Kate Middleton wears 70s inspired £999 Gucci blouse for visit to children's centre

Kate Middleton, 37, stepped out in the stylish 70s blouse by Gucci, which retails for £999, pairing it with wide-legged black trousers, from Jigsaw. A black crocodile belt added definition to her waist. The Duchess of Cambridge carried a taupe Mayfair handbag, £495, Aspinal in one hand, with her engagement ring sparkling on her finger. Mum of three Kate wore her long brown hair in her favourite bouncy blowdry, with a pair of Links of London drop earrings, £325, seen nestling in her hair.

Letting the colour of the blouse take over, Kate kept her makeup simple, chosing a neutral eyeshadow and perfectly done eyebrows.

In a trick used to elongate the legs, Kate matched the colour of her shoes to her trousers, giving her a streamlined finish.

Kate is visiting the Henry Fawcett Children’s Centre, in Lambeth, south London, to learn about the work done by local organisations to support young children and their families.

The Duchess is joining parents and toddlers taking part in sessions offered by the Lambeth Early Action Partnership, and Parent and Infant Relationship Service during the morning visit.

She is set to attend the National Portrait Gallery gala tonight in her role as Patron – and is sure to pull out all the stops in a breaktaking couture gown, as she has in the past.

It has been a busy week for the Duchess, as she joined her husband, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for the Commonwealth Day service with the Queen yesterday.

Kate stepped out in regal red, wearing a Catherine Walker double breasted dress with large buttons.

She paired this with shoes and a handbag  from Emmy London.

Kate has worn another very similar red coat from Catherine Walker before.

She wore this coat for her 2014 trip to Canada, making it an appropriate choice for Commonwealth day.

It is a version of the Catherine Walker ‘Russian Greatcoat’, which Kate was also worn in green.

How did Kate Middleton become a royal?

Early life

Kate Middleton, or Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was born on 9 January 1982 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, England.

She was born to Michael and Carole Middleton, a former flight dispatcher and air hostess. The couple founded a party supplies company, Party Pieces, in 1987 – now estimated to be worth £30 million.

Kate has a younger sister Pippa Matthews, 34, and a younger brother James Middleton, 31.

Education

Kate and her family moved to Amman, Jordan, in 1984, where the future Duchess was educated at an English-speaking nursery school.

After moving back to Berkshire the family sent Kate to private school, St Andrews School. She went on to briefly study at Downe House before moving onto Marlborough College where she boarded.

For university the young Kate attended the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. Here she was awarded an undergraduate MA (2:1 Hons) in history of art.

Relationship with Prince William

Kate met Prince William when they were both studying at St Andrews, and both living in St Salvator’s Hall. Famously, William reportedly took a fancy to Kate after she wore a see-through dress during a fashion show.

In 2003 the couple began dating and lived together during their second year of university.

The couple split in April 2007, however, in October they were back together.

Wedding

Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with his late mother Princess Diana’s engagement ring in October 2010. The couple were holidaying in Kenya at the time.

On 29 April 2011 they married at Westminster Abbey with a whopping 26 million watching the event live.

Kate wore an Alexander McQueen dress worth a reported £250,000 on the big day.

Kate assumed the title “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge” and also become the Duchess of Cambridge on the day.