Kate Middleton's Outfit for Her First Public Appearance Had a Special Meaning
Sporty Spice but make it sentimental.
Kate Middleton has been out of the spotlight since January as she recovers from her "planned abdominal surgery" earlier this year. There's no doubt, however, that during Middleton's hiatus, the public has sorely missed her unparalleled sense of fashion and regal OOTDs. So, when the princess was spotted over the weekend doing a little retail therapy with her husband, Prince William, of course, eagle-eyed royal fans were quick to identify her laid-back, cool-girl 'fit.
On Saturday, the princess and her husband were seen at the Windsor Farm Shop (just down the road from their Berkshire home) following a morning of sports with their kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. For the occasion, Middleton kept things uncharacteristically casual in a black Umbro sweatshirt with a vibrant orange zipper sleeve detailing. Despite the low-key nature of the look, Middleton stayed true to the royal's longtime tradition of incorporating meaningful details into their ensembles with a sentimental quarter-zip that paid tribute to one of her patronages, the Rugby Football Union, which is reflected in the black rose logo printed along her chest.
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According to the Royal Fashion Police Instagram account, Middleton wore the Men's England Rugby Icon Hoodie in Black/Orange, which retails for $72. She paired the hoodie with coordinating black leggings, crew socks, and black sneakers. In the video obtained by TMZ, the Prince and Princess of Wales can be seen exiting the store with bags in their hands and smiles on their faces.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have reportedly been "trying to keep things as normal as possible" amid the ongoing speculation surrounding her recovery, according to The Sunday Times. “Social media has provided the media with plenty of content, and the speculation around their marriage is just cruel," a friend told the outlet. "These are people with three small children going through the hardest time they’ve had to go through as a family, with that as an awful backdrop. They are trying to keep things as normal as possible for the kids, but it’s not easy.”
The publication added that the couple is aware of the rumors, but William's main priority is the safety of Middleton and their three kids. “William has always made it clear he wants to shield his family and friends from the madness of some media where he can," another insider said. "He is approaching this from his desire to protect Kate and his family and not get drawn into the media and social media craziness. Kate is smart, tough, resilient, and has good common sense. They will keep their cool heads over it."
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