The Princess of Wales shone in a black jacket with gold buttons during her visit to the Queen’s Dragoon Guards regiment this morning.
Kate, 41, arrived at Robertson Barracks, in the Norfolk village of Swanton Morley, where the regiment is stationed to meet the troops, learn about their operations and present medals to the long-serving officers.
Looking both chic and practical in a black blazer layered over a black polo collar and pants, she shared an in-depth conversation with another mother from one of the families involved in the regiment. She wore her thick brunette locks in a straight style, hanging over her shoulders.
Her all-black outfit comes after French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld suggested the princess wear more black “outside of funerals” and opt for Chanel items more often, as she praised the sense general of the royal’s style, but added that it was a “little too polished for her tastes.
Kate’s visit to the 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards is her first since she was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment in August this year by King Charles – and during her time with the regiment she will also have the chance to promote a pony to the corporal.
The Princess of Wales looked stunning in a black blazer and trouser combination as she visited the 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards at Swanton Morley today.
During the visit, the officers introduced the Princess of Wales to the regiment and demonstrated the operations it carried out.
She also has the opportunity to meet families from the Queen’s Dragoon Guards (QDG) who live in the village of Swanton Morley.
The QDGs were formed in 1959 from the amalgamation of the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards and the Queen’s Bays.
The regiment specializes in reconnaissance, which is the art of tracking down your enemy to know and understand how they work.
Since the creation of the regiment, the QDG has moved all over the world.
From June 2021 to June 2022, its troops were deployed to Mali as part of a peacekeeping operation in support of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission.
The Princess’s visit is the first to the regiment since she was appointed Colonel-in-Chief by King Charles in August.
As part of the visit, Kate will be briefed about the regiment by senior officers and learn about the lives of service men and women.
Activities planned for the royal include a lesson on how the Jackal 2 high-mobility weapons platform works, how the team communicates via radios when deployed and how they use reconnaissance drones.
Subsequently, the Princess will meet with the families of QDG personnel to hear about their experiences and the social support offered by the regiment.
Her Royal Highness will also award long service and good conduct medals to a number of military men and women of the regiment, and ahead of Remembrance Sunday she will take a moment with serving personnel to remember those whom the QDG has lost active duty service over the past few years. .
Finally, the Princess will promote the regimental mascot (Private “Longface” Emrys Jones, a Bay Welsh Mountain pony) from “Lance Corporal” to “Corporal”.
Kate’s visit comes as her husband Prince William continues his tour to Singapore where he is hosting this year’s Earthshot Prize.
Prince William today delivered his pitch to become king, insisting he wanted to “go further” than his family and bring real change to the causes he supports.
The Prince of Wales praised the work of other members of the royal family “shining a light” on important causes, but insisted he wanted to do more than “just be” a patron.
William’s remarks at the end of his visit to Singapore will likely raise eyebrows at Buckingham Palace as he continues to lay out a vision for the future of the monarchy.
One of the causes he wants to focus on is homelessness, saying he wants to help build housing and provide mental health support, education and job opportunities.
