© PADuchess of Cambridge - PA
If she didn't already feel scrutinised before, the Duchess of Cambridge, since that Oprah interview last week, must be feeling as though she's at the wrong end of a microscope. Every gesture, every facial muscle twitch, is analysed for signs of her inner emotions. Her response? To be More Kate.
The outfit she wore in a video released on Wednesday morning, to mark St Patrick's Day, is a case in point. It's a Dressing From The Waist up, cropped, green jacket from Zara, with fresh looking white top stitching and it's currently on their site at £59.99. Tick Tick Tick in terms of relatability. When I say bright, it's practically lime. And it suits her.
That short, ostensibly innocuous video, in which the Duke of Cambridge, wearing a jumper in a more muted shade of green, attempts some Gaellic, and Kate, as he says, in some noticeably relaxed "banter", gets the easy bit, because she picks up the baton in English, is fascinating for the clues it offers to the RF's subtle shift in their approach post-Oprah.
© Provided by The Telegraphduchess of cambridge st patrick's day green zara - PA
It's not just the restrained banter - somewhat different from the touch- feely emotions put out by the Sussexes whenever they're on show - but the way the Cambridges both look directly at the camera, standing very much together, but not quite touching.
What's striking is how confident the Duchess now is whenever she speaks publicly, and sometimes when she is silent, as when she appeared, unannounced, at the vigil for Sarah Everard, last Saturday. As a senior royal, the duchess has, ironically, few obvious channels through which she can voice her beliefs; actions are one, clothes are another.
© Provided by The Telegraphduchess of cambridge st patrick's day catherine walker - Getty Images
Interestingly, the more confident she becomes, the more relaxed her approach to dressing is, even when she's on duty. It's a jacket, yes, but she's not wearing a jumper or buttoned up blouse underneath. It's unstuffy while striking a dressed-up note.
St Patrick's Day dressing has become a Kate speciality - she has previously worn Emilia Wickstead (twice), Catherine Walker (also twice) and Hobbs. In fact, in the nine years since she's been an official member of the Royal Family, the Duchess has made a point of wearing colours symbolically and using various emblems, including native flowers, to pay tribute to various countries - her St Patrick's Day outfits are nearly always accompanied by shamrock jewellery.
© Provided by The Telegraphduchess of cambridge kate middleton 2012 2013 st patrick's day - Getty Images
Initially some of her early efforts - as when she wore a maple leaf embellished red hat on an early trip to Canada, provoked eye rolls from sophisticated metropolitan types, for being too literal. But I think we (and yes, I admit I sometimes thought the symbolism was laid on a bit heavy) got it wrong.
As we're increasingly understanding, what can seem overly literal or forced in one culture might be rapturously received as a compliment by another and Kate's fastidious attempts to communicate her respect for her audience via her outfits are increasingly viewed as a soft, but effective form of diplomacy.
For more news, analysis and advice from The Telegraph's fashion desk, click here to sign up to get our weekly newsletter, straight to your inbox every Friday. Follow our Instagram @Telegraphfashion
Sign up to the Front Page newsletter for free: Your essential guide to the day's agenda from The Telegraph - direct to your inbox seven days a week.