Kate's outfit choice sends a deliberate message in time of coronavirus crisis

The Duchess of Cambridge has thrown her support behind a major UK retailer in her two appearances since Britain went into lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic.

Kate chose a budget-friendly Marks & Spencer suit to visit National Health Service staff at an ambulance call centre in London last week.

It was the first time the Duchess of Cambridge has worn a matching suit to carry out an official engagement.

At the weekend, she was pictured in the same outfit working from home inside Kensington Palace before moving to the family's country home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk.

On her desk at the palace were a series of Penguin Classics with covers by British designer Coralie Bickford-Smith, including A Christmas Carol and Bleak House by Charles Dickens, Mansfield Park by Jane Austen and The Sonnets and a Lover's Complaint by William Shakespeare.

Kate's choice of outfit is most likely a deliberate one, given her preference for using clothing and jewellery to send subtle messages.

The Duchess of Cambridge frequently chooses outfits that pay tribute to the places she visits, such as their recent day trip to Wales where Kate and Prince William wore red, green and white – the colours of the Welsh flag.

Or Kate's multiple nods to her late mother-in-law Diana, Princess of Wales, through her "deliberate" selection of dresses and even Diana's favourite tiara worn more times than any other in the royal collection.

This time, Kate's Marks & Spencer suit is most likely a reassurance to the British public that she is standing with them in the tough current circumstances.

Kate – like all members of the royal family – have access to the world's most expensive brands but she frequently mixes high-end with high street.

That allows her to appear more down to earth and accessible, not only to her subjects, but also the fans around the world who attempt to replicate her style.

The dusty-rose, wool blend two-piece suit is sold separately, with some sizes still available on the retailer's website. The double-breasted jacket is $200 AUD, while the trousers are $120.

In February, the duchess wore a pair of Marks & Spencer trainers and $70 Zara trousers to visit charity SportsAid.

We can only imagine what Kate is wearing now she and her family are self-isolating at Anmer Hall.