Does Fashion Overshadow Kate's Work?

And Kate prepares to launch a new early years project this coming week as Harry goes to court over his visa issues

Kate returning to the hospital where she received her cancer treatments, Royal Marsden. Getty.

Happy Sunday evening!! It’s been a weekend full of Kate news, which is always welcome and exciting. Kate’s Centre for Early Childhood released a report, titled The Shaping Us Framework, which identifies the most important social and emotional skills needed for lifelong success. And how we can help babies and children develop them, why they matter most as children develop into adults, taking on the challenges of life. Along with the report, came news that Kate will be launching the first project based on the findings of this report this coming week. It’s not been released yet, what exact day Kate will be launching the project, but it will be in the next few days.

Among this news and obviously deeply related to it, Kensington Palace has announced that it will no longer be releasing details of Kate’s clothing because the emphasis should be on the “substance rather than the style” of her work. A palace source shared this with The Times, “There’s an absolute feeling that it (her public work) is not about what the princess is wearing. She wants the focus to be on the really important issues, the people and the causes she is spotlighting. There will always be an appreciation of what the princess is wearing from some of the public and she gets that. But do we need to be officially always saying what she is wearing? No. The style is there but it’s about the substance.” The Times noted that Buckingham Palace “routinely” releases the details of what Camilla is wearing at her public engagements. I did not take this as a dig at Camilla, simply that releasing information about royal ladies’ clothing is a standard practice and not one reserved just for Kate. Although, clearly Kate’s fashion is the most popular out of any royal lady – worldwide.

This is not the first time Kensington Palace has stated this intention. Back in 2022/2023, this was also released as a new position the palace would be taking. However, that practice did not last long at that time. The Times also noted the palace will continue to release details on Kate’s clothing and accessories for “significant outfits” and “jewelry worn by the princess for the most important family and state events”. It is not a complete blackout on official confirmation of her clothing.

This whole discussion around Kate’s clothing reminded me this weekend of a very strong memory I have from Diana’s death. I was young and trying to make sense of the world then. I distinctly remember Peter Jennings cuttingly discussing Diana, focusing on her fashion and clothing, with little to no emphasis on her accomplishments as a humanitarian, especially in her work around AIDS and land mines. I remember being livid (no, that’s not too strong of a word) hearing him speak. Other men too, had that perspective in the media about her. However, not all. I remember Brian Williams being stunned by her death and honoring her as he spoke about all she did and meant to this world, in the sweetest way. It was a hard lesson for me, to see how a woman, I respected so much for how she was changing the world, be cut down in death by these men. Men who, if she were still alive, would be clamoring for an interview or to be seated next to her at a gala.