Even though Kate Middleton recently hit up Topshop to buy maternity clothes, the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge recycled one of her favorite outfits when she arrived at the National Fishing Heritage Centre in Grimsby, England, on Tuesday, March 5.
Sporting the same Hobbs “Celeste” coat she donned during a public appearance in Liverpool in February 2012, the 31-year-old wore a Great Plains dress and black heels.
As a result of the heavy fog, Middleton traveled to the engagement via helicopter instead of by train. “There a number of factors taken into consideration when it comes to royal engagements,” St. James’ Palace explained. “It depends on what the member of the royal family is doing before or after and how long the journey takes. It was decided that the most suitable way to travel to Grimsby was to come by helicopter.”
Prince William‘s wife received a bouquet of flowers from 3-year-old Lucy Bell on her way inside the building. She chatted with admirers, including 42-year-old Bobbie Brown. “I asked her if [the baby] has been moving or kicking,” Brown recalled. “She said: ‘Yes, it is. Very much so.'”
Paula Rampling, 34, gave the pregnant royal two unisex baby outfits, wrapped in a cute gift bag. “Thank you!” Middleton told her. “That’s so cute.” Middleton spent most of her time talking with young children. “You can tell she’ll be a good mother,” Rampling said. “She’s not missed out one kid. She’s lovely.”
Middleton was then escorted inside the National Fishing Heritage Centre by operations manager Sue Marshall. During her visit, Middleton will visit the Peaks Lane Fire Station run by Humberside Fire and Rescue Service. She will also officially open Havelock Academy secondary school.
Two days before her public engagement, the first-time mother-to-be was photographed in the Swiss Alps with her husband and brother-in-law, Prince Harry. While the brothers were spotted skiing in the afternoon, Middleton was photographed walking downhill.
The snowy outing came just one day after the royal trio attended Olympian Laura Bechtolsheimer‘s wedding to athlete Mark Tomlinson in Switzerland.
