Princess Catherine made a triumphant return to public speaking on Tuesday, as she attended a summit in London, but royal fans were left disappointed by one detail. The Princess of Wales told a gathering of senior executives in the City of London that « profitability » and making a « positive impact » were not « incompatible and called on business leaders to prioritise « time and tenderness just as much as productivity and success,” in her first major public speech in two years.
The very first Future Workforce Summit was hosted by The Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood to drive action and investment in the early years development of children. Catherine looked chic in a light grey suit by Roland Mouret, which consisted of a pair of wide-leg trousers and a tailored blazer.
She paired the look with a cream blouse featuring ruffles, black heels and a black bag.
But there were several royal fans who did not approve of the future Queen’s trousers, saying they are too long and too baggy for her frame, while others said they were not big fans of the colour of her suit.
One user wrote on Royal Fashion Daily’s Instagram page: “I like the colour. But the pants are too long and too loose. And that blouse has been worn too many times in such a short period.”
Another one said: “As much I adore Princess of Wales, her outfit doesn’t suit her. Colour-wise wise and the fitting aren’t the best. Her long hair is too long too. Probably the purpose of the meeting is too important for her that she doesn’t want to shine by her outfit.”
A third account commented: “Oh nooo this isn’t a great fit especially the trousers.” A fourth one added: “The pants cut is not good for her and it is too long. Her hair is too long.”
Others loved Catherine’s look, with one user writing on X: “Love LOVE the cravat look…only HRH can make it SO stylish and beautiful.”
Another fan added: “Always with the trend but never trendy. Wears classic looks and buys new pieces as needed her new menswear look is an example of adding updated pieces to keep your look fresh.”
A third one commented: “Classic and business-like, softened by the fab blouse .. perfect for the event and the message in her speech.”
The future queen has been making a gradual return to public duties since completing a course of chemotherapy last summer, and in January she announced she was cancer-free.
The princess last gave a significant address in November 2023, when she made the keynote speech at the national symposium of her Shaping Us project, a major awareness-raising campaign to increase understanding of the crucial importance of the first five years of a child’s life.
Delivering the summit’s opening speech, Catherine told guests her passion for promoting early years, described in the past as her « life’s work », stemmed from the « essential truth » that « the love we feel in our earliest years fundamentally shapes who we become and how we thrive as adults ».
She went on to say: « A loving home ultimately teaches us how to love and how to care, but every environment has the potential to shape our hearts.
« Every one of you interacts with your own environment; a home, a family, a business, a workforce, a community. These are the ecosystems that you yourselves help to weave.”
The princess ended by saying: « Every child deserves respect and safety, and everyone who cares deserve recognition and appreciation. Every act of care creates community because we are all essentially weavers of that same fabric.
« I believe in restoring the dignity to the quiet, often invisible work of caring, of loving well, as we look to build a happier, healthier society. »
