The Princess of Wales chose a double-breasted Max Mara blazer for her engagement today, pairing it with a Laura Lombardi Portrait Necklace and £119 burgundy loafers.
The jacket, crafted from a blend of virgin wool and cotton jersey, sits on a neutral base with grey and brown Glen plaid, also known as Prince of Wales check, and is finished with horn buttons.
Previously available at £1,170, the blazer is now sold out.
Catherine’s chunky chain necklace, priced at £148, features interconnected round and oval links fastened by an oversized toggle clasp.
The Princess of Wales chose a double-breasted Max Mara blazer for her engagement today, pairing it with a Laura Lombardi Portrait Necklace and £119 burgundy loafers
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REUTERS
The piece comes in 14kt gold and platinum-plated brass, with several length options to choose from.
The mother-of-three also wore £119 Boden “Nya” loafers in the shade “oxblood”.
The Princess of Wales wore the outfit during a visit to The Forward Trust’s community project in Southend, where she attended as Patron of the social justice charity.
Catherine has held the patronage since 2021, using her platform to highlight the harm caused by addiction and to challenge the stigma surrounding it.
Catherine’s chunky chain necklace, priced at £148, features interconnected round and oval links fastened by an oversized toggle clasp
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REUTERS
The engagement falls within Addiction Awareness Week, running from September 19 to 25, which this year centres on encouraging the public to take part in “The Big Addiction Conversation”.
The charity assisted nearly 40,000 people last year, offering support to those recovering from addiction or seeking to move away from crime, helping them rebuild their lives through connection, employment and stable housing.
The Forward Growing initiative, launched this spring in partnership with Garon Park, is the charity’s newest community programme in Southend.
It offers weekly gardening sessions for participants using Forward’s Southend Treatment and Recovery Service (STARS), giving them the chance to spend time outdoors, develop practical skills and build self-confidence through engagement with the natural world.
The Princess of Wales wore the outfit during a visit to The Forward Trust’s community project in Southend, where she attended as Patron of the social justice charity
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REUTERS
As the collaboration progresses, plans include establishing a dedicated gardening space at Garon Park that will serve as a permanent hub for recovery, education and community participation.
The programme weaves together activities such as gardening, walking and creative pursuits, aiming to foster meaningful bonds between individuals and their environment while delivering lasting wellbeing benefits for those on the path to recovery.
The Big Addiction Conversation campaign seeks to inspire 17,000 discussions over the coming year – one for each life lost annually to alcohol- or drug-related causes across the UK.
Toolkits and Conversation Cards, developed by The Forward Trust together with lived experience ambassadors, will support people in having open, compassionate exchanges about addiction in workplaces and communities nationwide.
Catherine’s engagement falls within Addiction Awareness Week, running from September 19 to 25, which this year centres on encouraging the public to take part in ‘The Big Addiction Conversation’
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REUTERS
The charity hopes these dialogues will collectively reshape public attitudes, counter misconceptions and foster greater understanding.
Speaking as part of The Forward Trust’s Taking Action on Addiction campaign in 2025, the Princess said: “By talking about it in the open, together we can bring addiction and the harm it causes out of the shadows.
“We can reframe this issue with kindness and understanding, and we can help individuals and families coping with addiction know they are not alone.”

