Kate Middleton's Emotional Return to Southport Includes a Nod to Her Post-College Days

It was a day of sorrow, remembrance, and quiet strength as the Prince and Princess of Wales returned to Southport.

On September 23, Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton traveled to Southport to meet with residents still recovering from the aftermath of a tragedy that struck in July 2024. While the engagements carried a solemn purpose, Kate's outfit choice offered a subtle nod to her own life after university.

The royal couple's engagements came in the wake of the summer 2024 attack at a Taylor Swift–themed dance class that claimed the lives of three young girls — Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King, and Elsie Dot Stancombe.

A School Visit Steeped in Heartache

As part of their visit, William and Kate were scheduled to spend time at Farnborough Road Infant and Junior School, where Elsie had been a pupil. There, they planned to hear from teachers about the impact of the tragedy on the school and the ways pupils, staff, and the wider community have been supported in the months since.

For the occasion, Kate wore a pink blouse paired with gray trousers and a coordinating long coat. She added a tie-neck blouse, a pale pink Burberry design she previously wore during a 2022 visit to Boston, which seemed to serve as a quiet tribute to the girls.

Paired with the dark gray separates, the pussy-bow blouse carried the impression of light breaking through darkness, a sentiment the royal couple echoed throughout their visit on Tuesday.

A Sentimental Throwback

It was Kate's long coat that drew attention for its personal backstory. Fan blogs identified the piece as the Maxi City Coat by Jigsaw, the British fashion label where Kate once worked after graduating from the University of St Andrews.

While Jigsaw's Wool Maxi Coat remains available online for $460 in a range of colors, the steel gray shade worn by the princess is no longer offered.

Fans were smitten by Kate Middleton's overall appearance, with many taking to social media to share their admiration. One admirer gushed, "Beautiful coat. Also like the shoes; something different, which is nice."

Another kept their praise short and sweet, posting, "Gorgeous and classy🔥❤️" in response to the look. And one more could hardly contain their excitement, declaring, "The Princess of Wales looks stunning today! 👑"

The sentimental nod to Kate's early career years added another layer of emotion to her appearance in Southport.

A Glimpse Into Her Pre-Royal Life

The 43-year-old joined the Jigsaw brand in 2006 as an accessories buyer. Kate worked part-time at its London office just a year after completing her History of Art degree in 2005, and shortly after meeting Prince William at St Andrews.

A Jigsaw spokesperson spoke out at the time of her appointment, "We can confirm that Kate joined our staff two or three weeks ago as an accessory buyer for Jigsaw and Jigsaw Junior. We can't comment any further."

Reports noted that before officially joining the brand, Kate had already lent a hand at a fashion shoot, taking on small tasks such as fetching tea and snacks.

Jigsaw was then owned by John and Belle Robinson, fashion industry figures who were close friends of the Middleton family. Bringing Kate on board was considered a significant win for the company, given the widespread expectation that she would one day marry the future king.

Balancing Love and Work Under the Media Glare

Royal expert Rebecca English has explained that Kate specifically asked for the role to be part-time. "Someone at the firm told me at the time she went to the boss and said to them, 'I need a job, but it needs to be part-time so I can work it around my relationship with this very high-profile man,'" shared Rebecca.

Kate arranged her schedule around the demands of her relationship, as much as this was considered unusual for a modern working woman. According to Rebecca, although she held the position for a period, the constant presence of photographers following her to and from the office eventually made it unsustainable.

Belle, who co-founded Jigsaw with her husband John in 1971, also recalled how she and Kate arranged a role in accessories that could be managed over three days a week. Belle noted that she was impressed with Kate's maturity in handling the constant media presence.

When faced with TV crews waiting outside, Kate would calmly accept that photographers would not leave until they had their picture. Hence, she chose to face them rather than slip away unnoticed. Belle felt this approach reflected a level-headedness unusual for someone of 26.

Belle described Kate as neither seeking out media attention nor responding with hostility, but instead managing the situation with notable politeness.

Despite popular belief, Belle explained that Kate had not received official support during that period. She could only approach William's press secretary if there was a particularly serious issue with the media, and even then, the help was limited.

Belle and Kate's working relationship came to an end in November 2007 when Kate resigned, saying she needed time for herself. Belle stressed there were no hard feelings and that she never faulted Kate for not wanting a full-time position.

Having seen the pressures Kate was under, Belle even joked that her own daughters would never have wished to take on the role of a royal girlfriend.

After stepping away from Jigsaw in 2007, the princess went to work for her family's business, Party Pieces. Even so, Kate has continued to favor the label and has been seen wearing Jigsaw's designs in more recent years.