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    1. Style

    The Cambridge children's clothes were soaked in Yorkshire tea and it's so British

    Jenny Proudfoot's avatar
    By Jenny Proudfoot
    Published 28 October 2019 In News

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    (Image credit: Getty Images)
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    The Cambridges are undoubtedly the most talked-about family in the world, with their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis entertaining the public on the regular.

    Yes, from Princess Charlotte’s first day of school to Prince George's surprising nickname, these miniature royals never fail to make viral news.

    It was their fashion choices that got the world talking this week however, or rather the choices of their family, as it emerged that the Mountbatten-Windsors have a strange way of getting their Christening gowns the right shade. And it's so very British.

    Getty Images
    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    All three of the Cambridge children were Christened in the royal gown - a replica of one commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1841. But to ensure authenticity, it has emerged that extreme measures had to be taken to get the dress the right colour.

    The lengths in question? Soaking the gown in strong Yorkshire tea.

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    Yes, really. In the latest book by royal dressmaker Angela Kelly, she explained each step of the process, something the Queen was said to be heavily involved and deeply interested in, inspecting the garment at every stage.

    Getty Images
    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    'To make sure it looked authentic we dyed it in Yorkshire Tea,' Angela recalled via HELLO!. ‘We placed each piece of lace in a small bowl from the dressers’ kitchen, filled with cool water and a tea bag and left it for about five minutes, checking regularly until the colour was perfect.’

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    She continued: 'At each stage of the process, I would show our progress to the Queen: first the bodice, then the sleeves attached to it, then the skirt with the under-layers on, and finally the completed robe. Her Majesty was very interested to see how it was developing. From start to finish, it had taken us, appropriately, nine months.'

    This is definitely a trick that we will be using for our own clothes!

    Jenny Proudfoot
    Jenny Proudfoot
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    Contributing Features Editor

    Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. After working at Marie Claire UK for seven years - rising from intern to Features Editor - she is now a freelance contributor to the News and Features section.

    In 2021, Jenny was named as a winner on the PPA's '30 under 30' list, and was also listed as a rising star in journalism.

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