Kate Visits the UCL Development Neuroscience Lab

"Hey, guys! I'm just here to tell you that I love brains!" (She does presumably find brains interesting, but she's actually there to learn about work the neuroscience lab is doing to figure out how early life experiences effect people's brains. There's more about this in the body of the post. It's really interesting!)

Kate in Paula Ke

This outift is an old fave of Kate's -- this is at least the third time she's worn it -- and I love her for going back to such a short skirt. (I do not, obviously, think it's inappropriate, especially given her use of tights.) I do think the cropped blazer feels a little dated right at this moment in fashion?

Meghan visits Hubb Community Kitchen (in Club Monaco)

It's burgundy dresses/black tights/ponytail day for the duchesses! (BOTH of these events were embargoed so I didn't know they were happening; please, think of the bloggers, ladies.) I feel so close to them, as I too am sporting a ponytail today.

This is a new look for Meghan, from her old fave Club Monaco -- the coat is Club Monaco (and on sale!), and the dress is ALSO Club Monaco. (The booties are Givenchy, and they are both very cute and half-price right now, though not cheap.) It's cute! It's super reasonable for a pregnant lady. (I also like to think that they each saw each other getting into their respective cars this morning and were like, "nice outfit!")

Meghan

Let's turn to Informative Caption here, as Meghan embraces Zahira Sufyaan, who is the Hubb Community Kitchen co-coordinator : "The Duchess of Sussex will visit the Hubb Community Kitchen to see how the funds raised by Together: Our Community Cookbook are already making a difference. Supported by The Royal Foundation and published by Penguin Random House companies, Together features over 50 recipes from women whose community was affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. The Duchess, who has made regular private visits to the kitchen since January 2018, will meet the women as they prepare fresh meals for the local community in the newly renovated kitchen. The women will be preparing 200 meals in just one day, to be delivered to local groups, including elderly people's homes, homeless shelters and women's refuges." That's all excellent (And very Thanksgiving appropriate for an American far from home this week.)

Meghan Visits the Hubb Community Kitchen

I just want to note that I bought Together, the cookbook, and it's excellent. It's really beautiful. (And obviously a great cause.) These women should be hugely proud of what a success it's been.

Meghan Visits Hubb Community Kitchen

Meghan, you are making me feel guilty that I am typing and not prepping for tomorrow. I have to go back out to the store AGAIN because I forgot to buy ice cream. WHY do I always have to go to the store like 5 times in the three days before Thanksgiving? WHY. 

Meghan Visits the Hubb Community Kitchen

Additionally, this is making me hungry.

Meghan Visits the Hubb Community Kitchen

Obviously, I don't know what the kitchen looked like prior to its renovation, but it looks fantastic now! Congrats, everyone!

Harry and Meghan

I just wanted to include this here because I missed it when we covered this event, and it's a cute pic.

Meghan and Harry

I think Harry is chatting with the performer inside this elephant, but it makes me laugh that he looks like he's loving on it the same way he loves on a variety of dogs/goats/sheep.

Wills at the "This Can Happen" Conference

"Kate and I have been practicing....JAZZ HANDS!!!" (In reality, per Information Caption, he's at a conference that "brings together hundreds of delegates from the UK and further afield to share best practice in multiple different mental health fields." Also maybe in jazz hands?)

Char and Al

This is an annual event at the Red Cross in Monaco and guess what? Monaco did THE MOST this week, bless them. Everyone here looks mildly glazed.

Charlene of Monaco, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Caroline of Hanover and Andrea Casiraghi

I appreciate how Charlene's black-and-white cookie gown is so perfectly bisected by her sash, but truly, Caroline is the star here. She has never looked better. 

Princess Charlene of Monaco

But Charlene looks AMAZING in this hat. (This is at "the Cathedral of Monaco, before a mass during the Monaco National Day Celebrations.") This whole look is like Beautiful Sad Rich Woman Is Very Tragic.

