On October 14, 2025, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service’s (NIFRS) new Learning and Development College in Cookstown, Northern Ireland. The college trains all NIFRS employees and provides opportunities for young people in Northern Ireland to train and become the next generation of firefighters. The couple also took part in a flood rescue drill, observing safely from the riverbank.
Afterwards, the Prince and Princess visited Mallon Linen, a flax farm in County Tyrone that is spearheading the revival of flax growing for linen as a model for sustainable farming systems. Helen Keys and Charlie Mallon have been growing flax on their farm since 2017, gradually putting in place farm-scale infrastructure to process the flax.
I'll write only about fashion aspects, not about how noble a cause is or how nice Catherine places her hand on William's back. So pure fashion related: the green coat is angular. Straight lines and sharp corners everywhere, no detail or a colour makes the eyes happy to meet them. The other, more casual outfit is somewhat better. - She would not want people focus on her outfits, OK, I understand an find it good. But instead, she makes us focus on all those curls overall, down to her waist ... to tell not *the*, but my truth: I find it distracting and ... not even attractive in this styling.
ReplyDeleteI have a few different opinions on some of the things you wrote but gees, I love how you described your thoughts! I particularly loved “not THE truth but my truth”! Very fair and well described! (I like her hair because it’s soft and feminine when the coat is so angular.)
DeleteI am the first to think she is lovely, but her hair is way too long
DeleteExactly the hair, yes it appears heathly, but it is not the hair of her youth, so shorten to shoulder length would frame her face so much nicer. And hair style is fashion.
DeleteIn my opinion, it is nice to see Catherine in a lovely coat, with her beautiful hair (it is her choice after all, whether people on this blog like it our not, it is her choice, and I personally like her long hair/curled or straight, up or down) and at a 2nd visit, in a more casual jacket. William is handsome as always.
DeleteLove the style of the long coat, as well as the jacket. Catherine is lovely, hair always beautiful. The couples love shines through, which is nice to see.
DeleteI wonder why Princess Catherine changed clothes to visit the farm ? Prince William didn't.
ReplyDeleteWhy? Because she was visiting a farm!
DeleteA long coat can easily get dirty when it rustles against the fence or against farm machinery or animals.
But most importantly: The hosts-farmers are in work clothes - windbreakers, work boots, jeans and Princess Catherine did not want to completely overshadow them. It is basic courtesy, to adapt (at least in style) to the hosts.
Not to mention that standing in elegant clothes in a stable or anywhere on a farm is ridiculous. Sometime in the summer, this site published a photo of Queen Mathilde of Belgium visiting a farm and she was standing in a stable in a silk skirt and blouse and high heels. It was simply ridiculous and inappropriate. British royal members always adapt to the circumstances.,
As for William: men's clothing is usually more universal, His semi-formal outfit was suitable for both a meeting with firefighters and a meeting with farmers.
Stephanie
Anonyme 18 : 17, elle n'a pas vraiment changé de tenue car elle a, sous son manteau, la même jupe, les mêmes bottes et le même pull.
DeleteEnsuite elle a simplement remplacé son manteau "de ville" par une veste "campagne".
Cela dit, je trouve ce manteau très strict et très rigide (couleur kaki, col haut et serré, poches à rabats, lignes surpiquées), cela donne un style quasi militaire. Choix voulu pour rendre visite à des pompiers.
Elle a déjà porté cette jupe et ces bottes en septembre lors de la venue de Melania Trump (activités avec des enfants).
Paloma.
@ Stephanie
DeleteYou cannot compare the "farm" Queen Mathilde visited which was clean and modern because they only made cheese. The stables where the cows stood had a clean floor and clean machinery. The shop where the cheese and other milk products were sold was also clean and the farmers were dressed in polo shirts and jeans and looked fresh. The farm Princess Catherine and Prince William are visiting looks old and muddy (pictures 7 & 8).
Calling Queen Mathilde ridiculous and inappropriate is showing no respect. By the way she was not wearing high heels that day but low kitten heels and a cotton skirt. Before writing your comments please do some research. Queen Mathilde is a busy queen and is visiting people and all kind of institutions in Belgium and abroad : hospitals, factories, governments, ministers, kings and queens. She is always dressed according the circumstances.
Les gestes affectueux entre couples, un plaisir pour la vue.
ReplyDelete-Astrid.
Couple *
ReplyDeleteHmmm not my favourite coat style, though the colour is good on her. Nice to see them dress in casual, more often.
ReplyDeleteThe second outfit is giving Maria straight from the abbey vibes. Drab colors, frumpy pieces, and the proportions are all wrong.
ReplyDeleteSignature British style
DeleteI like the coat - good strong color. But the jacket and too many layers appear overwhelming and imo not a good look. I agree the hair has gotten to be too much and distracting. If Catherine likes it - it's her hair and she can wear it to her knees. But that does not make it attractive. It makes the hair flat on top and tends to pull her face down.
ReplyDeleteAttractiveness is in the eye of the beholder of course. She clearly finds it so or wouldn’t keep it. I also think it’s very attractive.
DeleteUltra long coats like this one can be cumbersome and hazardous. They are a tripping hazard and make it difficult to go up and down stairs and in and out of cars. I guess Kate doesn't have to worry about those things but for the average person it would be an issue. I also don't like the breast pockets. They are unattractive and distracting. Her second outfit with the skirt and jacket are much more practical.
ReplyDeleteCatherine has worn this coat a few times. I’m not a fan of the tight collar,or the placement of the chest flaps.
ReplyDeleteWe agree to disagree on the subject of Catherine’s hair. For me it’s her lack of attention to detail. Why not wear it in a ponytail or a bun. It’s an outdoor event open to the elements,put your hair up and out your face. The longer she grows it the strangely it becomes.
The second outfit was the saving grace. Though the skirt seemed to engulf her.
I’m looking forward to hearing of the Wales’s foreign tour. I know Australia was mentioned a few weeks back.We know Catherine has been well enough to travel abroad on skiing holidays and Summer holidays,so thankfully we know she’s well enough to travel. So I have my fingers crossed for an announcement.
Lowri.
I like the colour of the coat and because the Princess of Wales is so slim, she looks great in this slimline style. Not keen on the second outfit. It’s too many dull colours
ReplyDeleteThe coat is quite lovely on her. Both the color and fit are great. I think her hair is beautifully styled and complements her face well.
ReplyDeleteRB
Perché continuare a parlare dei capelli di Kate?
ReplyDeletePenso che ora, alla fine di tutto spero per lei, raccontino la “sua” storia e rappresentino un forte messaggio, sono il suo segno distintivo.
Forza Kate ♥️
C'est la deuxième tenue qui a ma préférence ; elle a su combiner toutes les parties !
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