Kate Middleton has a collection full of handbags, but there's one trusted piece she's carried for a good decade: her beloved navy leather tote from a well-known British brand.
When the Princess of Wales arrived at the Future Workforce Summit in London in mid-November, she looked sharp in a new Roland Mouret suit, a cream ruffled blouse, and Mappin & Webb earrings, which she first wore to the christening of her daughter, Princess Charlotte.
But it was her practical and versatile handbag that stole the show. Indeed, the Princess of Wales has chosen to carry her essentials in her trusty Smythson East West handbag, which she has used for official engagements and family trips since at least 2016.
Perfect for holding her speeches
Crafted from the brand's signature cross-grain leather, the East West Panama tote with a zip closure offers ample space within its elegant silhouette. The brand promises: "Combining elegance and refinement, this style features a large interior compartment that allows you to store your belongings securely, making travel easier."
This bag has proven to be the ideal choice for the Princess of Wales, who follows a very busy schedule. The bag has been spotted during overseas tours, official engagements, and helicopter rides with her family. Highlights include the royal tour to Pakistan in 2019 and Denmark in 2022.
For most official engagements, Kate carries the essentials in a small handbag, while an aide, such as Deputy Private Secretary Natalie Barrows, is responsible for carrying additional items in a second, larger bag. However, there are occasions when she chooses to carry her own larger bag. This was the case at her event in London: when Kate Middleton stepped out of her car, she casually held her Smythson bag in one hand, the zipper casually open. It likely contained the notes the Princess needed for her speech at the historic Early Childhood Summit.
Passionate about her mission on early childhood, this summit, the first of its kind, brought together 80 British business leaders at London's Salesforce Tower to discuss investment in early childhood education. This sector has been described as Kate Middleton's "life's work," with the princess often working behind the scenes to create a happier society through her commitment to early childhood.
"My passion and the work of the Centre for Early Childhood stem from a fundamental truth: the love we feel in our early years fundamentally shapes who we become and how we thrive as adults," she said. She added: "Love is the first and most essential bond. But it is also the invisible thread, woven with time, attention, and tenderness, through consistent and nurturing relationships, that creates the grounded and meaningful environments around a child. It is this texture, the warp of love, that forms the child's emotional world and becomes the foundation, the very fabric of resilience and belonging." “
The Princess of Wales concluded with a sort of mission statement: ‘I believe we must restore the dignity of the quiet and often invisible work of caring for and loving others as we seek to build a happier and healthier society.’
Passionate about her mission on early childhood
The summit ‘focused on how businesses investing in early childhood can play a significant role in the next stage of development, nurturing the unique human skills needed for the future workforce to thrive, at a time of considerable technological progress and change, with the aim of reaching more than one million babies and young children by 2026,’ Kensington Palace said.”
The Princess of Wales concluded with a sort of mission statement: “I believe we must restore the dignity of the quiet and often invisible work of caring for and loving others as we seek to build a happier and healthier society.”
