I keep imagining that the current familial drama — on which, as far as I know, there have been no major new developments; everyone had a meeting and they’re working it out! — has really torpedoed a lot of standard issue small talk at these things. Like, “how’s the familllllllarghhhhhh, um shit. Er. Uh, nice weather we’re having?” (Reports from a local Fug National are that the weather was nice, if chilly.)
Anyway, these two put on their best Pleasant Faces and went to Bradford for a day of engagements. Bradford has a large Pakistani community, so this visit also acted as a nice connector to their recent royal tour:
Evoking memories of #RoyalVisitPakistan at @mylahore, where The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met apprentices from @BradfordCollege before trying their hands at making mango and kulfi milkshakes #RoyalVisitBradford pic.twitter.com/ao4lK8YzpZ
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) January 15, 2020
Outfit-wise, Kate’s new coat is Alexander McQueen, to join the one kajillion other McQueen coats she owns — I don’t love this one, but I never really like that style of collar on a coat in general; in this color story, I prefer her old Sport Max coat, but she did not ask me. (If she wants to call and talk about which of her McQueen coats I like best, though, I am also available for that chat because, yes, I do know off the top of my head.) Having said that, her dress under it is Zara, it’s currently $35, and it’s totally sold out and I really like it, which is for the best because Heather and I are on a massive book deadline right now and I have a tendency to stress-shop. (Kate loves this sort of Prim 40s Situation.)
In other news, THESE CAKES ARE AMAZING:
This amazing lady Siama Ali from Bradford spent three days baking these amazing cup cakes & main to depict Kate & William’s childhood, meet, engagement, wedding & children. Lovely explainer from her & she is Cup Caker Bradford if you want to check her out! pic.twitter.com/NE6HRHl50m
— Emily Andrews (@byEmilyAndrews) January 15, 2020
WE GET IT, WILLS, YOU’RE MARY BERRY’S BEST FRIEND:
Watch William was “wowed” when he saw Siama Ali’s amazing “William & Kate” cake. And he thought the picture of him as a baby was Charlotte “our little Lottie” he said, pointing it out to Kate. @cupcakerbradford on Insta, check it out! pic.twitter.com/4Yc2BeHljg
— Emily Andrews (@byEmilyAndrews) January 15, 2020
And finally:
Watch#William on community relations, can’t help but think it applies to his family “It’s sometimes trying to get people to understand that’s it’s ok to have these challenges, we just need to deal with them and we need to move forward rather than just be stuck in paralysis” pic.twitter.com/zXKeWAZ5A1
— Rhiannon Mills (@SkyRhiannon) January 15, 2020
[Photos: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock]