GIRL POWER
Princess Kate supports Victoria Beckham amid ‘family feud’ as she honours late Queen with touching gesture
The Princess has been hailed a 'real style icon'
PRINCESS Kate has stood in support of Victoria Beckham amid their "family feud" as she presents an award in honour of the late Queen.
The Princess of Wales, 43, presented the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design while wearing a suit designed by Posh Spice herself.
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David and Victoria are reportedly fighting with their son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz, 30.
The pair were absent from David's epic 50th birthday celebrations, including an intimate family dinner at their Cotswolds home, a family trip to France two days later and a Saturday night soiree in London.
Kate attended the event, hosted by the British Fashion Council (BFC), while sporting a luxury Victoria Bekckam outfit.
And, the Princess hinted at the reason for her Beckham backing after she was overheard saying she liked to support British designers.
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The event took place London’s 180 Studios, where the Princess was seen presenting winning designer Patrick McDowell with the prestigious award.
Kate toured the pop-up studio of Patrick McDowell, who runs a luxury sustainable fashion brand that has dressed Lady Gaga and Keira Knightley, to see the designer and his team in action.
While being shown the exhibition space, Kate was heard telling Patrick: "I love British fashion and up and coming designers."
She also chatted to models hailing the design and cut of their outfits and was overheard celebrating "sustainability in the fashion industry".
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Patrick, 29, who was delighted to win the sustainability-centred award, said: “It’s a huge privilege and honour.
“Throughout her tenure she’s been an amazing advocate of British fashion and really flies the flag for British fashion.
Kate hugs Wills in sweet new video hailing Spring as 'season of rebirth & beginnings' & says nature is her 'sanctuary'
“She also looks incredible and is a real style icon.
“It is extra special to receive an award from her today.
“The Royal Family has been incredibly supportive from Queen Elizabeth II and the King.”
The prize celebrates the impact of young British designers and the UK’s thriving fashion industry and recognises designers who are leading the way in sustainable practices and making a positive impact on the environment.
Kate visited the winning designer’s pop-up studio and saw how their sustainable designs are created and spoke to other sustainable British fashion designers at the bash.
The royal burst out in surprise laughter after she was shown a new jacket design called a Wales Bar.
Kate asked how it got its name, and Patrick said: "I named it in your honour."
The Wales Bar is a specifically cut and fitted female jacket with sleeves in black.
Asked about the jacket, Patrick said he would like to send her one in the post
Speaking to young fashion designers Kate said: "It's really interesting to see how designers are using techniques to upcycle fabrics in innovative ways.
The future queen is making a gradual return to public royal duties after completing her cancer treatment and her visit to a cultural centre in the Strand, central London was not announced in advance.
McDowell was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design which aims to recognise a new designer displaying exceptional talent and originality alongside sustainable policies and showing value to the community.
The designer said about Kate: "I think throughout her tenure she's been an amazing advocate for British brands and she really flies the flag for British fashion.
"She always looks incredible, is a real style icon and so it's extra special that I've received the award from her today."
McDowell described winning the award as a "huge privilege and honour".
He added: "Our work centres around British craftsmanship we make in the UK, we try and make incredibly beautiful, sustainable circular fashion and it's a real honour the royal family and the British Fashion Council have seen that."
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It comes as Kate hailed nature as her "sanctuary" in a touching video marking her and William's anniversary trip to a Scottish island.
She posted the 2.26-second long clip to her Instagram account, speaking out about the importance of nature and sustainability.
The clip was captioned: "This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, we are celebrating humanity’s longstanding connection to nature, and its capacity to inspire us and help us to heal and grow in mind, body and spirit.
"As we confront the challenges of an increasingly , the importance of the connection between humanity and nature takes on even more significance.
"The Mother Nature series is a reminder and reflection of the beauty and complexity of the human experience.
"It is a tribute to the lessons we can learn from nature, helping us to foster our own growth, strengthen our bonds with the world around us and each other."
In the video, the Princess of Wales narrates the short clip speaking about the importance of nature.
She explains that nature has been her "sanctuary" it represents "rebirth" - highlighting her passion for eco-conscious practices in the fashion world and beyond.
As Kate presents her award in London, The Prince of Wales honoured Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson at Windsor Castle today.
Hodgkinson was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) after winning gold in the 800m at the Paris Olympics and being named Sports Personality of the Year in 2024.
The 23-year-old said it was "really nice" to be honoured by William, adding that the "whole experience has been amazing".
She told the PA news agency: "The prince told me his daughter is doing the 400m at the minute and the hurdles and that she did watch me in Paris.
"He told me that he remembers me winning and that he wished he could be there to see it himself."
Hodgkinson said she will participate in the Stockholm Diamond League meeting in June, in what will be her first race since winning Olympic gold.
She had a a hamstring tear in February.
Hodgkinson went on: "Currently I feel really good, we're in a really good place.
"The hamstring progressed nicely and we took our time with it and we have had no problems so far, which has been really positive, back in full training, doing everything.
"We're kind of on track. I'm still four or five weeks away from opening my season but I'm looking forward to it and it's a big race, it's basically an Olympic final again."
Hodgkinson said it would be "nice" to "back up" her successes of last year at the World Championships in Tokyo in September.
She added: "I'm pretty confident.
"It's been 10 months since I last raced, it's the longest in my entire career that I haven't competed, so that's going to be a challenge in itself, getting back to it and we'll just build confidence race by race.
"But the goal is still the same and I believe we'll get there in Tokyo in the right place, and give it my best shot."
Hodgkinson said one of her goals is to put athletics "on the map" and that she wants to inspire children to take up sports.
In Buckingham Palace, the King was presented with credentials by a selection of Ambassadors.
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Ambassador of the Slovak Republic His Excellency Mr. Peter Susko, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic Her Excellency Ms. Rosa Margarita Hernandez, and Ambassador of the Republic of South Sudan Mr. Nickson Deng Peter Kuccath attended the palace.
The three presented their credentials to King Charles during a private audience.
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