Baby royal style watch: What the Duchess of Cambridge is buying
With Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, expected to give birth any moment now, the world is on royal baby watch. And the British papers are in overdrive reporting every minute detail of what Kate is — or possibly could be — buying for baby.
She was seen shopping with mom Carole at the posh baby boutique Blue Almonds in South Kensington, according to the Daily Mail, where she bought a pricy white wicker Moses basket as a bassinet.
She also dropped into the Peter Jones department store, which is akin to Bloomingdales in the U.S. and has been one of her fave shopping spots since her singleton days. No word on what she bought there.
A few months ago, she reportedly told a group of Army wives that she bought a Bugaboo, the Ferrari of strollers favored by Hollywood mummies Victoria Beckham, Gwyneth Paltrow and Sienna Miller. Top of the line models can cost well over $1,000.
Well-wishers are also rushing to bestow gifts on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their newborn. No gold, frankincense or myrrh yet, but the Finnish government did send them the baby box that is given to all expectant mothers in Finland, according to the Daily Mail, the contents of which don’t look particularly luxe, which makes sense coming from a Nordic welfare state.
On the other end of the spectrum, British celebrity jewelry designer Theo Fennell created a jewel-encrusted, 18-carat gold charm bracelet for the Duchess, which has a tiny pot that doubles as a rash cream holder. Ah, the elegance of motherhood.
I imagine that all the fashion designers Middleton has supported (and generated millions in sales for) will be sending goodies for the little one, too. A lace-trimmed blanket from Alexander McQueen’s Sarah Burton, creator of the royal wedding gown, perhaps? How about a custom-made diaper bag from British leathergoods brand Mulberry? Or if it’s a girl, Middleton’s footwear fave L.K. Bennett could fashion some baby heels a la the strappy Tom Ford soles that were bestowed on Beyonce’s daughter Blue Ivy, and recently modeled by the pop star herself on Instagram.
I’m also guessing that, given Prince Charles’ dedication to environmental causes, the new parents might have an interest in organic nappies, clothing and food for their newborn. Grandmother-to-be Camilla Parker Bowles was gifted a box of Plum organic baby food during a recent visit to the 2,500-acre organic farm Rhug Estate in Wales, the Daily Mail reported.
It’s safe to say, the new third-in-line-to-the-throne, thought to be due July 12, will be giving Hollywood’s infant influencers (Romeo Beckham, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, Kingston Rossdale, etc.) a run for their trust funds.
The royal baby will be born in a private wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in London, where a press pen has already been set up on the street outside. The gender of the child is not known.
Given mum Kate’s power to create a buying frenzy with what she puts on, you can bet whatever the baby royal wears and spits up on, or even soils, the world will follow.
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