Kate Middleton Wants the Public To Focus Less on Her Style as She Returns to Work

Now that Kate Middleton is back to work after completing chemotherapy treatment, she wants to do things a little differently. A palace source claims that Kate wants less focus on her style going forward and more focus on the actual work she’s doing – after all, she is going to be queen someday. People have mixed feelings on this, though.

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The palace could be making a major change.

Kate’s been a royal style icon as long as she’s been a part of the royal family, and many fans and royal watchers look forward to finding out which designers she’s wearing at each of her public appearances. But according to a new report from The Sunday Times, Kensington Palace will no longer release details of Kate’s outfits.

“There is an absolute feeling that it [the public work] is not about what the princess is wearing,” a palace source told the newspaper. “She wants the focus to be on the really important issues, the people and the causes she is spotlighting. There will always be an appreciation of what the princess is wearing from some of the public and she gets that. But do we need to be officially always saying what she is wearing? No. The style is there but it’s about the substance.”

Kate’s recent appearances came and went without an official fashion update from the palace.

The Times pointed out that the palace did not release outfit details from Kate’s engagements last week, so it seems it’s not wasting any time in making the change.

At a time when all eyes are on the Princess of Wales as she returns to work, this is a pretty big deal.

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People have a lot of opinions about Kate’s new move.

Some believe that Kate’s style – and the way she’s able to highlight British designers – is a way that the public can connect with her.

“The Princess of Wales represents £1 billion to the UK & Commonwealth fashion industry, including related sectors & employs over 500,000 ppl. It is the highest compliment that women want to imitate her style,” one person tweeted. “The £15 earrings she wore sold out immediately. It’s a small way the public can feel a connection with her, excitedly showing their mom they have the same earrings as the Princess of Wales. It doesn’t detract from the substance she brings.”

Others think this is a welcome change. Another person wrote, “Quite right too. The way people turn her into a clothes horse for merchandise, when she has specifically asked them not to, is very wrong. Yes, it’s nice to admire the fashions, but not as the most important thing above the charities and causes she’s highlighting.”

The news comes just as Kate launches a new initiative.

Her foreword for The Shaping Us Framework was just published, highlighting what the Royal Foundation’s Centre for Early Childhood believes is most important for developing little ones into happy, healthy adults.

“Modern society is complex. At times, it can feel like the world is filled with mistrust and misunderstanding, leaving many people feeling isolated and vulnerable during difficult times. The impact of this – poor mental health, addiction and abuse – can be devastating, for individuals and for society,” Kate wrote. “If we are to address this properly, if we are to find real, lasting solutions to these deep-rooted challenges and create a physically and mentally healthier society, we must reset, restore and rebalance. We must invest in humankind.”