Kate Middleton Has Recorded An Online School Assembly Wearing An M&S Dress That’s Still In Stock

As far as our clothes are concerned, lockdown has divided us into two camps. When it comes to getting dressed (or not, as the case may be), on the one hand you have those who are only a hop, skip and a scrunchie away from going full feral; on the other, you have those of us who are still ferociously dedicated to making an effort, albeit a lighter, less-manicured version of our IRL selves.

Unsurprisingly, Kate Middleton is firmly in the latter camp (although, to be fair, we have no idea what was on her bottom half). In our new virtual reality-reality the Duchess has proved herself queen of the Zoom call look. And not just Zoom, either – for an online school assembly that she recorded for Oak National Academy, Kate chose a £39.50 M&S midi that's surprisingly still available(although possibly not for long).

As for the rest of her Zoom looks, it's almost been difficult to keep up. First up, there was the zippy yellow Zara sweater she wore for a chat with students and teachers at Casterton Primary Academy. Next it was the Joostricot Breton stripes she chose for an interview with the BBC. Then, there was the Boden Aurora dress and Tabitha Webb baby blue and white chevron striped Jessie knit she wore to ‘visit’ the maternity ward at Kingston Hospital this weekend (good news for keen Kate style watchers: you can now pre-order the sweater, which is expected to land in the next couple of weeks. 'It's always a huge honour to see the Duchess of Cambridge in one of my designs,' says the designer). Most recently, Kate has been seen wearing a £5 pair of earrings from Accessorize and a M.i.h broderie anglaise blouse, a summery update on the classic white shirt, on a Zoom call to mark Volunteers’ Week.

Her last style move proves it’s (relatively) easy to make the right kind of impact on notoriously unforgiving video calls. Her secret weapons? Zingy colours – because it's spring after all – and graphic prints. Those chevron stripes are a pack-a-punch pattern, rather than a wishy washy floral, for instance, that can just have a dizzying effect on camera. Ever the diplomatic dresser, prices are on-point too – that Zara sweater sold for £29.99 – and each top feels wearable rather than intimidatingly glossy.

Nobody wants to see anyone in monstrously expensive, intimidatingly glamorous pieces right now. She also proves that a smile is your best Zoom accessory: your eye rolls and not-so-stealthy yawns don’t make the best impression.

Beyond Zoom, Kate’s lockdown style has been a masterclass in relaxed polish. Take the Ghost dress she wore for a Clap for Carers appearance or the pink Marks & Spencer suit she chose to visit the London Ambulance Service 111 control room; both have the respectful poise her position requires, matching it with the newfound ease she has acquired in the last year. That dress, in particular, is lockdown style at its best. Yes, it looks pulled together, but it has a throw-on-and-go ease none of us would scoff at right now. Proof, then, that lockdown dressing doesn’t have to revolve around a scrunchie and sweatpants.

SHOP: Master Your Lockdown Look Like Kate