Princess Charlene of Monaco and Princess Caroline of Hanover

Charlene has been wearing a lot of voluminous items lately, and Caroline clearly just got a shipment from her bestie Karl Lagerfeld.

Princess Stephanie

I actually love this coat, but Steph's expression cracks me up. She looks SO PUT-UPON. 

Various Casiraghis

Okay, here we've got: Pierre Casiraghi, Beatrice Borromeo, Andrea Casiraghi, Tatiana Santo Domingo, and Princess Alexandra of Hanover at "the Army Parade, as part of the official celebrations marking the principality's National Day...The National Day of Monaco is also known as The Sovereign Prince's Day." EVERYONE here looks vaguely miserable. Personally, I just imagine that the palaces of Monaco are full of people screaming dramatically at all times.

Al and Char

I LOVE this hat on Charlene still. It's a GREAT Balcony Hat.

with the Twins!

Jacques and Gabriella continue to be sassy little noodles. Jacques brought his toy!

Princess Stephanie of Monaco, Louis Ducruet and Pauline Ducruet

They're arguing. (Steph seems CRANKY at this event.)

Monaco's National Day

I'm never going to complain about Pierre Casiraghi holding his baby, though.

Monaco National Day celebrations

Princess Caroline looks rather like she might be part of Princess Anne's Detective Squad in this hat, also.

French President Emmanuel Macron visit to Belgium

Meanwhile, in Belguim, Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte are visiting Mathilde and Philippe and the person sent to photograph it is like, "whatever with these people, LOOK AT THESE CHANDELIERS!!!"

Queen Mathilde of Belgium and Brigitte Trogneux

I hate Mathilde's beige accents, and this dress is like Handmaid's Tale But Make It Fashion on her, and yet I also love it? (Madame Macron looks v. chic, and I love her bag. I think the visiting French have inspired Mathilde to up her game a little bit.)

The Macrons, Philippe and Mathilde

"WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT CHANDELIERS!!!"

Queen Mathilde, Brigitte Trogneux

This honestly might be one of the best looks I've ever seen on Mathilde?

Emmanuel Macron and Mathilde

Oh, you French men! 

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde

This dress/cape hybrid on Mathilde is ALSO great. I'm telling you, the French inspire great work, sartorially, from the rest of us.

Queen Letizia

I hope Meghan's making note of this dress, as it would ALSO look great on her, and she loves A Random Flap of Fabric on her skirt.

Sophie Wessex

Good ol' Sophs looks a bit of a mess here. Can't someone help this woman with her umbrella?

Sophie Wessex

For those of you traditionally annoyed at Kate for wearing her coat inside, I present Sophie, in her coat AND her scarf AND her GLOVES!

Sophie Wessex

She did manage to disrobe once they put her to work, though.

80th anniversary of the Kindertransport

Here, "Prince Charles meets guest Dr Elizabeth Rosenthal, during a reception for the Association of Jewish Refugees in London, which marks the 80th anniversary of the Kindertransport...The Kindertransport brought some 10,000 mostly Jewish children aged between three -17 to safety from Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia and Poland in the lead up to The Second World War."   I looked Dr Rosenthal up, and  found this piece in The Jewish Chronicle from 2011, which was very interesting.  I didn't know that the Quakers were involved in getting Jews out of Nazi Germany, but that makes sense, obviously. This is a wonderful event; certainly, now more than ever, stories of refugees from hate and intolerance need a microphone. 

Prince Charles visit to The Royal Collage of Art

Charles also got to meet students at the Royal College of Art this week. These students are learning glass blowing! (I am obsessed with glass blowing.)

QEII

Here, Her Maj "views a model of the building as she visits the Royal Insitute of Chartered Surveyors," as it is their 150th anniversary. I like the idea that the Queen just loves tiny buildings.

Royals Round-Up, November 21st, 2018

Meghan and Kate BOTH came out today!