September always carries a whiff of big things to come – sharpened pencils, polished shoes, box-fresh uniform and all that. Right on cue, the Princess of Wales has gone back to school with a visit to Marina Mill in Kent, the family-run textile mill known for its intricately hand-printed fabrics, and where she was given a lesson in silk screen techniques today.
After a tour of the textile-lined shelves and racks of silk screens, Kate rolled up her sleeves and got to work, silk-screening the final layer of one of the floral designs sold at interiors shops up and down the country.
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Kate returned to a trusted favourite for the occasion, the understated suit – and in an altogether appropriate Prince of Wales check. Taking care to rep British fashion, she paired her grey Bella Freud tailoring with a simple black Boden sweater. With the addition of Stuart Weitzman suede heels and a necklace strung with the initials of her three children, this was a grown-up take on uniform dressing.
Karwai Tang
Lately, Kate’s off-duty wardrobe has leaned more casual (skinny jeans, the occasional Barbour jacket), but her penchant for plaid remains. Earlier this week, she wore a checked Alessandra Rich dress, which had a similar back-to-school spirit to today’s smart suiting.