Prince William and Kate Middleton put on a vibrant display as they visited a pub in London’s Soho this afternoon ahead of King Charles’s Coronation weekend celebrations
The Princess of Wales wore a scarlet coat, which ensured she stood out from the large crowd of royal well-wishers who gathered outside the Dog and Duck pub on Bateman Street. Stylish as ever, Kate, 41, paired the statement piece with a crisp white top-handle handbag, which matched the skirt or dress that could be glimpsed as she walked.
William and Kate, who will be center stage for the coronation, used the visit as an opportunity to discover how the pub is celebrating the occasion on Saturday. The royal couple met the manager as well as other employees, before meeting members of the public outside the venue.
The Dog and Duck pub is part of the Nicholson’s group—a selection of pubs operating since 1873. This year marks its 150th anniversary, and its venues will be hosting a number of events to celebrate the coronation.
According to , British pubs are expected to receive a £120 million boost this weekend with the British Beer and Pub Association estimating that approximately 62 million pints will be poured over the bank holiday. In March the government issued a statement declaring that pubs would be allowed to stay open for two extra hours from May 5 to 7.
Prince William and Kate Middleton Plan to Hit the Pub Before the Coronation
It’s all much more formal than it sounds.
The Dog and Duck was built in 1734 on the site of the Duke of Monmouth’s home, with the current building constructed in 1897 by the architect Francis Chambers. During the early 19th century, artist John Constable, who lived around the corner, would regularly nip into the pub. During a similar period it also hosted Pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Rossetti.
In the 1940s the venue became a favorite of writer George Orwell’s (its upstairs dining room is now named after the author) and it was apparently here that Orwell sank a celebratory shot of absinthe when Animal Farm was picked for the American Book of the Month Club. In more recent years, Madonna once popped in for a pint while visiting from the US.
This weekend Prince William and Kate Middleton will join members of the royal family at Westminster Abbey to witness the formal crowning of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
This article first appeared on Tatler.
