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Kate Middleton's gorgeous Reiss dress has a very sentimental story behind it

The Duchess appeared in a new video on Thursday

kate middleton
Fiona Ward
Acting Fashion and Beauty Editor
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The Duchess of Cambridge has appeared in an important new video to announce the first findings from her early years survey, looking beautiful in a blue Reiss button-up dress.

In fact, Kate's latest frock has a very sentimental story behind it, since it's the outfit she wore to give her first-ever royal speech back in 2012.

MORE: Princess Eugenie is glam in chic zip-up dress for new picture

The royal gave her first public address at the opening of The Treehouse, a hospice service for Suffolk and Essex - and the dress was sweetly significant at the time because it had also been worn by her mother Carole Middleton at Ascot in 2010. 

WATCH: Kate wears sentimental Reiss dress for video appearance

Kate styled her original look with its statement black contrasting belt, though this time around she added a black leather accessory instead. She also wore what appears to be a new gold disc necklace, and styled her hair in her signature soft waves.

MORE: Duchess Kate’s favourite bag now comes fun-sized – and we NEED it in every colour!

And while the 'Trina' dress is no longer available to shop at royal-favourite Reiss, you can currently buy a black version on eBay!

kate reiss dress 2012

Kate wore the dress to make her first speech as a royal in 2012

In further pictures released by the palace, the Duchess appears to have recycled another piece from her early royal wardrobe - this time her white Zara blazer worn during her 2016 Canada tour, and again at the Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre in 2017. 

carole middleton reiss dress ascot

Kate's mum Carole has also worn the dress before

Kate shared a new short video on Friday morning, too, in which she wore a bargain £39.95 red cable knit jumper from Gap, as she pinned another insight from the survey to a brick wall.

While the red colourway has sold out, the piece is still available in navy blue and white stripe, and black and white. 

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kate insight 2© Kensington Palace

The Duchess could seen wearing a red Gap jumper in one clip

The Duchess revealed from the landmark research: "98 per cent of you said that nurture is essential to lifelong outcomes. But just one in four actually recognise the specific importance of the first five years of a child's life."

A third video showed the Duchess, wearing a repeat polka dot blouse from Equipment, writing down the third key insight: "70% of parents feel judged by others and among these parents, nearly half feel this negatively impacts their mental health."

Kate first wore the £235 shirt from the French brand last year during her visit to Sunshine House Children and Young People's Health and Development Centre in Peckham. 

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kate equipment blouse© Photo: Getty Images

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During the Duchess' keynote speech at the Royal Foundation's early years online forum on Friday, we also saw the return of her rose pink Marks & Spencer blazer, which Kate first wore as part of a two-piece set in March. 

The tailored double-breasted jacket is sadly no longer in stock at Marks & Spencer, another one of Kate's favourite high street brands, Boden, has a similar set at £58.80 for the blazer and £39 for the matching trousers in the sale. 

Kate zara blazer

Recycling a Zara blazer from 2016

On Monday, Kate revealed that more than half a million people took part in the survey, which she launched in January.

The Duchess promoted the project during a mini tour of the UK between 22 January and 21 February, making visits to Cardiff, Birmingham, Woking, London, Belfast and Aberdeen.

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