Kate Middleton’s Emotional Return to Southport Includes a Nod to Her Post-College Days
As the Prince and Princess of Wales returned to Southport, it was a day of grief, remembering, and silent fortitude.
Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton visited Southport on September 23 to speak with locals who were still getting over a tragedy that occurred in July 2024. Although the engagements had a serious tone, Kate’s choice of attire gave a subtle hint to her own post-university life.
Following the summer 2024 attack at a dance class with a Taylor Swift motif that killed three young girls, Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, the royal pair announced their engagements.
A Heartbreaking School Visit
William and Kate planned to visit Farnborough Road Infant and Junior School, where Elsie had attended, as part of their itinerary. There, they hoped to hear from educators about how the tragedy affected the school and how students, faculty, and the community at large have been helped in the months that have followed.
Kate wore a matching long coat and gray pants for the event. As a subdued nod to the girls, she donned a pale pink Burberry tie-neck blouse that she had previously worn on a trip to Boston in 2022.
The pussy-bow blouse, when paired with the dark gray separates, conveyed the idea of light penetrating the gloom, a theme the royal couple mirrored during their Tuesday visit.
An Emotional Flashback
Kate’s lengthy cloak garnered notice because of its personal history. The Maxi City Coat by Jigsaw, a British fashion brand where Kate used to work after graduating from the University of St Andrews, was recognized by fan blogs.
The steel gray shade that the princess wore is no longer available, but Jigsaw’s Wool Maxi Coat is still available online for roughly $460 in a variety of colors.
Kate Middleton’s overall look captivated fans, and many expressed their appreciation on social media. One admirer said, “What a lovely coat. I really like the shoes; it’s wonderful because they’re unusual.
“Gorgeous and classy🔥❤️” was the succinct comment made by another person in response to the appearance. Another was so ecstatic that they exclaimed, “The Princess of Wales looks stunning today! 👑”
Kate’s debut in Southport was made even more poignant by the nostalgic homage to her early professional years.
A Look Inside Her Life Before Becoming a Queen
In 2006, the 43-year-old began working at Jigsaw as an accessory buyer. Only a year after earning her degree in History of Art in 2005, and shortly after meeting Prince William at St Andrews, Kate took a part-time job at its London office.
“We can confirm that Kate joined our staff two or three weeks ago as an accessory buyer for Jigsaw and Jigsaw Junior,” a Jigsaw representative said at the time of her hire. We are unable to comment further.
According to reports, Kate helped out at a fashion shoot before formally joining the firm, helping with little duties like getting tea and snacks.
John and Belle Robinson, prominent members of the fashion business who were allegedly close friends of the Middleton family, ran Jigsaw at the time. Given the common belief that Kate would eventually wed the future king, the firm saw her joining as a major victory.
Managing Work and Love in the Presence of the Media
According to royal analyst Rebecca English, Kate explicitly requested a part-time position. “Someone at the firm told me at the time she went to the boss and said to them, ‘I need a job, but it needs to be part-time so I can work it around my relationship with this very high-profile man,'” said Rebecca.
Even though it was atypical for a modern working woman, Kate planned her schedule around the needs of her relationship. Rebecca claims that even though she had the job for a while, it was eventually unsustainable due to the cameras who followed her to and from work.
Belle, who co-founded Jigsaw in 1971 with her husband John, also described how she and Kate worked out a three-day-a-week role in accessories. Belle expressed her admiration for Kate’s maturity in managing the ongoing media attention.
TV crews would wait outside, and Kate would accept coolly that photographers would stay until they had their shot. So instead of slipping away undetected, she decided to confront them. Belle thought that this strategy showed a level-headedness that was out of character for a 26-year-old.
According to Belle, Kate handled the matter with remarkable civility rather than pursuing public attention or reacting angrily.
Belle clarified that, contrary to popular assumption, Kate had not been officially supported throughout that time. Only in the event of a very significant media problem could she consult William’s press secretary, and even then, the assistance was restricted.
The working relationship between Belle and Kate ended in November 2007 when Kate resigned, citing a desire for personal time. Belle emphasized that she never held Kate accountable for not wanting a full-time job and that there were no bad feelings.
Belle even made the joke that her own kids would never have wanted to be a royal girlfriend after witnessing the difficulties Kate was under.
Following her departure from Jigsaw in 2007, the princess joined her family’s company, Party Pieces. Nevertheless, in more recent years, Kate has been spotted sporting Jigsaw’s designs and has remained a fan of the brand.
