Last month, Kate Middleton took her three children to volunteer at The Baby Bank in Maidenhead.
The Princess sported a casual look for the engagement, wearing a roll neck jumper by Reiss, paired with black jeans and her See by Chloé combat boots. The result? Elegant yet approachable. (Full outfit details can be found further down the page).
At the baby bank, George, Charlotte, Louis and Kate diligently sifted through piles of donated goods, carefully selecting toys and packing festive gift bags for children in need.
Filmmaker Will Warr captured the visit on video, which Kensington Palace shared to their social media account on Monday evening. You can watch the full footage below:
The video opens with a touching scene, Kate explaining to her children that lots of people volunteer their time at this baby bank, and this evening, they’ll be doing the same.
George, Charlotte, and Louis enthusiastically took on the task of choosing items that they would enjoy themselves, filling bags with toys and outfits for other children. Little Louis excitedly selects a King Kong toy, exclaiming, “this is a big guy!”
Princess Charlotte mulls over adding a toy to her bag, contemplating whether or not a child her age might like it:
In an endearing exchange, Kate and Charlotte coo over a baby’s bodysuit decorated with Welsh dragons.
The young Princess is visibly excited to find a babygro printed with Welsh dragons:
She holds it up to show somebody off camera:
This visit was more than a charitable act; it was an opportunity for Kate to instil the values of empathy and community service in her young children. Throughout the visit, the Princess emphasised the importance of helping others.
You can see how rewarding this kind of work is, knowing that you’re helping out others
The Princess of Wales
The visit came off the back of a promise Kate made back in April at an engagement with the Holyport branch of The Baby Bank. The royal mother mentioned to a volunteer that she’d like to return with her children.
At the time, she joked about bringing only the ‘helpful’ children though, likely referencing George and Charlotte.
In Maidenhead, all three children were enthusiastic and eager to help, and George expressed a desire to return soon.
While it was a joy to see the children volunteering, the video also conveyed an important message about child poverty in the UK. Did you know that a quarter of under-fives live in poverty?
Baby banks serve as a vital resource for these families, offering essential support that can be life-changing.
During the video, a volunteer informed Kate that this is the fifth year the Maidenhead branch of The Baby Bank have packed Christmas gift bags for families—they’ve packed over 1,500 bags to date.
The video concluded with the young royals carrying their gift bags downstairs, ready to be distributed, alongside a message directing viewers to the Royal Foundation Centre For Early Childhood website whether they’re seeking help this Christmas, or wish to contribute.
The website details Kate and the Centre’s campaign to deliver essential goods to families through baby banks this Christmas, complete with a map of locations across the UK.
Established in 2015 by two mothers, The Baby Bank plays a crucial role in supporting families facing financial hardship across Berkshire. The charity provides a range of essential items for children up to 16 years of age across the county. Their work, especially significant during the festive season, has supported approximately 7,000 families this year.
Since its opening, The Baby Bank has supported more than 20,000+ individuals in total, and have seen a year-on-year increase in referrals. The charity is just one of many baby bank organisations across the UK.
The Princess’s involvement with The Baby Bank and other baby bank charities highlights her ongoing commitment to children and families. Her work in this area started around the time of the pandemic, following private visits to the Baby Basics charity in Norfolk (below). Kate saw the organisation’s vital work firsthand and used her connections to persuade 19 UK retailers to donate over 10,000 items to baby banks across the UK.
Since, Kate’s publicly visited a handful of baby banks each year, continuing to highlight their vital work.
Kate’s involvement with baby banks is closely aligned with her focus on the early years, her work with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood and her desire to emphasise the significance of the first five years of life in shaping future outcomes.
Let’s move on to our style section now, and look at Kate’s casual ensemble.
Kate’s casual outfit:
The Princess chose a polished, but not overly formal look that aligned with the down-to-earth nature of the public engagement. The result was relaxed and approachable, yet elegant.
The Princess’s rollneck jumper is from Reiss. The wool-cashmere garment features a relaxed fit and a modern silhouette in a neutral hue.
It has a ribbed neck, elongated ribbed cuffs, a ribbed hem and splits at the side. (Found by Middleton Maven). The piece is a hallmark example of understated luxury and comfort.
While seemingly simple, the jumper has a versatility that makes it a staple for any wardrobe. Wear with jeans and boots for an easy-to-throw on ensemble, or pair with white wide-leg trousers, a longline coat in a contrasting colour and beige sneakers for an elevated weekend look.
Find the cream version worn by Kate at Reiss.com for £158 / $265. It also comes in four other colours: camel, orange, navy and camel/charcoal colourblock.
Other stockists include Bloomingdales, Selfridges, Fenwick’s, Jarrolds and John Lewis.
Kate’s worn Reiss frequently during her time in the spotlight. In fact, the Princess famously chose a white dress from the brand for her engagement portrait with Prince William in 2010.
Reiss, a quintessentially British brand, has carved a unique niche in the world of fashion since its inception in 1971 by David Reiss. Initially, the brand focused on men’s tailoring, but it swiftly expanded to include women’s wear, gaining acclaim for its sophisticated and contemporary designs. Reiss is synonymous with effortless elegance, blending classic style with a modern edge. The brand’s aesthetic is characterised by clean lines, quality fabrics, and a muted colour palette, appealing to those who favour a refined and understated look.
The Princess paired the white sweater with jeans, which offered a sleek contrast. Unfortunately, I cannot give you any details on the exact pair she’s wearing.
I can tell you about her combat boots though, they’re from See by Chloé. Kate’s worn them a dozen times to public engagements since their debut in 2019.
The boots feature a lace-up design, which is both functional for an adjustable fit and adds an element of edgy style. The robust, chunky sole adds to the boots’ durability and comfort for wear in various settings. They’re crafted from a rich brown suede.
The brown boots add an element of ruggedness and practicality to Kate’s outfit. They’re contemporary, while also comfortable and sturdy—likely a thoughtful consideration given the nature of the visit.
The combat boots retailed for $445 at Net-A-Porter.com and C$210 at 24s.com. Sadly, they’re no longer available to purchase.
Try Dubarry’s Strokestown or Barbour’s Heidi if you’re looking for a similar ankle boot (both pictured below).
Alternatively, click to shop current season See by Chloé boots.
See by Chloé is not one of Kate’s go-to labels. We’ve only spotted her wearing one other item from the brand to date, a cream dress from the company’s Fall 2016 line.
See is a diffusion line by French luxury brand Chloé. It was launched over 20 years ago under the creative direction of Stella McCartney. Net-A-Porter describes See by Chloé as “the hip girl’s answer to idiosyncratic cool.”
Finally, it looks like Kate finished her look with a pair of earrings from the British high street brand, Accessorize.
They’re a pair of hoop earrings that feature a molten coin and pearl charm. We first spotted the Princess wearing the earrings in a short clip released to promote the Together At Christmas Carol Service in 2022. Since, she’s worn them a handful of times in public.
The earrings sold for £8 at Accessorize.com before receiving a hefty 60% discount and retailing for £2.40. They’re no longer available to buy, sadly.
Last time I counted, Accessorize were Kate’s third most-worn earring brand. We’ve spotted the Princess wearing seven different pairs of earrings from the affordable British high street brand.
Accessorize, a British accessory label, is renowned for its vibrant, eclectic mix of products, which span from jewellery to handbags and everything in between. Launched in 1984 by Peter Simon following the success of his Monsoon clothing line, Accessorize has established itself as a go-to for affordable, on-trend pieces. The brand’s aesthetic is a celebration of global influences, often incorporating bohemian, tribal, and handcrafted touches into its designs.
