The Duchess of Cambridge joined other members of the royal family yesterday to pay her respects to those that have lost their lives in military combat, watching the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph from a balcony at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Dressed in a military-inspired coat by Dolce & Gabbana and an elegant black hat befitting the solemnity of the occasion, the Duchess also debuted a markedly different hairstyle, wearing her hair in a shoulder-skimming bob. On initial inspection, it appeared that Kate had opted for a shorter length; a closer look, however, shows that she has simply joined the ranks of A-listers opting for a no-commitment ‘faux’ bob, pinning her mid-length waves up and under to create the illusion of a cropped ‘do. It’s a styling tactic that the likes of Blake Lively and Emily Ratajkowski have adopted recently, so the Duchess is certainly in good company.
Kate was joined on the balcony by Sophie, Countess of Wessex and the Queen’s cousin, Princess Alexandra. The Queen, Prince Philip and the Duchess of Cornwall appeared on an adjacent balcony, also at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
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They watched as Prince Charles laid a wreath of poppies at the Cenotaph, on behalf of the Queen and the royal family. It is the first time that the monarch has asked her eldest son to perform this important duty, perhaps marking a transition from one generation to the next: indeed, the Queen has only missed the event six times during her 65-year reign. It appeared to be an emotional occasion for Her Majesty, who was pictured shedding a tear during the ceremony.
The Prince of Wales was joined by his sons, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, who laid their own floral tributes during the ceremony.
NOW READ: 35 Reasons Why There's Only One Kate Middleton
There's Only One Kate Middleton
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She's got a great eye for high street bargains - she's been spotted in pieces from Topshop, Reiss, Zara and Whistles.
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Her red carpet game is unrivalled…
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As is her maternity style…
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And her royal wave is always on point.
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In fact, she never looks less than a model of elegance and grace…
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Even when she's doing a spot of impromptu gardening - in high heels, no less.
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Speaking of which, Kate can beat everyone at volleyball while wearing towering wedges…
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And while she may be royal, she's not afraid to get over-involved in a game of tennis.
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She also has a competitive streak – especially when she's playing against Prince William.
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She's the perfect ambassador for British designers, regularly seen in pieces by Erdem, Temperley and Emilia Wickstead.
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She's a total pro when it comes to styling out potentially awkward photo opportunities...
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Or this meet-and-greet. Kudos.
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Kate throws herself into everything she does, whether it's a drumming session (look at those jazz hands...)
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Or the first royal trip to Diagon Alley (it's Levi-OH-sa, not Levi-oh-SAR).
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She has her own waxwork doppelganger at Madam Tussauds (though Wills' looks more like Tony Blair) …
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Not to mention her own Lego wedding scene...
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And she's also the proud owner of this huge rubber duck.
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Her hair is straight out of a shampoo commercial…
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And she looks great whichever hairstyle she's chosen, whether it's the grown-out fringe…
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A classy up-do…
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Long loose waves…
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or her current shoulder length chop.
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It's no wonder that she's also mastered the fine art of the hair flick.
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She can also do 'side-eye' like no one else.
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She might be one of the most photographed women in the world, but she's not averse to recycling a good outfit.
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Here's just one of many examples...
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She's married to the second in line to the throne, but still does her own make-up.
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She made Harry Styles feel star struck…
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And held her own when she just happened to bump into Beyoncé at a basketball game.
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Her McQueen wedding dress changed bridal fashion forever…
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But most importantly, who else would get a bank holiday on their wedding day?
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The entire country comes to a standstill when we're awaiting news of a royal baby…
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And pictures of her with George and Charlotte never fail to warm our hearts.
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Kate loves stepping behind the lens, too – she snapped the first official pictures of Princess Charlotte, rather than using a famous photographer.
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She's dedicated to charity work, supporting charities like Action on Addiction, the Art Room and Place2Be.
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She loves twinning with Princess Charlotte which makes us smile.
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She loves a good tennis match, and even took sister-in-law Meghan along to Wimbledon in 2018.
READ MORE: Kate Middleton Borrowed This Diamond Bracelet From The Queen