The Princess of Wales chose neutral separates for today’s visit to the Vsi Razom Community Hub.
A quick video as the Princess arrived at the previously unannounced engagement.
The moment the Princess arrived at The Lexicon pic.twitter.com/GZrO4yvy5C
— Olivia Endellion Mowl (@OliviaMowlE) October 4, 2023
Vsi Razom means “all together” in Ukrainian. The hub opened a year ago today in a shopping mall in Bracknell, west of London. The organization supports those impacted by the war in Ukraine.
It also offers a safe, warm place for Ukrainians living in the area. 
Her office contacted the founders of Vsi Razom, which means All Together in Ukrainian, to ask if she could come and see the work they were doing.
‘I thought it was someone joking,’ said Natalia Vil, who co-founded the hub with Ashleigh Toomey to help people back in Ukraine.
Natalia, 40, who is Estonian, is married to a Ukrainian and the couple came to Britain 25 years ago, settling in Bracknell.
When the war broke out they began collecting aid for the people resisting the invasion and Ashleigh, 39, who is British and has no connection with Ukraine, offered to help. Since then they have sent six lorries and countless cars and vans full of aid.
The Princess asked questions about the donations received by the center as she helped pack boxes. She was told the most critical contributions were items needed for survival. 
She also spoke with young Ukrainians who have moved to the UK in the last year about their experiences and how they are adjusting to life in the UK.
A message the Princess wrote on one of the boxes. The packages will be transported to Ukraine, with contents distributed to those directly affected by the conflict in the country.
She heard from volunteers about the services the hub offers and helped make blue and yellow ribbons that will be sold for the war effort. 
We return to the Daily Mail article.
Kate had a go at tying two strips of ribbon up into a bow and made a decent fist of it despite modestly declaring: ‘I’m not sure you’re going to be able to sell this one.’
She proudly pinned one of the ribbons to her chest and was then given another yellow and blue emblem cut into the shape of an angel. ‘I’ll have to try making one of these with my kiddies at home,’ she said.
The Princess donned gloves to add her handprint to a tree of peace. 
The artwork was originally created to mark the first anniversary of the February 2022 Russian invasion. MetroUK reports in its story, “She lightened the mood by saying: ‘I’ve never done a handprint with a glove on. It will be a bit cleaner, normally the children end up putting paint everywhere.’
A quick video from Olivia Endellion Mowl, a reporter trainee at The Reading Chronicle.
The Princess has a go at hand printing pic.twitter.com/1dDiXLIRcm
— Olivia Endellion Mowl (@OliviaMowlE) October 4, 2023
The Princess tried her hand at some arts and crafts activities offered at the hub. 
Another view. 
We also have a tiara alert today! Here you see the Princess with three-year-old Sofiya Ovchinnik, whose mother co-founded the hub.
Olivia Endellion Mowl reports the Princess asked a young boy, “Did you know much English before coming here? Is everyone understanding at school it is hard sometimes to be you?”
We learn more from this Daily Mirror story by Russell Myers and Jennifer Newton.
Mrs Sverdlova, who came to Britain under the Homes for Ukrainian People programme in April 2023, was given shelter by a family in Bracknell. “We are still staying with them. They are amazing people,” she said. “It’s been wonderful. Bracknell is a very nice city. People are very welcoming. We feel a lot of support.”
Her two sons, aged 23 and 16, and her parents are still in Ukraine but her daughter, Liza, eight, was there to meet the Princess. Kate talked to her about music and told her how the sound of Princess Charlotte singing a hymn had brightened up her morning.
Below, the Princess with eight-year-old Liza Sverdlova.
The Mirror story also notes the Princess told volunteers and refugees, “Thank you. Please keep up the amazing work you are doing. It’s great to see the work that’s going on.” Below, posing for a photo. 
There were also group photos. 
It looks like the Princess made a friend while shooting the group pictures. 
The Princess was given a lovely bouquet before she left. 
Thoughts on today’s visit from one of Vsi Razom’s co-founders via the Daily Mail’s article.
After she had left, Natalia, the co-founder, expressed hope that the royal visit would raise the hub’s profile and lead to further support from local businesses.
She added: ‘It was really amazing. She was so friendly. She took time and talked to everyone in the room.’
A Kensington Palace news release notes, “Since the conflict in Ukraine began, The Prince and Princess of Wales have carried out a number of visits to highlight the plight of people in Ukraine and the generous support that communities and organizations across the UK have offered in response.” Below, a social media post from the Palace following today’s engagement.
The hub does amazing work to help Ukrainians settle into life in the UK with donations, mental health support and even arts and crafts sessions for children pic.twitter.com/XAcVvNX6Lx
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 4, 2023
While the Princess carried out today’s engagement, shoppers heard about the royal visit and gathered outside Vsi Razom. 
The Princess stopped to chat. 
The Princess shakes the hands of two locals. Ruth from bracknell said that she asked ‘are you shopping today. I’ve never been to Bracknell but i do go shopping in Reading’ pic.twitter.com/Y1Z6s483s6
— Olivia Endellion Mowl (@OliviaMowlE) October 4, 2023
The Princess hugs another well-wisher. 
Now for our look at what Kate wore for today’s engagement. 
It looks like she was in a Cefinn Studio knit piece, the ‘Janie’ Sleeveless Funnel Neck Jumper in Mid Grey (£120, about $145). It is made of a wool/nylon blend and features a high neck, dropped hem, and side slits. Thank you, Kate Middleton Styled, for this ID. 
Her trousers appear to be the ‘Martin’ Pants in Mottled Grey ($170) by Sézane. This high-waisted style has a straight, wide leg, a front zipper, and side and back pockets. The ‘Martin’ is 100% wool with a viscose lining. Thank you to Princess of Wales Closet for this ID. 
The shirt remains unidentified at this point.
We saw the return of the much-loved J. Crew ‘Avery’ Block Heel Pumps in Tweed (no longer available). The shoes were first seen in October 2016 during the Canada tour. 
These are a tough pair to copy, but I did add some options to the RepliKate Footwear page.
The Princess wore her hair down today. 
She brought back the Shyla London ‘Rosalia’ Earrings (£68) shown here as worn a week ago. 
I’ll see you tomorrow when the Princess, in her role as Patron of the Rugby Football League, will visit Hull to take part in a Rugby League Inclusivity Day.
VIDEOS:
The Royal Family Channel has almost four minutes of coverage in this video.
