Princess Charlotte, you have such a glam mum to look up to!
On Saturday, May 2, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton stepped outside the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in London to greet the world—no less than 12 hours after giving birth to Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge. Her hair was perfectly coiffed, her cheeks were adorably rosy, and her buttercup dress fit her to a T.
Question is: How on earth did she do it?
Answer: By meticulously planning ahead! “It had always been discussed that if Kate were to go into labor early in the morning, she would prefer to leave the hospital on the same day,” a source close to the Duchess, 33, told Us Weekly. Which meant there’d be little time for post-baby relaxation.
Enter Amanda Cook Tucker, Middleton’s personal hairstylist and the woman responsible for the royal’s endless stream of princess-perfect ‘dos. Almost as soon as the Duchess delivered Charlotte, Tucker was given the go-ahead to leave Kensington Palace and head to St. Mary’s Hospital.
When Tucker entered the Lindo Wing at 1 p.m., she came armed with her trolley case and a large bag, both of which contained all the tools and products she needed to create Middleton’s bouncy blowout. She also brought along the royal’s makeup—an identical kit to the one Middleton uses, which she always makes sure to have on hand, just in case. (Tucker is also a trained makeup artist, and, a source shared, often helps Middleton finish her face for official engagements.)
As for Middleton’s custom, buttercup-print Jenny Packham dress—which was delivered freshly pressed by Kensington Palace PA Natasha Archer at 6:30 a.m.—that too was an early choice. “Kate only had one option—there wasn’t a backup dress,” a source shared with Us. “She decided on this design early on. They picked a gender-neutral yellow, as [Kate and Will] didn’t know the baby’s sex.”
To complete the sweet look, the Duchess of Cambridge added a selection of her go-to accessories: Annoushka pearl drop earrings, John Lewis “Barely There” sheer tights, and nude Jimmy Choo “Gilbert” shoes (not too tall—even a Duchess deserves a break!).
With her pretty shift dress on, her hair and makeup flawless, and Charlotte (swaddled in a GH Hurt & Sons Ltd. shawl) in her arms, Middleton was ready to meet the press, and she did so that evening. She posed for photos with Prince William and their little girl and then headed home to the palace without a single chocolate curl ever popping out of place.
And that, dear royal watchers, is how it’s done.
