 

The Royal Family Channel’s coverage runs just more than a minute. 

Richard Palmer of The Express shared several videos on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/RoyalReporter/status/1728021569467768850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener

 

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Here are some of the Black Friday deals on brands and items with a connection to the Princess. I am including those from Wednesday’s post, for those who may not have seen that content.

Missoma is offering “up to 40% off”, including the Mini Pyramid Charm Pink Rhodochrosite earrings worn today (on sale for $92, usually $115) and the Zenyu Chandelier earrings (now $144, normally $180). 

Strathberry is taking 25% off everything, including the Multrees Chain Wallet (on sale for $319, regularly $425) in the navy color carried by the Princess.

DeMellier London has 20% off its entire site. This includes the Princess’s Nano Montreal in Navy Smooth and Deep Toffee Smooth, bringing the price down to $360 from $450. 

Aspinal of London is offering the Princess’s Midi Mayfair Handbag (usually $790, on sale for $635) in both “deep shine black croc” and “deep shine lavender croc.”

Monica Vinader is doing 30% off the entire site as well as daily flash sales. This makes the Siren Wire Drop Earrings £87.50 instead of £125 (roughly $150 down to $110). The Nura Baroque Pearl Pendant is also 30% off at Monica Vinader. The earrings are also available on sale at John Lewis and at Selfridge’s and John Lewis has the Nura Baroque Pearl Necklace at £87.50.

At Soru, jewelry is 30% off. This includes the Ruby Drop Earrings (normally $194, now $136) and the Baroque Pearl Double-Sided Earrings (also regularly $194, now $136).

Orelia is offering 25% off, making the Chain Huggie Hoop Earrings $18 instead of $24. 

At Catherine Zoraida Many items are 30% off, including the Double Leaf Earrings (now $135, normally $195); the Fern Hoop Earrings (currently $145, usually $210); the Spread Your Wings bracelet (regularly priced at $555, now $390).

Annoushka offers 20% off almost everything, including the Eclipse Eternity Ring (priced at $1520 on sale, typically $1900), but not the Baroque Pearl Drops ($480) worn by the Princess.

Sorel is offering 25% off the Tivoli IV boots (now $109 from $145). It is also this price at Dick’s Sporting Goods and DSW (use promo code BLACKFRIDAY).

Hobbs is offering 25% off everything on the US site and 20% off everything on the UK site. The Hobbs’ Lara’ Merino Wool Roll Neck Sweater in the ‘granita pink’ colorway worn by the Princess is included in the sale (now $93.75, normally $160).

The Hobbs Tilda Wool Coat worn by the Princess is available in a mix of colors and sizes; red, green, and navy are almost 50% off, priced at $315 (usually $600). Black and camel are $506 (discounted from $675).

At Reiss, the offer is 25% off full-price merchandise; no promo code is needed. This brings a current version of the Larsson Blazer to $386 from $515. (The Princess’s color is a shade lighter than the product I linked to; it is no longer available at Reiss.) The Larsson in the original color is available in limited sizes at Bloomingdale’s, now $390 from $520.

LK Bennett is offering 30% off everything. This includes the Fern heels (from $375 to $262, limited sizes) and the Floret pumps (also $262 from $375). 

 

At Cornelia James, all online orders receive a 15% discount. This includes the Imogen (usually $174, on sale at $148) and Alice (normally $218, $185 with the discount). The Superga Cotu Classic is on sale at Zappos for $60 in very limited sizes. In previous years, it has been discounted at many retailers, but not this year.

Bobbi Brown, the cosmetics brand the Princess wore on her wedding day, is offering 30% off sitewide. 

 

Other retailers/offers:

• Boden’s site offers 40% off ‘select full-price styles,’ and 20% off everything else with promo code E3N4.
• J. Crew is offering ‘up to 50% off everything’ (no promo code needed) and an additional 60% off sale merchandise with promo code FRIDAY.
• Net-a-Porter’s discount arm, The Outnet, offers 25% off everything with promo code BLACKFRIDAY. There are loads of brands worn by the Princes, including Gianvito Rossi,  Alexander McQueen, and Jimmy Choo, as well as the Outnet’s own brand, Iris & Ink.
• Really Wild is offering “up to 60% merchandise.”
• Seraphine is also in the 30% off everything zone.
• Beauty retailers Ulta and Sephora are both offering a variety of deals.